Hello Farm-ily!
From my spot at the desk during winter, I see a cluster of fluffy brown hens happily snacking on a heap of arugula and other greens. In the next few weeks, our breeding pigs will join them here at the Grange, to help us better manage some of the woody brush areas that we don't cultivate. This is my new favorite part of winter; seeing our livestock every time I face east!
Did you know that Willowsford Farm offers Pastured Meat farm shares as well as Veggies? Last year we introduced a new breed of hogs into our program, a proprietary cross between Mangalitsas (woolly pigs!) and Tamworths. These two heritage breeds help give us hearty pigs, well-adapted to foraging and living outdoors, with a balance of marbling that leads to amazing flavor. Our flock of laying hens is similarly well adapted to pasture and keep us busy year-round with rich and delicious farm eggs. To add variety to our Pastured Meat shares, we work with Jesse Straight and his family farm, Whiffletree, in nearby Warrenton. Jesse raises grass-fed Black Angus cattle and lambs, as well as pastured poultry to supplement our own. What’s in a typical Pastured Meat share? It changes every week! This winter, our shareholders have received lamb shanks, pork chops and tenderloins, tri-tip and Porterhouse steaks, roasting chickens, beef bratwurst, bacon, chorizo, lamb sausage, and more.
As farmers, we know that bringing you protein options that have been responsibly raised helps us all to have a more positive impact on our environment and the health of our community. Our animals, and the animals from Whiffletree Farm, enjoy sunshine, companionship, and fresh veggies while moving freely in their natural habitats. We supplement their diets with locally milled, non-GMO feed, and we never expose them to hormones or antibiotics. What that means for you is a healthier, more nutrient-dense cut of meat with heritage flavor. It also means you can rest easy knowing that the food your family enjoys was humanely treated. Our livestock program helps us enrich our soil without energy-intensive outside inputs and sequester atmospheric carbon. Every item in our Pastured Meat shares is raised with the same love, care, and commitment to ethics that goes into our produce!
Meal Plan #6
Delicious Entrees
Meatloaf, but healthy and full of hidden cauliflower and kale.
Easy (we promise!) Pork Spareribs - All you need is an oven and time. Serve with Beet and Spinach Salad.
Carrots and Crispy Chicken Thighs with Thyme and Mustard
On the lighter side, a Wintry Caesar with Kale, Sweet Potatoes, and Crispy Chickpeas
Sausage Choucroute... fun to say, more fun to eat!
Vegetarian Inspiration
Hearty Winter Squash Farro Risotto
Extra Credit
What will your family cook this week?
Eat well and be well,
Ashley, Collin, John, Lex, our feathered friends and growing hogs, and all the mischievous Farm dogs
