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Keeping in Touch:  Supporting our local beef farms  |
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LakeOntarioFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
933 Posts
Brenda
North Rose
NY
USA
933 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 20 2009 : 07:27:11 AM
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Hi Everyone,
I'm not sure if this is the proper place for this post. If not, please direct me to the right spot! :)
Over the years I have tried to buy local when I can. Especially in the last few years with all the fears from lead in toys brought in from China, pesticide in our vegetables, food poisoning scares and the like. To me it also just made sense to buy locally raised beef, pork, lamb and veal, chickens and eggs. Our local mennonite store just this summer started selling pasture raised chickens that are raised on local farms. The taste of these chickens is awesome, more of what I remember from growing up than the cardboard version from the grocery store that I had become accustomed to. 
In the past I have also bought 1/4 or a 1/2 cow in the fall to keep and use all winter. Now, with just husband and I left, after our children have grown and moved out, it makes more sense to just buy small packages of beef at the grocers.
Lately though, with my switch to organic foods I am again looking at local farms for beef. Martha Stewart radio, on their Whole Living show recently had a guest from the American Grassfed Organization. They certify family farms grass fed beef. It was a wonderful program telling all about how grain fed beef got started (after World War II), and why, and why grass fed beef is so much better for the cows themselves and us. The percentages of nutrients that we get goes way up in grass fed beef.
So, two days ago when in my local grocery chain, imagine my excitement when I noticed organic grass fed beef in their meat section! And, my even greater excitement when I noticed that while more expensive, it was not unreasonably priced at all!! I carefully looked the package over, it looked very good indeed. Certified- yup! Then imagine my dismay when I saw on the back: Product of Uruguay. My heart sank. I put the package back and bought something else instead.
On my way home I got to thinking about that, then did a whole lot of research online. There is a lot written about the import of beef products into our country. There is also a lot written about grain fed cattle. Up until recently grain fed cattle was much, much cheaper to raise. Now, of course, corn prices are way up, so the cheapest way to raise beef and to make a profit- you guessed it, grass. However, the costs for American raised anything prohibits making as much of a profit over foreign raised anything as we all know. I don't forsee my favorite local grocery chain making a change anytime soon. Why should they, when they can sell a, to them superior product to their customers at much less than what it would take them to get it from a local farm and then sell it? The cost of transportation appears to be negligible in these instances. While my grocer appears to support american family farms in some areas, the fact that they believe that selling beef from these farms would not be profitable or would result in a far higher price for their customers is sad indeed.
My conclusion in all this, is that we must support our local farms. I will now be buying all, or most anyways, beef, pork and poultry from the farms in my area, that have grass fed animals.
There has always been a huge fight for the small family farm. If we lose those, we lose so much. It is heartening to see more farms springing up lately, and so important to support them!
I would love to have feedback on this post, and if anyone has questions about grass fed beef, please don't hesitate to ask! :)
Brenda
http://theviewfromhere-brenda.blogspot.com/ |
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ruralfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
4309 Posts
Rene'
Prosser
WA
USA
4309 Posts |
Posted - Aug 20 2009 : 08:23:00 AM
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Brenda,
I for one think that this is a very valuable topic and thank you for bringing it up. Shopping local and supporting our local farmers and producers is more important than some may give credit to, as it keeps the local economy healthy and small farmers and ranchers on the farm.
I feel just as strong about supporting MaryJanesFarm ~ as a farmgirl ~ her books and magazines, classes and farmgirl forum have all gone to improving my life through the things I have learned, the people I have met and so on. But it is often easy to forget it all cost the farm to do it.
I have determined this year to do "better". To be a better steward of the funds I have, to eat better, and to "put my money where my mouth is" so to speak. I have done that on so many fronts, but there is always much room for improvement. So as we farmgirls write about our passions and we step out and support those things and causes and farms that are LOCAL, I would also add, if you cant buy local~ buy smart.. support those that support us and the way of life that we hold dear.
Money talks~ where we put it says a lot about who we are. Not just to our selves but also to the world around us. It isn't some random act that while other magazines aren't staying viable~ MaryJane's is still out there.. people want the info and are willing to buy it. If we want quality flour, food, beef etc. then the way we change legislation etc... is by living it.. "they" watch where we consumers put our hard earned dollars.
For along time, I used the excuse that I thought it cost so much more to eat right, when in truth as I shifted the way I ate, I could spend the same amount monthly, just differently.
I don't do it all perfectly~ Matter of fact I have a lot of room for improvement and I dont know if I can ever give back to the degree that I have been given... but, I can try....
http://www.rockymtncuts.com/maryjanes/
http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/categories/food-pantry.asp
Rene'Groom
the artist formerly known as Prince. I mean PROSSERFARMGIRL (that will only be funny to some).
