Update: Raw Milk | Wintering Our Chickens

Good morning from your Farmer(s),

Contents:

1. 1. Update: Raw Milk
2. 2. Wintering Our Chickens
3. 3. Product Availability Update

Raw Milk – So, work has been done that will help our efforts be successful when trying to influence politicians to support Food Freedom, i.e. where small farms can raise and sell into commerce and consumers have the freedom to choose who they buy from.

Last week I had an hour conversation with the Director of the TX based Farm & Ranch Freedom Alliance. They were helpful in Louisiana changing their laws to support raw milk. It was very clear that it requires knowing the current law(s) and what the end game needs to be. And, sometimes change comes by winning a battle at a time to accomplish the final solution.

Equally important is having clear talking points that support the solution. Farmers should be involved as well as consumers (especially consumers who vote with their pocketbook) and who are willing to meet one-on-one with their Representative and Senator. Very important!

There is a lot more involved than simply wishing or hoping for change. That is why I am glad to have MaryJo Perry leading this effort.

Many of you already know MaryJo from her work with vaccine freedom. She has rebranded her non-profit around the Make America Healthy Again theme. She also has a farm that she direct markets beef raised on her farm into her local area. She has a lot of experience dealing with politicians and policy successfully. I'm excited!!!

So, she has developed this website as a starting point to communicate directly with farmers and consumers. If you are interested in Food Freedom, then you need to visit this Mississippi Small Farmers Network link and complete the information form.

Let our voices be heard loud and clear!!!

Wintering our Chickens -

Growing broiler chickens during the winter is challenging because there are three things that can kill your flock (and they all have been strong this past week). The three things are: Water (rain), Wind, and Cold.

During the summer it is not so bad if they get wet because the ground and air are typically hot. Most of the year it takes two of the three conditions to actually kill them - especially when water is involved. Water and cold or water and wind can be deadly.

We overcome weather effects with extra management to keep them dry and block wind while staying on pasture.

Management includes adding clear plastic over openings of the chicken tractors and buying square bale hay that can be spread onto the ground to insulate their feet from the cold and damp soil.

Here we first wrapped the bottom two feet (basically below the metal roof line) back in December. Then, when the weather turned nasty last week we added the front and rear plastic. We use greenhouse channel and Z-wire to secure the plastic to the tractor. Notice how the North wind has the plastic pressed against the tractor and the corners are flapping.

Looking inside, notice the chickens are nice and cozy on top of their bed of hay. Very stress free don't you think? Very thankful for the guys that make this happen day in and day out - regardless the weather.

Typically if we have one to die from our management it is because there was something else wrong with it that would have caused it to die regardless. It is about faithful stewardship to our Creator God!

At Nature's Gourmet Farm, our intent is to create a community that evolves around one of the most intrinsically important things of the ages, and that’s the provision of sustenance. That's our passion - to raise healthy food to nourish families and strengthen immune systems.

If you are new to our farm then maybe you have 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 are 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!

** Product Availability Update **

NOTE: Restocks are made about 6 PM on the dates indicated below!

Chicken -Restocked December 31st. Next Restock will be January 15th

Turkey - Restocked Ground Turkey, Wings, Legs, and Thighs November 22^nd. It will be mid 2025 before the next restock.

Eggs - Restock each (NOW) TUESDAY PRIOR to YOUR delivery date.

Beef - Next Restock will be January 24th. Let me know if you want your name on the list for a half beef – Our next offering will be February 2025. Harvest will be February 4th. We already have 8 beef sold and room for only one more.

Pork – Next Restock FRESH items January 15^th. Smoked items follow 12-14 days later

Lamb - Restocked October 8th