Meat in the freezer

I hope that y'all had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends. Today marks a milestone for us. We sent our very first grass fed steer to the butcher this morning. We are very excited that, in two weeks, we will have fresh beef in the freezer! I will keep you posted on the taste and quality. We can't wait!

Happy Thanksgiving

Ps 30:12 To the end that [my] glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

A Piece Of Peace

This past Saturday, while out cutting firewood, I came to a point where I had to shut off the noisy chainsaw. I had to move some wood out of my way to get to another part of the tree.

I took off my hard hat and ear muffs and started to move the wood, stacking it in a nice pile for later pick up. As I did so, I took notice of the peace that surrounded me. Without the noise of the saw, it was quite a serene scene.

I was on a section of the land that was above the tree line and, with the autumn leaves gone, I could see through the trees to what lay beyond. It was a wonderful view of the Ozark mountains with a slight foggy haze.

The cow was just under the line of view and I could see her eating, contentedly, the fresh, green grass that I had allotted for her. The two calves were behind me, in their pen. They had come over to inspect the saw dust and small branches left in the wake of my saw.

There was not a sound. Just me, working. The air was so quiet, in fact, that I could hear the calves chewing their cud-crunch, crunch. There was a chicken, or two, in the area. They made just the slightest cluck as they displayed their chickeness, scratching the ground for tasty morsels and bugs.

Then, Lucy, our cow, layed down to chew her lunch. She was the picture of contentment. It is a good thing to see a cow lying down, chewing the cud. It just seems as if all is right in the world.

I spied a flock of little nuthatches, swooping overhead. They lighted in the trees in order to procure a good vantage point to begin their concert. The chickadees will be here soon, bringing with them their cute little songs-chickadee-dee-dee-dee.

The morning clouds gave way to bright sunshine, and spilled its warmth upon the earth. I was able to shed the thick sweatshirt and soak in the rays. I took a seat on Polly, the power wagon, and ingested the day.

Taking a deep breath, I felt good. For just a brief moment in time, all was good. The stresses of the work week were behind me. The noise of the farm was calming. The rest of the day was ahead.

It is nice to have these moments when I can just forget the rest of the world, even for a little while. I could never find such serenity in the city. I don't know how people can do it, live in the city, that is. I will take this small piece of land over a city lot, anytime. It gives you the chance to stop and smell the roses.

A Quote From Thomas Jackson

Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson said, on February 3, 1863 in a letter to his wife from the winter encampment near Fredricksburg, "I am thankful to say that my Sabboths are passed more in meditation than formerly. Time thus spent is genuine enjoyment."

My prayer for all men, mostly myself, is that we would all spend our time that way, in meditation on the Word of God.

Move Over Horse Power

Now this is the way to do some logging! Somewhere in Alaska.

A Pretty Good Day, Until...

... I pulled into the driveway. I looked to my right and there I saw a Dexter steer. Yes, he is our steer, but he was in the wrong paddock. Which instantly sent me into panic mode.

How in the world did he get over there? I asked myself, He must have escaped, but I don't see anything wrong with the fence. What gives?

I was scheduled to go get some hay, which at this time of year, is difficult to do with the short days. I didn't need a fence problem, which I just knew was the case.

I had to leave him where he was, I had to go get that hay. I found out later that he was loose, wandering and someone in my family put him where he was. My thanks to whomever, let me know who you are and I will thank you personally.

I stewed over the situation all the way there and back. Thankfully, he was still where I left him. Upon investigation, there was a short in the fence, which had to be fixed.

But, it doesn't end there. As I was unloading the hay, I heard that dreaded hissss from one of the rear tires on the van. Great! Now I'm gonna have to change a tire!

I still had to feed the animals, milk the cow and lock up the chickens. Plus I was hungry and I was facing the prospect of missing dinner fixing the fence. Do you know what it is like for a man to miss food?