Sister #185
www.MaryJanesFarm.com/RFBlog/
www.Twitter.com/RuralFarmgirl
www.RuralandRaw.blogspot.com
www.RuralFarmGirl.blogspot.com
www.FarmGirlsFarm.blogspot.com
Circumstances made us FRIENDS; MaryJane's has made us SISTERS :) |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Aug 20 2009 : 1:20:03 PM
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I agree with both of you, Brenda and Rene!
I am going to be getting some money here soon from college, and am seriously considering buying a freezer just for meat products. I am lucky, the MaryJanes Farm Organic beef raisers are only about 90 minutes from here. I will be able to support both a somewhat local organic beef producer AND support MaryJanesFarm.
I love the fact that MaryJane employees so many people to produce her products. I don't know if you all know this, but her mail order foods are packaged at her farm in Idaho!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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Celticheart
True Blue Farmgirl
811 Posts
Marcia
WA
USA
811 Posts |
Posted - Aug 21 2009 : 10:11:11 AM
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We just started raising our own beef about three years ago after moving to our small acreage. We've raised pigs for years...son in 4H and FFA...and that meat is far superior to anything you can buy in the store. There is really no comparison. We also have chickens and I sell eggs. I can't keep up with the egg sales. There is a great demand and I have a chef that buys from me so he always takes alot of eggs at a time. Now he really wants us to raise chickens to butcher as well. And rabbits, but that's another story.
Anyway, back to the beef. We raise a Red Angus-Gelbvieh--Black Angus cross. My husband and his brother seem to have perfected the feeding of these steers. So much so that the local butcher shop that butchered them asked us to raise beef for them. They normally buy steers at the sale and feed them out themselves but they were so impressed with the four steers we sent them. For us it's alot about how those steers are raised, too. Ours are 100% pasture and grass fed until 90 days before they are butchered when they are placed in their own special 'spa'. There the grass hay is supplemented with additional feed that Farmer Tim--DH--and his brother chose from the many samples they gathered. They feel that the addition of this feed at this time helps to mellow the flavor of the beef so it's not so 'gamey' tasting. That, plus hanging them for at least 21 days, makes the beef so tender you can cut the steaks with a fork. I don't even eat much meat or like it that well and I like this.
We've even made a convert of my vegetarian DIL. She says she eats this beef because she knows these steers had a good and happy life and that they were killed in a peaceful and compassionate way. I know that sounds corny, but it's important to us. We know these steers by name and they know us. We bred some of them and were there when they were born. If we do start feeding out steers for the butcher shop, I made my husband promise that we will never have so many that it becomes impersonal or that they just become numbers.
Even before this batch of steers, we had people asking if we sell beef. I think it has so much to do with the e coli contamination problems as well as people becoming more knowledgable about eating locally. More people want to know where their food comes from and are trying to become more educated about their choices. At the farmer's markets I've been to in the last two or three years, I think the people selling organic beef, pork, chickens and eggs do the most business. They seem to sell out fast. The chef I sell eggs to has made it a point to get to know all of the farmers he buys from. We're like family to him. He's French and very opinionated, especially about food. He thinks it's his job to educate us (the Americans) about food...fresh food...and how to cook it. He hates fast food. For him, it's about our health. And he's right.
Wow! This got to be kind of long didn't it.
As Pierre(the chef) would say "Bon Appetite!".
Marcia---who is very opinionated today
It's not about being perfect, but enjoying what you do. Set aside time to be creative.
Robyn Pandolph
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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Celticheart
True Blue Farmgirl
811 Posts
Marcia
WA
USA
811 Posts |
Posted - Aug 21 2009 : 12:24:00 PM
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Amen.
But if that's true I'm a French Fry. It's a weakness that I try not to indulge.
It's not about being perfect, but enjoying what you do. Set aside time to be creative.
Robyn Pandolph
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LakeOntarioFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
933 Posts
Brenda
North Rose
NY
USA
933 Posts |
Posted - Aug 21 2009 : 6:20:55 PM
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This would be a great topic to keep going... I imagine that there will be many more converts to grass fed beef, and pasture fed chickens and pigs- ok maybe for pigs it's free garbage, lol! :)
I think this is a very important and timely subject though, I know a lot of us are worried about food choices right now, and to me eating the best possible way we can is so important.
