Schedules, Times, & A New Video
April 1995 I moved our family from Gulfport to Concord, NC to take a new job. With that I also needed to find a new Air Guard job.
For the first 6-months I drilled with the NC unit in Charlotte where I helped facilitate Quality Assurance training. One of the tools was called "Big Rocks".
Basically, you taught how to set priorities based on "rock" sizes. The big rocks are your most important priorities while smaller rocks are least important. To often we put the small rocks into the jar (our schedule) first (our least important priorities) and then wonder why our big rocks (highest priorities) want fit or go unfinished. Visualize a jar filled with big rocks and then medium size rocks followed by small rocks are added. The smaller rocks flow down, filling in the voids around the big rocks. And, yes sometimes requiring a bit of shaking & jiggling to get them all in - but that is life. In the end, you are able to accomplish your most important priorities and most if not all of your smaller priorities.
This is the concept I start with when planning my annual calendar. First, I add the Federal holidays because the dates influence when I can/cannot harvest animals. Next, I add beef harvest dates - currently the first Monday of each month. Cut/Pack follows two weeks later. Note, with this little bit of knowledge you will know when to expect restocks, etc.
Next, chicken processing dates are added so as not to fall on the same week we cut/pack beef. Using Excel I build a schedule from the processing dates for when chicks arrive, are moved to pasture, and etc.
Route delivery dates are added to the calendar. We strive to be very consistent here so to build habits. January 2022 we did shift all deliveries a week later because Jan 1st was a Saturday and would not be a good day for most customers to be out.
January 2023 - we will shift the Jackson Metro Route from Jan 21st to Jan 28th (one week later) so Beth & I can attend the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association (APPPA) Conference. Joel Salatin will be the keynote speaker. All other monthly delivery dates will be consistent.
Pickup Times - Our objective is to never be late to a pickup location. We value your business and respect your time. In fact, we "plan" to arrive about 15 minutes before the scheduled arrival time so orders can be put together (boxes, bags, eggs, etc.) with the invoice to make sure we have each order right before customers arrive.
Then, it only takes a very few minutes for Beth to load your order and receive payment. Using Gulfport as an example, we can easily take care of the 30 or so customers there in about 20 minutes.
Here is where we need YOUR
help and cooperation. We ask that you plan to ARRIVE at your pickup location within the first 10 minutes. Don't be in the habit of arriving just before we are suppose to be departing. By then, we would have served all other customers and are anxious to get to the next location... respecting their time.
Thus, starting January 2023, Arrival times will stay the same. However, Departure times will be sooner - making the time we are at the pickup location less.
Also, pickup up times go smoother when folks bring as close to the correct amount of cash as possible or when paying by check you have it filled out using the amount from "Your Order Is Packed" email.
A New Video - In the past I have shared how we hay our cows in the winter time using our Kubota farm tractor to carry the bale to the pasture and systematically making piles across the pasture. The main problem is the tractor is very heavy and can easily create ruts in pastures and especially going in/out of gate areas. Now, we use our RTV that is much lighter that pulls a hay unroller. Watch the video at this LINK as I demonstrate.
"People are fed by the food industry, which pays no attention to health, and are treated by the health industry, which pays no attention to food." Wendell Berry
Have you been looking for premium ALL NATURAL GOODNESS of beef, pork, chicken, and eggs raised on pasture as God intended - with emphasis on Regenerative Principles and NOT conventionally raised animals (with growth hormones, drugs, chemicals, and antibiotics) - and where animals are treated humanely - then you have come to the right farm. Our delivery schedule and product availability is listed below along with order buttons that will take you to our website where you can browse over 90 product choices and place your order from the convenience of your home. It's that simple!
Lastly, Beth & I thank you for trusting us with your food dollars.
** Product Availability Update **
Chicken -Restocked Thursday, November 10th. Next harvest date is December 13th with restock the following day
Eggs - Eggs are still tight. New hens arrived September 16th. Still very slow getting started...
Beef - Restocked November 23rd early afternoon. Next harvest is December 5th with restock about December 21st
Pork - Restocked all the fresh cuts last week. Bacon & hams restocked this week
Lamb - Last harvest date was MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14th. Restocked Friday Nov 25th.
