The Dirtiest Job. Farm Store Opening. Fresh Chicken + Chicken Parts.

The Dirtiest Job. Farm Store Opening. Fresh Chicken + Chicken Parts.

FARM HAPPENINGS
There are a lot of dirty jobs on the farm - mucking out the cow shelter in winter, cleaning out the brooders, pulling a calf out of a reluctant cow uterus, loading or unloading broiler chickens into/out of crates on processing day. However, in general the dirtiest job is getting about twenty 300+ pound outdoor hogs loaded into a trailer on processing day. Especially after a big summer thunderstorm has created a giant wallow the night before and they are submerged in this mud hole with only their snouts sticking out when we arrive to load them.  
 
This was our experience on Wednesday morning as we took the last group of winter pigs in for processing. These large pigs are surprisingly agile in avoiding us as we try to herd them into the catch pen we setup, and even when we do get them into the catch pen they can be reluctant to step up into the trailer as 3-4 of us scrawny humans try to push/shove/lift the mud-slicked pigs in and get the door closed before they come back out. After several rounds of chasing the pigs around their 2 acre paddock we finally got them all into the trailer and I snapped a picture of Cody, Fabi, and Eric in their mud-soaked outfits. Did I mention it was almost 90 degrees with 100% humidity while we were trying to get them loaded? 
 
In other farm news, the Moo Crew did not appreciate all the heat and humidity this past week and thus reduced their milk production significantly. With a little cooler weather expected next week we hope to get them back on track. The hens are a bit less sensitive to the weather variations and kept on rocking with egg production so we still have some of the discounted egg bundles available online and in the farm store. 
 
FRESH CHICKEN AND CHICKEN PARTS
Chicken processing season is upon us. We took our second batch of pasture-raised broiler chickens in early Wednesday morning (before the pigs) so we will have fresh whole chickens available in the store this weekend until they run out, PLUS we cut about 200 into parts so we have boneless/skinless breasts, bone-in thighs, wings, drumsticks and chicken feet in the store as well. We have another batch going in next Monday so fresh chickens again from Tuesday through Friday next week. Our first batch of Corn-Free/Soy-Free broiler chickens doesn't go in for processing until July 23rd. 
 
LOOKING FOR PART-TIME HELP IN THE FARM STORE
We are looking for additional part-time help in the farm store, approximately 10-12 hours with some weekend work. This is ideal for someone that loves to talk about regenerative farming and clean eating with our customers!  Benefits include a monthly food stipend and employee discount. Check out the full job description on our website.
 
FARM STORE UPDATE
We have a few meat items on sale in the farm store this week, including beef short ribs, meaty soup bones, marrow bones and chicken legs. As a reminder the farm store is open every day, from 10 AM - 6 PM on weekdays, and 9 AM - 5 PM on weekends.
 
Organic produce we have in the store now includes Apples, Asparagus, Avocados, Beets (local), Carrots, Celery, Green Cabbage (local), Kale (local), Kohlrabi, Limes, Microgreens (local), Mushrooms (local), Pears, Plums, Potatoes, Radish, Red and Yellow Onions, Red Bell Peppers, Red Cabbage, Red/Green Leafy Lettuce (local), Snap peas (local), and Spring onions.
 
A couple of new products we have sourced - a premium grass-fed, organic butter from Kriemhild Dairy Farms.  Their full-fat butter is made by slowly churning fresh sweet cream into an 85% butterfat, resulting in an extremely creamy, flavorful butter. We are excited about this product, check out more at their website http://www.kriemhilddairy.com/
 
Also we have started stocking NW Ferments Greek Yogurt Starter.  Make your own tangy & delicious Greek Yogurt out of our raw milk. This heirloom variety is a thermophilic (heat-loving) culture that requires a yogurt maker, Instant Pot or alternate heating method. Reusable- by reserving a bit from each batch, you can continue to make Greek Yogurt over & over!
 
With the summer weather upon us the farm weekly farm tours are filling up. We do private group tours by appointment, but we also offer the weekly farm tours every Saturday at 1:00 PM. Tickets are now available online for the remaining June, July, and August tour dates. 
 
Stay cool out there and Happy Independence Day!
 
Cliff, Anna, and the Farm Team
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