What is “pasture-raised”?
Our animals are grown on open pasture. They are free to roam within the confines of an expansive fenced area. There, they eat the best food for them; grass and bugs, and they soak up sunshine and morning dew. We move them to new pasture almost everyday, so the grasses thrive and provide the best nutrients sunlight and rain can grow.
For a concise description of why this is good for you take a look at this page on Mercola.com: http://www.mercola.com/beef/health_benefits.htm
What is “organic”?
Since the USDA took over regulation of this standard, it’s become difficult to know if you’re getting what you pay for. Ideally organic means that no pesticides or chemical fertilizers have been used in production. We NEVER use those things. Our best pesticide is our thumb and fore-finger! (yes, we squash bugs). Also, we supplement our pastured birds and pigs with locally produced (about 45 miles away) organic grains. Bob Crowe at Inverness Farm grows without chemicals or pesticides but is not USDA certified. Organic standards are quite a bit more extensive than I care to describe here. Here’s a link to the details.
Why local?
When you spend your dollars locally, they change hands with an average of 7 of your fellow community members before moving on to larger entities (we also like to barter, so the “wealth” never leaves).
When you purchase food from the grocery store, it has travelled an average of 1500 miles before it reaches your plate. One word, fuel. When you buy locally you help local families thrive and greatly reduce the resources necessary to get food to your table. That means less dependence on foreign fossil fuels and ultimately a richer (both culturally and economically), more secure society that doesn’t have to go to war for oil.
local food production = global security
“The rule of no realm is mine, but worthy things that are in peril as the world now stands, those are my care. And for my part, I shall not wholly fail in my task if anything passes through this night that can still grow fair and bear fruit and flower again in days to come. For I too am a steward. Did you not know?“ — J.R.R. Tolkien