This weekend we picked up our share of a cow from Freeman Farm in Heath. Back in March, a friend coordinated several families to buy a whole cow for slaughter in the fall. It took some coordination with the farm and the slaughterhouse, but we ended up paying about $4.87 a pound for a share that included about two-thirds ground beef and stew meat and about 1/3 other cuts (mostly a variety of steaks). With the meat divided 11 ways, a share ended up being about 30 pounds. (We actually got 1.5 shares, so around 45 pounds.) The freezer is now well-stocked with local, grass-fed beef.
If you're interested in doing something similar, Freeman takes orders in March. There are other farms in the area with similar offerings. I have also seen ads for fall sales of whole animals, halves, and quarters. I'm guessing you get a somewhat better deal by ordering in the spring, but that option also involves a little more coordination. Check CISA's database for beef producers (this is also an option for pork and lamb).
Meggan-
ReplyDeleteCould you post the following information about the Brookfield Farm Winter Share from Michael Docter? I had a share last year and it was delicious, economical, convenient, and good for the environment! Thanks, Heidi
Brookfield Farm Winter Share
We are pleased to offer Brookfield Winter Shares again this year. If
you want to make a big dent in your carbon footprint and also reduce
the amount you spend buying produce this winter, this is a great
opportunity. The share will consist of about 30 pounds of locally
produced farm fare per month for the months of December, January,
February and March. That comes to about 120 pounds of produce for
$125.00. The produce is all local and all raised with no pesticides,
herbicides or chemical fertilizers. I grew many of the roots that
will be in the share along with Brookfield Farm.
What’s going in the root cellar share: Carrots, Potatoes, Cabbage,
Winter Squash, Onions, Leeks, Beets, Parsnips, Turnips, Rutabagas,
Celariac and U-pick kale and collards.
1) Distribution will happen every other week. It will be on a self
serve basis and you can come any day from Monday thru Sunday to pick
up your share. The root cellar is at Brookfield farm in South
Amherst (not far from Atkins).
2) The share will be the same size as last year - targeted to be 30
lbs per month. The crops generally look good in the field (but it is
still early, and it's a share of the harvest, so quantities will
vary). The potatoes were affected by the Late Blight, earlier this
summer, but so far they look good to harvest and we are hopeful that
we will have a decent crop.
4) Distribution will be from December through March.
5) The produce will NOT be washed (too cold for the farmers and the
barn water pipes).
6) The parking lot will be plowed and sanded.
7) Shares will be made available on a first come first served basis.
How to sign up: If you are interested in a Winter Share, please sign
up at The Food Bank Farm during our regular hours. We ask that you
put $25.00 down and the balance of $100.00 will be placed on your
account and will be due December 15^th . In November, you will
receive additional information via email. Emails will also be sent
out via email.
If you have any questions or need more information to sign up for
our winter share, please go to
http://www.brookfieldfarm.org/WinterShare.html
Thank you for your continued support and I hope you will join us
this winter.
Sincerely,
Michael Docter
Footnote: Since I grew a bunch of the roots for the winter share I
can say that crops are looking great for the fall harvest! The late
roots were not affected by the wet weather of the spring and early
summer.