Monday, September 19, 2011

The Way It Should Be

Dirty, happy hogs. The way it should be.

Injecting hogs with growth horomones and chemicals. Raising them on metal crates, never allowing them to see the light of day or the earth they so love to roll around in. Shocking them. Crippling them in tight, overpopulated confinement barns.

Is this the way to raise a hog? The humane, healthy way?

We think you already know the answer to that.

Then why buy that drive-thru bacon sandwich? Why buy packaged bacon and sausage packed with chemicals and GMO's? Why support an industry that does not support your health or your views on "the way it should be"?

Naturally Norms on Carlson Farms raises its animals with care and integrity. We care about what we put into our bodies and want to raise happy animals at the same time. We get rid of GMO's in the corn we feed to our hogs and hens. We allow them to pasture and be natural in their environment.

No crates. No cages. No GMO's. No growth horomones. No inhumanely treated animals.

That is the way it should be. We encourage you to participate in the following this harvest season:
  1. Harvest from your own garden.
  2. Support local, "beyond-organic" farmers.
  3. Cut down/cut out trips through the drive-thru. Don't support inhumane farmers!
  4. When preparing your Harvest Family Dinners, think about what you are going to prepare and how it was raised.
If you don't have your own garden to harvest from, or local, humane farmers near you, then give us a call! We'd be glad to give you some more information and fill an order for you!

Enjoy this last partial-week of summer! Take care and we hope to see you soon!

Monday, September 12, 2011

Shifts in Seasons


We hope this post finds you well and that you are enjoying this beautful weather. Though Autumn has a few more days until its official arrival, we can smell the grapes from the vineyard across the street, a sure sign that the seasons are shifting.  




Some chicks just arrived the other day. Their *peeps* are almost deafening when we feed and water them. And even though their chirps sound lively and healthy, these little chicks are extremely delicate and temperamental. They require constant care and attention, as does the rest of the farm, and add to the list of reminders that we, as farmers and human beings, have creatures that rely on us. No matter what season we shift into, we have duties and responsibilities.

Enjoy the close-to-autumn weather, and stop out to see us sometime! You'll have plenty of company and lots to gossip about with all of our hens.


Saturday, September 3, 2011

Autumn's Approach

So often, when we hear the word "Autumn," we think, "Oh, no, that means winter is almost here!" We tend to overlook one of the most beautiful seasons in Michigan, all because of the dreadful, long months of Old Man Winter.

But we would like to encourage everyone to take some time (go ahead, sit back and relax for just a second) and think of all the wonderful things Autumn has to offer.

First off, let's take a look at that name - "Autumn." Isn't that beautiful? Ethereal, almost. It's in that beautiful name that we find blossoming mums, pie pumpkins ripening in the warm sun, cinnamon, nutmeg, and coriander drifting from the kitchen window, and, of course, the radiant colors from Maple trees scattered across the landscape. "Autumn" is your favorite family meal, perhaps a roasted chicken, seasoned with fresh rosemary from your garden, or sweet corn, smothered in savory butter. "Autumn" is also a time for communion; a time for family, friends, and, dare I say, football.

Football punted aside (no pun(t) intended), the fellowship of autumn is of the utmost significance, especially entering into long, hard, cold months. It lets us know that we are not alone and that we have something to share with one another; this sharing is, more often than not, a meal.

Isn't funny how we always come together for food. We've noticed this in the past month when we celebrated in a fundraiser to battle breast cancer at Arcadia Ales in Battle Creek and a benefit Harvest Dinner for Fair Food Matters at Food Dance in Kalamazoo. (Be sure to check out our "Links" page to learn more about these two FANTASTIC restaurants!) Here are some photos from each dinner:

At Food Dance Harvest Benefit Dinner.








Karen and Arcadia's amazing Chef Sean at Breast Cancer Benefit Dinner.



Arcadia Ales' Finest!

Whatever brings you to the table to celebrate Autumn and all that it brings, we hope that you have some of our all-natural pork and poultry on your table. Keep it local, seasonal, and all natural.

Enjoy these days. Enjoy your friends. Enjoy your family.

We hope to see you soon!