I really appreciate everyone's feedback on my post, thank you! :)
Brenda
FarmGirl # 711
http://theviewfromhere-brenda.blogspot.com/ |
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mom2my2boyz
True Blue Farmgirl
56 Posts
Sarah
MN
USA
56 Posts |
Posted - Aug 21 2009 : 8:10:40 PM
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I am a hard-core believer in buying LOCAL, Grass-fed Organic beef, chicken, eggs, milk, etc. And though our food budget is VERY tight, I've decided that I can cut out the un-necessities (is that a word??! lol!) in favor o buying GOOD meat for my family. Plus, when I pay $8- $14 a chicken, I make SURE I get at least 4-5 meals out of it, using everything up! I make the meat stretch farther in casseroles, pot pies, etc and use the leftovers (bones, skin, neck, etc) to make the most delicious, rich stock for soups and stews! All in all, I feel it's worth every penny and it makes me be creative to see how many times I can feed my family of four with a chicken or a beef roast! It's fun to see how far I can make it go!
*Cheers* to our local, organic farmers!!!!!
"So I threw my hands in the air. I was done with Wal-Mart and Wonderbread. I wanted something real."
-Excerpted from Jenna Woginrich's book, "Made from Scratch" a must-read! |
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Fruits and Veggies Nanna
Farmgirl at Heart
8 Posts
Loyce
Marietta
GA
USA
8 Posts |
Posted - Aug 23 2009 : 4:08:32 PM
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I used to have to go 100 miles to buy our grass fed beef. This summer I discovered, quite to my delight, that at the local farmers market there is a vendor within 10 miles of my house with wonderful beef, chicken and pork. Hoorah. I support local farmers. Wish everyone did.
Eat like your grandma's watchin! |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Aug 24 2009 : 07:07:10 AM
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I also raise all our meat. Until our steer is ready to butcher I do buy grass fed burger from a local farm in Tn. where I know how the animal is treated. Also we have a guy who raises Bison. I have bought from him til he got too big for his britches and only sells to restaraunts now. I have 6 roosters I am fattening up right now to butcher soon.
I have been wanting to find someone who would come to my place and butcher my steer here. I met someone yesterday who knows someone who would do this. She said he was "born to kill", he went to Europe to learn how to cut the different types of meat. So I will try to get in touch with him today and see if he will butchter my big guy. He's just 13 months old now but is very big. I just put him and the heifer out in the garden to clean it up for me. I hope they don't get too much all at once. I haven't seen them since I put them out there yesterday. I see the corn stalks moving sometimes, so I know they're out there! I also am going to have the 4 bucklings butchered here in Dec. I know a guy who will do it here for one of the goats. I am so happy about that.
But I totally agree. We need to support the local farmers as much as we can. It is so important that we do this. For our health and their livelihood. So keep buying and raising that good meat.
Hey Loyce. I just noticed you live not too far from me. I am about 25 miles South of Chattanooga, Tn. in North Ga. Welcome to you!! I am so glad you found a good source for your meat now and so close to you. Isn't that amazing that all this is so close and people want to do this? There is also someone there that sells raw milk, too. Can't think of the name right now, but I saw them when I went to Woodstock to the Bread Beckers. They had a truck there selling all sorts of things. You could probably call the BB and they could give you more info if you're interested in that.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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Celticheart
True Blue Farmgirl
811 Posts
Marcia
WA
USA
811 Posts |
Posted - Aug 25 2009 : 10:28:30 PM
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I'm back................We do have a guy who comes to us to butcher. He's great. He's been doing our pigs for years and years and now does the steers and any pigs we have hanging around(none at the moment, thank God). He and Tim have things worked out so it's so stress free for the steers. The only problem he has is that we live on a main highway and the first time he butchered here there was road construction out front and they just happened to be stopping traffic right in front of our house that day. I was gone but Tim said it wasn't good. There were people on cell phones calling other people saying 'Oh it's just awful. They're killing cows.' I think we may need to move the 'killing fields' to behind the machine shed for the poor butcher.
It's not about being perfect, but enjoying what you do. Set aside time to be creative.
Robyn Pandolph
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Aug 29 2009 : 3:19:36 PM
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I am so sad. I talked to that guy Wed. and he doesn't do cows. What a bummer.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2009 : 2:15:51 PM
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I did talk to the guy who will be doing the butchering of the goats and he is going to read up on cows and he might do it! He has a front end loader and lots of other heavy equipment. So we may be doing the steer at home yet! Where there's a will, there is a way! He did say that since he doesn't have the saws that the butchers use we may not get the same cuts, like steaks. That's a bummer because that's what hubby wants. So hopefully he can figure it all out and let me know soon. I am just exited he's even thinking about it, though.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Keeping in Touch: Supporting our local beef farms |
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Supporting our local beef farms
