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New Enterprise

written by

Ben Simmons

posted on

April 1, 2017

Sales Update –

This is the last weekend to get your orders in for the April 4-5 delivery.

Everyone loves a SALE! Last Tuesday we put many of our items on sale after learning that we needed to find another cold storage facility while The Merchants Company repaired their facility that was damaged by the January tornado.

We appreciate your support. 25# Ground is sold out. More will be available late May.

We have 10 & 25# Beef Variety (3) and 25# Pork Variety Shares (4) available.

Life Changes: – when I retired from the MS Air Guard about 2-years ago, Beth & I discussed the possibility of her ending her public job (she has done medical transcription for the past 19 years) and start a farm enterprise when my retirement “kicked in”.

Well, that time has come. This is her last Friday night to transcribe. YEAH!

Farm Activities – Last December Beth & I flew to Indiana to visit the Seven Sons Farm. Specifically, we wanted to look into how they raise all those hens on pasture and see if that is something Beth might consider for her farm enterprise.

After consideration and prayer I found myself driving to the middle of OH Amish country about a month ago to pick up a portable hoop house and then to IN to pick up next boxes. I really enjoyed my short visit with Mr. Yoder. After a 14+ hour drive he welcomed me into his home and said “let’s sit and visit a bit”. He started out by explaining they are “horse & buggy Amish” meaning they do not own any type of automobile and the phone was in a separate structure out by the driveway. “They believe in living simply”.

So, Beth has herself a farm enterprise. The hoop house has been completed as well as the egg processing room and cool room. Nature’s Gourmet Farm egg cartons have been ordered. And, about 500 or so hens will arrive April 14th and should start laying soon thereafter.

Because they are young pullet hens the first eggs will be more medium size to begin with. Then, they will be large brown eggs.

We are excited that Vitamin’s Plus will stock our eggs in addition to our beef and pork. Helen and her family have been very supportive of our farm and are much appreciated.

Additionally, Corner Market will carry our eggs as well as pork – probably starting early May.

What is the Difference between Pastured Eggs and CAFO eggs? –

According to a study from 2007 Mother Earth News egg testing project, conventional store bought eggs are nutritionally inferior to pastured eggs. Compared to official U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrient data for commercial eggs, eggs from hens raised on pasture may contain:

1⁄3 less cholesterol

1⁄4 less saturated fat

2⁄3 more vitamin A

2 times more omega-3 fatty acids

3 times more vitamin E

7 times more beta carotene

4-6 times more vitamin D

Other advantages to Nature’s Gourmet Farm eggs are: Local, Pasture Raised, GMO-Free, and No Drugs or Antibiotics. Basically, we are committed to producing eggs without feeding antibiotics, drugs or GMO grain. Our happy hens are rotated through fresh green pastures daily where they can freely express themselves.

More from the blog

Farm Improvements

Farm Improvements – Fresh water is a necessity for raising healthy animals on pasture. Until recently, we used an ICB tote on a small tralier that we would refill from our well. During the summer the frequency greatly increases in order to keep the chickens hydrated. So, I called my buddy at Southern Pipe and ordered pipe, fittings, etc. and then rented a trencher for May 16th to install 2,700 feet of 1.25 inch PVC pipe. Along the line we added 15 Plasson Quick Coupler Valves that we will hook to as we move the animals through our pastures.

My Advise How To Jump Start Small Farms In Mississippi

“Who controls the food supply controls the people; who controls the energy can control whole continents; who controls money can control the world.” — Henry Kissinger The fight to change food from addictive to nutritive will most likely be harder than the fight regarding tobacco (smoking) in public places that started back in the 1980’s. Note that my comments are NOT a condemnation of anybody who may use tobacco in any way as this can be a sensitive topic. However, it is personal to me as my Dad smoked at least 45 of his 75 years and died of lung cancer.

Small Farm Republic

Pasture Talk With Our Cows– Tuesday morning I was out checking on our cows and took the opportunity to record a short 2-minute story about the time I saved the life of one of the “pet” cows Number 608. Click to watch here. Small Farm Republic- is a book written by John Klar. A former attorney who contracted Lyme disease, John now farms in Vermont. I spent much of last weekend reading his book. He is very pro-small farms and presented a lot of evidence to support his position. On page 77 he makes a comparison to the number of farms and farmers during the Great Depression versus today. During the Great Depression the American population was 100 million. According to USDA charts