I was able to get the steer back to where he was, but I had to milk in the dark, which I hate, and listen to starving, lowing bovine waiting for food. All worked out, except for the tire. It seems to be a slow leak so I will inflate it in the morning and drive the van to work and get it repaired over lunch. Lord willing, of course.

I thank the Lord for my wonderful daughters for helping me in my time of distress. Their patience with me is immeasurable as I was a tad grumpy. Now, I am pooped. I'm going to bed.

What To Do With Pasture During Excessive Rain

For all you novice grass farmers out ther (like me), there is a great discussion taking place on the subject. This is a great opportunity to listen to the wisdom of fellow MiG and grass farmers and gleen what we can from them. It is an ongoing discussion found at the Homesteading Today forum. The question being discussed involves what to do with pasture during periods of heavy rain. So, use the link and check it out. Thanks for stopping by.

Opening Day

Opening day of deer season, gun portion, was a success. I shot a nice little buck this morning, four point. I got in the woods at sun up, about 6:30 a.m. and I shot him at 7:00 and was out by 7:30 a.m. God is good!

The Good, The Hopeful, The Ugly

About a week and a half ago, we sent two of our bovine to a new home. Our Dexter cow and her "hubby" went to a new farm and we took a Dexter steer in a partial trade. I think it has worked out equitable for both sides. We are definitely anxious for the beef. He will be sent off at the end of the month. I still have to get the guy home, though. My friend and I are going to pick him up on Saturday.

Opening day of deer season is also on Saturday. I hope to get out more for the gun season than I did for the archery season, but I'm not holding my breath. Things are busy here and seem to keep getting busier. My wife just finished tucking in the raised bed gardens for the winter. This makes me think of cold weather. I dislike cold weather. I want Hawaii weather, 75-80 degrees all year long. That, I could handle. Now if I could figure out a way to have that without the high cost of living of Hawaii, well, I suppose I would be rich.

The funny thing is that I came from Wisconsin twelve years ago. You know, the land of two seasons, winter and road construction. I enjoyed winter up there. I got out and went skiing, or hunting or just walking in the woods. Not any more. I have become acclimated.

No sense whining about it. Winter will come and go, like it always does.

Educating For Future Grassfed Customers

The Stockman Grassfarmer is offering a new brochure for the nations grassfarmers. This sounds like a great way to help educate people on the benefits of eating healthy, grass fed meat. Be it beef, lamb, pork, goat or chicken, it is a good idea to share the knowledge. The Grassfarmer is offering these for sal at 12 copies for $15.00-24 for $28.00-36 for $40.00. The price includes shipping and handling fees.

It is an 8 page pamphlet that is full of fact about the health benefits of eating real food fit to eat. Check it out because an informed customer makes a repeat customer. I am going to give this some thought for ourselves, as well. We are working up a plan to produce more grass fed meat, as we speak. Stay tuned.

If you would like to order, call the Stockman Grassfarmer at: 1-800-748-9808

A Synopsis On NAIS

The NAIS, or, National Animal Identification System is the brainchild of big agribusiness and enforced by the USDuh (USDA). The gist of the thing is to track all animals, which, according to the USDuh's own publication, includes parakeets from birth to death, in sickness and in health. All information will be kept in a national database via expensive equipment such as RFID devices (little microchip ear tags). And an expensive electronic reading device and software etc.

In this system, you will not be able to birth an animal on your farm with out reporting it. You will not be able to slaughter an animal without reporting it. You will not be able to loan out your male for service without reporting it. You will not be able to sell an animal without reporting it. In other words, if a hawk swoops down on a unsuspecting chicken out in the back forty, you will have to report it. Again all stored in the national database.

The idea is to be able to trace back to the source any food born illness and infections such as E. Coli etc. The problems this will cause are myriad and I will save them for your own research.

The bottom line is that big agribusiness isn't satisfied with the lion share of the market, they want it all. It is only the Cargill's, Monsanto's, Tyson's and the like that have the capital to maintain and comply to such stringent regulations. Small producers will be forced out of the picture.

