September 2021 Newsletter

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September 1, 2021

Busy With Chickens!

We've got a lot going on with poultry these days! We move groups of chickens and turkeys to fresh grass each morning, topping off their food and water and saying hi to the friendly guardian dogs.

Throughout the entire summer every other week, we bring a new batch of chicks or turkey poults into the brooder, to begin their life here on the farm. And every week, we process a batch of fresh chicken to keep the freezer stocked with whole broilers and all our favorite chicken cuts.

If you ask us what Summer means, we'll say "chickens!"

Processing Day

On average, our crew processes between 300 and 400 chickens per week.

We believe in treating every animal with respect from the moment we receive them through harvesting day. We know this isn't something that most people want to think about, but there are many questions that are left open that many don't know what that process looks like and how to form a question to better understand.

So for those wanting to learn more, we highly recommend watching Green Farm Life, Episode 5. It's a very educational episode (video) we recorded to help shed light for our farm friends to be more informed of the process.

Watch "Green Farm Life"

Turkeys on Pasture

We raise several batches of turkey throughout the growing season to have delicious, nutrition packed turkey meat for your Thanksgiving Dinner! In order to do this, it's important to have fresh green grass and bugs in their diet, so this means raising them throughout the Summer Time.

During this past month the turkeys were big enough to move onto open grass from their movable shelter designed to keep them safe while they were little.

They walked happily across the field and into their new paddock with a little direction from the crew.

Learn More about how we raise our Turkeys - HERE

HOW TO COOK A CHICKEN

Have you ever felt intimidated by cooking a whole broiler chicken? Wondered about crock pot vs. oven, basting and cooking times?

Check out this step by step guide for multiple ways to cook your pasture raised broiler to perfection - without the fuss!

Recipe Here

Chicken Bundles Available Again!

We're excited to offer our Whole Bird Bundle and our Chicken Parts Bundle again. Chicken sure is a staple at our house, anyone else?

Checkout these bundles and see if stocking your freezer with one of these bundles is a good fit for your family.

Chicken Bundles

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our farm in this newsletter! We call you our farm friend, because we see you as friend's of our farm. So thanks for being you and supporting our farm in the way you do! We look forward to hearing from you soon!

- Laura

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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