The Last Sunday in October 2010

 

October 23, 2010

 

It looks like a showery but fairly warm week:

Leading to the last Sunday in October; this year? Halloween!

Historically, Halloween night can be a blustery cold time and it was one reason the U.S. Congress extended daylight savings time into November. Around here we consider that silly 'cause there's only 24 hours in any day no matter what..

 

Mixed visions for me of that strange Americanified day, Halloween,  include collecting money for UNICEF ([the] United Nations Childrens Emergency Fund). There's always some emergency for children, worldwide – even today when hundreds of thousands of children are tramping America's streets and roads searching for candy! That's Halloween too, with a costume and imagination. No way that buying of a store costume is as much fun as making one out of stuff around the house. One year? Helen and I dressed the dog, usual stupid human trick. Other years we helped our children build a costume, make up their faces and have a good, clean time. But ...

 

I also remember Halloween being the aftermath of "mischief night" (in Detroit they call it "devil's night" because people did really nasty things like burning buildings). I never did anything that horrible, just a few windows soaped here and there and the occasional smashed pumpkin; Halloween was the day when I found out how angry, upset, or chuckling my mischief night victim was. "Nasty boys!" (tee hee hee)

 

Today, looking forward to the last Sunday of 2010, October 31, Halloween, I'm thinking we won't have many trick or treaters and hopefully no mischiefy pranks to worry about. The only trick or treaters here come in cars, but mostly everybody now goes to relative's houses or in to town where the real candy bonanza is found in a cluster.

 

I do think my grandchildren will dress up, have fun, maybe party with their little friends and enjoy themselves. It should be an interesting day to see what the local Baptist Church puts on their sign, when Sunday meets Halloween, some Baptists get a bit preachy. You see, they don't approve of the day's festivities surrounding ghouls, goblins, ghosts and such for their religion seems to believe in – Well, I'm getting off the track here.

 

The reason for this reflection, a week early, actually does have something to do with the Farm and our products. The animals don't know its Halloween and they don't dress up but they do love their feedings every day. The price of grain is rising fast right now. We hope, as Halloween comes and goes, that this year's pumpkin crop was good enough that there will be fields to glean. Our turkeys and our pigs love pumpkins. In fact, over the years, we have fed hundreds of pounds of pumpkins and squash to our animals with beneficial effect. They like it, it keeps our feed costs down, and we think it gives our meat another quality to add to its flavor.

 

So here's to a good leftover pumpkin and squash crop, here's to weather good enough to glean some from the fields of willing farmers, and here's to a Happy day on Halloween!

 

Whether you're trick or treating, partying, or going to church! Even the last Sunday in October is a good day to enjoy Your freedoms. You can, if you like, enjoy a ride in Maine's countryside, stop by the Farm and collect for UNICEF, trick or treat, just to say hi, see the animals or buy some meats. Be careful though, there are still pranksters out and about so on the last Saturday in October, as it gets dark, be on your guard. Watch your bars of soap around children, hide your pumpkins! That way, nobody will worry about what somebody thought of a prank and nobody will have pranks to clean up  during the last Sunday in October.

 

posting from Emma's Family Farm,
 Windsor Maine;
 Steve Hoad
See what we're doing on the Farm at
http://twitter.com/TheHoads
 

Forming an Email List and Our Fall Farm Prices

Hi From Emma's Family Farm:
We'd like to start an "official" mailing list, one that is set up to easily send messages to all of our customers with information they want to see. Mailings would include newsletters, availabilities (much like what is below), occasional specials, and possibly recipes. We would not expect mailings to be heavy, maybe once a month or less.
Would you be interested in being on such a list?
If so, please send us an Email at 

emmas.family.farm@hotmail.com with the subject line "Email List". Yhaphappeningou would then receive a message that would "opt" you in to the list with your confirmation acknowledgement when you reply to the list host.
 
You would be able to unsubscribe at any time.
 
Thank you.
 
And now ...
-----

 

Fall 2010

Meats Available at

Emma's Family Farm

 

          Chicken, Beef, Pork and Turkey

    

     Chickens!

Currently there is a wide range of pastured chicken available, all priced at

$2.65 per pound.

 

There are a few Rhode Island cockerels available ranging from 3.5 to 5.5 pounds. These birds raised until 5 to 6 months, have the maturity to insure great flavor and wonderful soup stock.

 

Of course, we also have a broad range of frying and roasting chickens available; from 3 to 6.5 pounds. Their flavor is so much different from barn raised birds, we receive feedback from store owners and individuals marvelling at the "real" taste of our chicken.

 

 

     Beef

You can still purchase half of a Jersey cross steer,

$3.29 per pound plus Processing costs: $25.00 per half animal

Raised on quality, high protein grasses here at the Farm. Totally grass fed, this meat will be tender and have the flavor that only grass and sunlight can provide. Cut, wrapped in vacuum packages and frozen, this beef will be a tasty addition to your meals; it will remain high quality until you eat it.

  (Note: There is only one half available for sale.)

 

We also have some angus beef, steaks and hamburger,  available by the package and priced according to the cut.

 

 

     Pork

Pasture raised pigs are available in half or whole, custom cut, wrapped, smoked to your specifications. Like the beef, this meat is delivered frozen. Pork products will be available for delivery in early November and MidJanuary.

$3.10 per pound plus processing costs: $ 40.00 per whole animal $20.00 per half animal

Pigs at our Farm have plenty of pasture so they develop naturally on the local and high quality grain mix we feed them. They supplement their diet with grass, soil, fruits and roots that they find and do a beautiful job keeping their quarters neat and clean. The idea that pigs are dirty comes from somewhere else; usually the only reason we know the pigs are around is the sound of their excited squealing at feeding time and their happy grunts as they forage and nap.

As you order, discuss your cutting and smoking preferences with us, there is a natural smoke option available for your bacon and hams.

We are asking for a $50 deposit on your pork order.

 

 

     Turkeys

Currently we have heritage turkeys available.

$4.25 per pound

Some shortages of turkeys will be experienced by customers as they shop this Fall. One large provider of pastured birds has raised fewer turkeys. In past years, we have sold every bird we've raised (excepting the ones we eat) so we're encouraging you to order early. Turkeys will be available the week of Thanksgiving. As we aproach that day, your preferred size should be reserved with a deposit of $10.

 

Raising Methods

We raise all of our animals in the most natural way possible. No hormones are given, all animals use our pastures in a rotational grazing fashion, and low stress is accomplished with careful management and individual care. Each of our animals is here for multiple purposes and we respect them all, even through their slaughter and processing into quality meats. We only medicate when absolutely necessary for animal health, and when meats are processed there is no medication residue. Our husbandry practices and careful monitoring create optimum health and growth conditions and our processing methods ensure quality products ready for stocking your freezer or creating a fine meal. If you have questions about what we do, just ask! We're always willing to share information and visits to the Farm are welcomed.

 

     Ordering

You are able to order by telephone, by Email, by US mail or in person. Payment can be made in cash or by check. We are unable to accept credit cards or SNAP.

Wholesale prices are available on some items for stores and restaurants. We are licensed by the State of Maine for wholesale and retail sales.

 

Thank you so much for reviewing this information. Contact us any time to ask questions or order.

Emma's Family Farm

  135 Windsor Neck Road

  Windsor, Maine  04363

    (207) 445-2141

      Emmas.family.farm@hotmail.com

                                                            Rose, Steve and Helen

                                                            Emma's Family Farm