"small batch" chicken beef pork. ??

i eat very little meat now.

in my freezer for the first time, i only have game meat. stuff i killed myself, or was with a buddy that killed it.

deer, elk, some wild pork. i'm a sucky hunter. with a bow, so i am twice as sucky. or i'm a sucky hunter with a weapons handicap. whatever.

so i have been thinking of buying my meat from the source. all small batch stuff. grass fed, happy animals.

chickens i can get. super expensive but not bad considering i dont eat a lot.
pork? my neighbor raises them and used to get me a hog a year. lately they are not having great sex, so no pregnant sows. the boars are all too old or something.

beef, is problematic. i can get a cow, but it's like half of a cow!!

anyone just eating non super market meats?

 

Old thread but most of the meat we eat is wild game, grouse, deer, elk. But we do end up eating store bought chicken/pork or whatever at the restaurant. I'd say about 80% is wild game.

 

Yes, my sister raises pigs and chickens. I will sometimes buy half a cow.

If you want happy animals, go bid on animals at a 4 H fair. They aren't organic but usually very happy.

 

We've raised chickens for several years, mainly for eggs. When they are 1-2 years old they are good for meat, although the older ones are better for stew and soup. And you'd be surprised how many people offer you free birds when they know you have some. We're doing it to try to keep our kids in touch with where food comes from.

 

I would say you are teaching them where food SHOULD come from.
Big difference between a factory farm and your back yard.

More kids need to be taught sustainable farming. Hats off to you guys!

 

Point taken. By "where food comes from" I mean food comes from plants and animals, not factories and grocery stores who merely process food.

 

I only eat wild game meat - deer, grouse, geese, duck, fish, etc. If I'm low on that I'll purchase chicken, turkey & beef from a local farm stand that's 100% organic & grass fed. And it's processed at a local butcher shop.

I'll never, ever buy meat, fish and/or poultry from a super-market.

I will buy seafood right from the fish market on the waterfront.