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Farm Kitchen:  Tell me about organic beef  |
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Tidy Aprons
True Blue Farmgirl
99 Posts
Oney Farmgirl #638
Colorado
USA
99 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 26 2009 : 9:03:46 PM
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We like beef. I have been thinking about going organic on the meat here; however, the cost just shocks the socks off of me! Is it really worth the extra $$ for organic grass fed beef?
~Oney~
"There's something a little holy in taking care of the places we inhabit, in summoning sheen. And there's a power in watching over our spaces, the rooms we move within, the sets where our life stories unfold." ~Lori Hall Steele |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jun 26 2009 : 9:44:39 PM
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I raise my own, and everything I raise and grow is organic. It kind of makes me laugh, cause its cheaper to raise beef organicly, than use all that chemical/drug laden feed. But I have tasted the other kind, and to me it tastes "FAKE", so in my honest opinion, it is worth it.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4455 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4455 Posts |
Posted - Jun 27 2009 : 04:55:54 AM
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I agree with Teresa. Look around and see if you can buy some home grown beef. No growth hormones. Talk to a county agent, they might be able to steer you in the right direction.
Michele |
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Patsy
True Blue Farmgirl
592 Posts
Illinois
USA
592 Posts |
Posted - Jun 27 2009 : 06:44:11 AM
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I try to buy locally grown organic beef. I live in a very small town (3,000) and there is a farm that sells organic beef and pork. Their prices are maybe $1-$2 more a pound than the local market but it is much, much tastier and much better for you. And it supports the local economy.
Patsy
I think that if a mortal ever heard the voice of God, it would be in a garden at the cool of the day. (F. Moore)
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Edited by - Patsy on Jun 27 2009 06:44:48 AM |
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Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
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ranchmama
True Blue Farmgirl
360 Posts
Elise
Rosebud
MT
USA
360 Posts |
Posted - Jun 27 2009 : 08:29:01 AM
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We don't raise organic beef, but natural. I'm not sure if the cost would be any cheaper since I don't shop for meat. Some help huh?! But.. if you live near a Whole Foods they sell natural and organic products. Check out my blog and read an article from the local paper about our boss. Most of the beef we raise is sold through Whole Foods there in Colorado, or to the brand Coleman Meats.
Elise
Every Child Deserves Our Love &
A Bear of Their Own
http://ATeddyForKeeps.org
http://ranchmama.blogspot.com/ |
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Calicogirl
True Blue Farmgirl
5216 Posts
Sharon
Bruce Crossing
Michigan
USA
5216 Posts |
Posted - Jun 27 2009 : 11:01:50 AM
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We buy half a cow each year (this is our fourth year doing it). NOTHING compares with locally grown organic beef. You can smell how good it is before it's even cooked. After processing fees we end up spending about $2.50 a pound. So total cost ends up being about $800-1000.00 dollars for half a cow, whatever cuts, ground or sausage we want. There are only two of us and it usually last us a year and that's after sharing plenty with others ( and living with a beef guy who could eat beef 3x a day every day :))
~Sharon
By His Grace, For His Glory
http://merryheartjournal.blogspot.com/ |
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Mother Hen
True Blue Farmgirl
604 Posts
Cindy
Peck
ID
USA
604 Posts |
Posted - Jun 27 2009 : 10:47:08 PM
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Oney, we raise our own beef also, don't know if it's classified as "organic" or not, but it's grass fed/range fed beef without hormones or any of that stuff. We only give a couple preventative shots so they don't get disease or worms, that's it!
I would rather turn vegetarian than have to eat store bought meat again. The flavor just can't compare in my opinion. Our meat is RED when you thaw it out, grocery store meat is not the same color after you thaw it that it was when you bought it. That alone tells me somethings wrong with it.
Oney, I agree with Michele about checking with you extension office to find someone local who sells beef, you won't be sorry. You could also go to the 4H auction at your county fair and buy one that way. The money helps the kids with their project for next year. That's a win-win way to go!
Cindy
FARMGIRLS CAN DO ANYTHING!!!
I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalms 34:1 |
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ruralfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
4309 Posts
Rene'
Prosser
WA
USA
4309 Posts |
Posted - Jun 28 2009 : 12:29:50 AM
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Be careful of just the organic lable, You want to look for organic Grass-fed as that is the stuff that is higher in good proteins and lower in bad fats. There is a great website called www.eatwild.com that is worth the time to check out. They also list some of the producers in your area. But please check out MaryjanesFarm's organic grass-fed beef here is the link http://www.rockymtncuts.com/maryjanes/ and right now there are some really great specials so there is no better time to try this.
Rene~Prosser Farmgirl #185
http://www.maryjanesfarm.com/RFBlog/
www.twitter.com/RuralFarmgirl
Circumstances made us FRIENDS; MaryJane's has made us SISTERS :) |
Edited by - ruralfarmgirl on Jun 28 2009 12:30:43 AM |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jun 28 2009 : 5:20:55 PM
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We buy 1/2 beef each year, local but not neccessarily organic...natural though, and grass fed. I wish we could afford the organic beef I have found in our area..but it is so much more! But...I am happy with knowing exactly which farm the beef (and we buy pork there too) was raised on, what it ate and all the details as well as knowing the butcher personally. Huge better feeling than just picking up packages in the market! I would say if you can afford the organic grass fed to go for it...way better for sure...if not...try local for sure!
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2009 : 04:33:44 AM
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I'll echo everyone else
Start by asking around to see where you can buy locally.
