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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

Cows & Pigs

Brand New Services– About six weeks ago Dixie Electric Power installed a brand new electric line with poles down my road. They replaced the old copper lines with aluminum and the poles are much better quality and taller. I asked the district manager when was the old copper line installed and he said since electric service was available for us… so, maybe since the mid 1940’s? Then, this week our complete road was blacktopped!!! If you have visited our farm you know it was long overdue. For years it has been patched to the point where the patches had patches. Hahaha

Clean and Cold | Adorable Calves

New Calves On Our Farm– Sometime in April we call our vet and schedule a breeding soundness exam for our bulls. This is before we add our bulls to our cow herd May 1st each year. Our oldest bull, affectionately named “Ole Man” by the guys here, was born on our farm the Spring of 2016.

New Pullets | Calves | Job Opening

Pullets arrived March 1st– every 6 months we receive a fresh batch of pullets. This year we were not sure if our late February to early March batch would be available…even though we ordered them last September. However, mostly since we have done business with the same farmer since the Spring of 2017, he prioritized our order and delivered them March 1st. While the price was higher, I was braced for a much higher price. Our pullets are typically 17 weeks old when delivered. They will start laying at about 24 weeks. That means we should start seeing medium eggs by our May delivery dates. YEAH!