Maker's Long Acres

As we savored the first bite of our wagyu steak, we were just so pleased with how delicious it was.  It waa tender and juicy, melting in our mouths with each bite. But this post isn't about beef at all... So often on a farm, we are spread different directions, many emotions trying to crowd into one space. And that moment was no exception.  As we relished the taste of this hard earned meat and the joy of accomplishment, our hearts were also heavy and  mucky at the same time. We couldn't help but think about our dear friend Gerry Tucker, who had passed away before he could taste this cow, and the fruits of our labor. Gerry had been with us from the beginning of this crazy farm life, offering his unwavering support and encouragement whatever we dove into. But as we embarked on our journey to acquire the wagyu heifer he was exceedingly thrilled. Gerry's generosity knew no bounds. He had offered to pre-buy the meat at a ridiculous amount over fair market value, just to ensure th

DEBUNKING THE MYTH:  Yes! Cornish-cross chickens CAN live longer and healthier lives... It's a common belief that Cornish Cross chickens' legs will break or their hearts "explode" if they live longer than 8-12 weeks. However, this is simply not true. In fact, with proper care and a nutritious diet, these birds can live much longer and still be healthy and happy. As evidence, here's a photos of our own Cornish Cross chickens that are almost a year old (the white ones).  Little FarmHer Rayeuk keeps them around because through a summer of raising and teaching butcher classes she happened to get attached to two of the feisty ones that refused to be caught. They are still walking around just fine and enjoying their free-range lifestyle. In fact, they are thriving on a diet of high-quality feed we give them made up of "spent mash grains" from local breweries, whatever thatcan scratch up around the farm, fresh water, and plenty of space to move arou