This may mean going in 2 or 3 ways with relatives if they are nearby or splitting it with friends. It will also help if your friendly farmer uses a local butcher
If you want the wole cow, that's A LOT of meat. So of course, you'll need one of the large chest freezers if you don't have one already.
Starting locally will really help. You can delve into organic as you find the resources.
Might also want to loook into a local food co-op too.
We go in 4 ways on a whole cow each year. It will last generally 'till February. And that's when the next order comes in.
And I whole heartidly agree, you really can't beat the taste and quality as compared to store bought. Tat alone is well worth the cost. The orgainc aspect is an added bonus.
And our farmer does the same thing. No hormones, just vitamines and a few boosters to the calves to give them a good healthy start.
Newborns of any domestic species sometimes get scours. So the vitamins help prevent this.
Good luck and happy eating! |
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Tidy Aprons
True Blue Farmgirl
99 Posts
Oney Farmgirl #638
Colorado
USA
99 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2009 : 08:07:25 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by windypines
Talk to a county agent, they might be able to steer you in the right direction.
Michele
 No pun intended, right? LOL
~Oney~
"There's something a little holy in taking care of the places we inhabit, in summoning sheen. And there's a power in watching over our spaces, the rooms we move within, the sets where our life stories unfold." ~Lori Hall Steele |
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Tidy Aprons
True Blue Farmgirl
99 Posts
Oney Farmgirl #638
Colorado
USA
99 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2009 : 08:13:10 AM
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Sisters, thanks so much for the information. My dad is foreman for a farm/ranch so I'll start there. He's been there for 3 years now and it's beyond me why I never thought of this before.
~Oney~
"There's something a little holy in taking care of the places we inhabit, in summoning sheen. And there's a power in watching over our spaces, the rooms we move within, the sets where our life stories unfold." ~Lori Hall Steele |
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Laila
True Blue Farmgirl
273 Posts
Laila
Kutztown
PA
USA
273 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2009 : 08:24:43 AM
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We raise our own grass fed beef. Buy that if possible. Steers that are fed in feed lots get fed bubble gum and other left over products from factories. (potato chips, etc.) You need to check with your local farmers also, because some of them feed stale bread from bakeries or rotten fruit. Consumers really need to ask questions before they buy.
Laila |
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ranchmama
True Blue Farmgirl
360 Posts
Elise
Rosebud
MT
USA
360 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2009 : 4:51:16 PM
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Does your dad get beef as part of his pay Oney?? Because if he does, maybe you can see about buying from the ranch. Most ranches provide beef and may even feed the cow out right there. You could pay for some of the feed or the butchering cost. We've worked on places before where we feed the 1 or 2 steers ourselves so you know what the steer is getting. One place we had to butcher ourselves.. Here we just drive to the locker, much nicer! lol
Anyway, check there or the local extention office like the other gals mentioned. Also, fair time is coming up, maybe you could buy from a 4-H'er or FFA'er.. Don't know how expensive that gets in your area, but you'd be helping out that way too.
Elise
Every Child Deserves Our Love &
A Bear of Their Own
http://ATeddyForKeeps.org
http://ranchmama.blogspot.com/ |
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greyghost
True Blue Farmgirl
650 Posts
Lynn
Summerville
Georgia
USA
650 Posts |
Posted - Jun 30 2009 : 11:27:06 AM
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I haven't heard that cows/steers are fed bubblegum, but I do know a number of them are fed ground chicken parts - the feet, beaks, etc. that are not edible for people. Calves are sometimes weaned on cow's blood, and a good lot of the feed is genetically modified corn. They have stopped the practice of feeding cows leftover cow parts, as that led to mad cow and Crutchfield-Jakob disease. Whatever makes them think feeding cows chicken parts will make a difference in that, I've no idea.
Also - there was a whistleblower scientist who worked for Monsanto who was fired when he questioned that the practice of "splicing" plant DNA with another species might also create unstable prions - the underlying cause of CJD.
Hence why I never eat meat anymore - but if I were to do so, it would HAVE to be organic, grass fed beef or a free-range chicken that ate bugs all its life! |
Edited by - greyghost on Jun 30 2009 11:29:22 AM |
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Mamarude
True Blue Farmgirl
107 Posts
Anna
Durango
Colorado
USA
107 Posts |
Posted - Jun 30 2009 : 5:15:35 PM
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We didn't eat meat when we lived in the city because I couldn't find a good source for it. Now we buy our eggs, milk, chickens, and meat from a family farm here in our town, it's even slaughtered at a "certified humane" local slaughterhouse, I've toured the farm and know the people who run it, we're all 3rd generation locals so I trust them. Now we buy meat only from them or go in on a cow raised by one of us. It's the only way to eat meat!
The turning point for me was when we had run out of ground beef one year, and I bought some at the store, it's grey!!!! My grandma said they add blood to it sometimes so it will look as nice as our home raised meat! EEEWWWWW!
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2009 : 05:05:24 AM
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Thanks for the info on feed lots
that's just gross
one more reason to buy locally!
I can drive past the pastrue, and we personally know the farmer were our beef comes from
all grass fed that's for sure |
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Georgia
True Blue Farmgirl
92 Posts
Angie
ballwin
mo
USA
92 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2009 : 07:33:35 AM
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I just saw the movie Food Inc. and it has changed the way I will buy food for my family FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is amazing what goes into the food that you buy. If anyone gets a chance to see the movie do,it is worth it. and go to their web site and there is a ton of info about where and how to buy local and or organic food.
dreamer |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2009 : 07:57:41 AM
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There is a web site called localharvest.org , they list all that are in your areas
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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Farm Kitchen: Tell me about organic beef |
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Tell me about organic beef