It is more government intrusion piled on all the already existing intrusion. Failure to comply will result in very heavy fines and the extermination of your livestock.

If you think this sounds too scary to be true, please scroll down this page and click on the chick found at the right and begin your research there. From there you can access much more information and truth than I can give here. Don't take my word for it, find out for yourself. You'll be glad you did.

Serious E.Coli Infection From Cargil Beef.

I already know about the horrors of the commodity slaughter houses. And I also know much about the USDuh (USDA) and the silly regulations they never impose. Yet, when I read an article, such as this one from the New York Times, I still get shocked. The gist is that a Minnesota dance instructor contracted E. Coli from some frozen beef patties that were labeled as "American Chef's Selection Black Angus Beef Patties". The bacteria left her paralyzed after spending 9 weeks in a induced coma.

The beef patties actually came from a variety of sources, as you will read by using the link, and Cargil (the agribusiness) didn't even follow their own regulations in sanitation. The USDuh turned a blind eye to them and offered this statement via the assistant administrator with USDuh's Food Safety and Inspection Service, "I have to look at the entire industry, not just what is best for public health " (emphasis, mine).

This is from an agency that wants to put an ID tag on every living animal on your farm.

Read the whole article and post your comments here. Thanks for stopping by.

Are You Really Buying Grass Fed?

I have done quite a bit of reading on the subject of grass fed meat. We currently raise meat chikens on grass, in a mob grazing fashion, and very much enjoy the benefits and taste. Our goal is to have grass fed beef and pork as well. You'd be surprised how much grass a chicken will eat. But consumer, beware. There are eggs and meat out there that are marketed as "high in omega 3's" and trace minerals that are essential for good health. The part you have to beware of and educated on is the grass element. In other words, there are those that will market their beef, chickens, eggs etc as grass fed but really aren't. What do I mean? It is not enough to raise a cow on grass only to finish it on grain. Grass fed means from start to finish. Grass is the key.

The same applies to eggs. Farm fresh eggs are higher in Omega 3's, true, but only if the birds have constant access to fresh grass and bugs. You know, letting the chicken be a chicken.
Omega 3's are found in higher amounts in grass fed animals than even fish oil. Again, the key is the grass. It is the green, leafy vegetation that provides those essential nutrients. And, yes, chickens eat grass. So do pigs, and you know cows do and sheep and goats. It is important to let the cowness of the cow and the sheepness of the sheep and the chickeness of the chicken to be. It is unnatural to industrialize the raising of animals.

Agriculture is just that, a culture. When we take the industrial, assembly line mentality and apply it to agriculture, it then becomes agribusiness. Unfortunately, all this produces is corporate business men in suits who call themselves farmers and reap the subsidy gravy train that never actually set foot on a farm. Wouldn't it be nice if we stepped back to a time when local farmers provided local food for their communities?

For more information and some good reading visit www.eatwild.com

Illinois Makes A Move For Local Food

The credit for this article goes to none other than Alan Nation of the Stockman Grass farmer. You can read more of Alan's articles here.


Illinois Passes Law To Stimulate Local Food

Monday, 12 October 2009

Illinois has a new law that it hopes will start building the infrastructure for a new regional food system. The new allows buyers for state agencies, including schools, to pay up to 10% above the lowest bid when purchasing locally grown foods. It also sets a goal for state-owned agencies to increase their purchase of locally-grown foods to 20% by 2020. The law is designed to increase the demand side of local food producing by providing large institutional buyers. Illinois has 76,000 farmers but currently purchases only four percent of its food locally. Ken Meter, an agricultural writer for Grist said that if consumers in the Midwest would buy just 15% of their foodstuffs locally it would generate as much farm income as two-thirds of what farm subsidies currently do. The USDA has announced that it plans to reserve hundreds of millions of dollars in existing USDA grants, loans and loan guarantees for improving local food infrastructure