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August 2021 Newsletter

written by

Laura Green

posted on

August 4, 2021

Our Full Speed Summer

The grass is tall and the weather is steamy here!

During the summer months, our cows move weekly to new pasture, the pigs rotate through both fields and woods, and the chickens go to a fresh patch of grass each morning. 

We're adding fresh chicken to the freezer weekly, and new batches of piglets are being born. It's always busy around here!

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Piglets! 

Our momma sows give birth to piglets twice each year. With many groups of sows spread out across the farm, we sometimes have several sets farrowing (giving birth) at once!

Piglets might be our favorite animals on the farm. They love to nibble the fresh pasture and explore the woods nearby, but they never stray far from their moms.

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Chickens on pasture

Our chickens rotate to fresh pasture each morning. They happily eat the mix of grasses and hunt for stray bugs! 

We are "sold out" on the benefits of pastured poultry - it makes all the difference for the chickens, for the land and for our customers. 

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Thanksgiving Turkeys

We're already preparing turkeys for your Thanksgiving table! 

Pasture raised turkeys live in the field till they are 15-20 weeks, taking in many months of grass and sunlight during the spring and summer. 

These turkeys offer a nutrient dense, lean meat packed with flavor. Look for all our turkey cuts available on the website! 

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Contented Cows 

Our Cows enjoy a total pasture-raised lifestyle. This means we use a rotational grazing technique so that they are moved to graze on patches of fresh, pesticide-free grass every few days.

Why do we choose pasture-raised? We're ensuring that our cows are eating a nutrient-dense diet of seasonal forage and grasses, while naturally fertilizing the soil on our farm!

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The Last Tour of the Season is Soon!

Our final farm tour for 2021 is August 28th!

Be sure to bring your family and friends for a guided walk around the farm to learn about how we raise our animals in step with nature.

Bratwursts are available for preorder with your ticket! As always, kids come free!

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Recipe: Chicken Enchiladas 

These chicken enchiladas are a family favorite. 

Packed with tender shredded chicken in cream sauce, they're very easy to make, and great for making ahead as a freezer meal.

View Recipe

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Stock up today on your favorite chicken cuts, sausages, pork chops, steaks, stir fry and more. Your next nourishing meal starts here! 

More from the blog

Whole Chicken = $$avings!

Whole Chicken = $$avings!

When I take a whole chicken (or two, for my family of 6) and use every bit of it to nourish my family each week, it not only feels like a beautiful choreographed dance, but it makes me want to dance like a little kid. I feel peace and strength in knowing that I can take a whole chicken and have the flexibility to use it in so many ways and use it well for my family. We need more of those feelings in our lives, don't you think? If you want that same happiness, peace, strength, and savings that come from using a whole chicken in your kitchen and knowing you're using your food dollars well, this post is for you.The best practice in using whole chickens is to begin by thawing your chicken in your refrigerator for at least a day before you plan to cook it.  Thawing the bird this way allows you to season it before cooking to ensure the best flavor, or cut it up to use individual pieces. (Jordan made a really cool video showing how we cut up our chickens. You can find that here on YouTube.) The great thing about learning to cut up your own bird is there's no quiz at the end. You can practice in your own kitchen at your own convenience, and before you know it, you'll feel that confidence in your skills. For cooking the bird whole, my favorite cooking method is in a Dutch oven or covered roasting pan. But before placing your chicken in a pan, use a paper towel to pat the bird dry. This lets all your spices penetrate the meat and results in a more robust flavor. I season my chicken (you can rub seasonings into or even under the skin) with salt and pepper, and then choose one or two more spices like garlic powder, onion powder, rosemary, oregano, or thyme. An easy option is to keep your favorite pre-mixed seasoning mixes on hand. You can also cook the bird in the crock pot or Instant Pot. In most cases, roasting the whole bird in the oven gives the best flavor and texture. My family's personal favorite way to cook whole chickens is in an enameled cast-iron Dutch oven. (My children always love the crispy skin and eat it like chips!) Whatever method you use to cook your birds, I always recommend placing chickens breast-side down. This ensures the white meat doesn't dry out as it cooks, but stays moist and juicy! In the oven, plan to cook your chicken at 350 for about 20 minutes per pound. Use a meat thermometer to check that your chicken reaches at least 165 degrees. I usually shoot for about 180 degrees, because we like the meat very tender and falling off the bones. Let your bird rest 10-15 minutes before you cut into it. This allows the juices to redistribute and locks them in for tastier chicken. On the day you cook your bird, enjoy the mouthwatering flavor by serving it whole.  My husband and I both enjoy the dark meat most, so we eat the thighs on the first night. My 5 and 3 year-olds always request "bone meat", so they usually eat the legs or wings. Now that all 4 children love roasted chicken, we usually cook 2 chickens at a time so that we have more left over after our first meal. After dinner, I pick off the bones what meat is left and store the bones and the chicken in separate containers overnight. And save that juice! The bones and juice cooked off the chicken will be used tomorrow for making bone broth. From a 4-5-pound chicken, you can expect 5-7 cups of boneless, skinless chicken (total). One of my chickens was around 5 pounds, and you can see in the photo that I ended up with nearly 8 cups!  If you want, you can freeze your shredded chicken to use later. Most recipes call for 2 cups of shredded or cubed chicken, so keep that in mind if you decide to freeze it. It's a good idea to freeze it in 2-cup bags or containers. When deboning, I like to separate the chicken into large chunks. Then, with a clean, sharp pair of kitchen scissors, I can simply cut it up into cubes of any size I want. These easy chicken cubes make the BEST white chili, soups, or chicken salad you can imagine!  Since it will easily keep in a sealed container in your refrigerator for up to 7 days, you can also spread your chicken meals out and alternate with another protein source some nights, or plan for easy homemade lunches. (We eat a LOT of chicken salad around here.)Here are some of our favorite ways to use this homemade boneless, skinless chicken: Chicken chiliChicken pot pieThai chicken curryAny casserole that calls for chickenHomemade pizzaChicken saladChicken enchiladas Chicken FajitasAsian stir fryCheck out our library of Tried and True chicken recipes A good chicken should be more than just a nourishing meal. You should have peace of mind knowing that you used your hard-earned dollars well, and it's great if it makes you want to do a happy dance, too.  Do you have a favorite way to prepare a whole chicken? Share your recipes, stories, and those little traditions that make a meal feel like home to you. Here’s to gathering often, eating well, and savoring every bite. Hannah

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