​For Sale: Used SunshineUsed sunshine, huh? What the heck am I talking about? 

Our farm philosophy is fairly simple: Use plants to capture solar energy.  Use livestock to turn human-inedible plants into tasty, nutrient dense, dairy & meat products.  Really, the stars of this system are the microbes that exist both in the soil and produce nitrogen, and in the cows' rumens (stomachs) that turn plant fibers into protein.   

Beyond this basic philosophy are a million logistical details that influence how the process is completed. Our management focuses on minimizing inputs onto the farm as much as possible.  For the cows, that's only salt and minerals including selenium, which our soil in the Northeast is deficient in.  We do need to harvest a good portion of our acres for winter feeding because of the layout of our farm, so there are inputs required to do that.  

Pigs are not ruminants; they have a simple stomach that functions the same as yours and mine.  They don't have the benefit of rumen bacteria and therefore need more essential amino acids supplied in their diet.  Their diet includes grain which is an input to our farm; we include excess milk & whey from our dairy which reduces the amount of grain required.  

Time on the tractor gives me a chance to catch up on podcasts, and lately I've been binge listening to "Working Cows", a podcast focused on all things related to regenerative farming & ranching with livestock.  I believe it was Steve Kenyon in episode 95 that said farmers and ranchers are one of two things: used sunshine salesmen, or earth miners.  

If you're not taking full advantage of soil and rumen biology, you're either depleting soil nutrient reserves or need to add nutrients in the form of fertilizers, most of which are petroleum derived.  We'd prefer to manage our soils, grass, and livestock in ways that allow us to focus on being used sunshine salesmen!  We think you can taste the difference, as well as reaping the health benefits of nutrient dense foods!  

Is sourcing your meat from a local farm that ethically raises animals important to you?  Are you overwhelmed by the options and not sure what will work best for you?  Let me help you sort this out!  
First, answer these questions:
1. How much meat does my household prepare on a daily/weekly/monthly basis? 

Every household has unique habits and needs!  Determining both how many meals per week typically include meat, and how much meat at each meal, will give you a rough idea how long a bulk purchase might last you.   Are you cooking for 1 or 2, or 6 or 8?  And are those teenagers (aka bottomless pits) or seniors with smaller appetites?  Does one pound of ground beef make one meal plus leftovers for a second, or will you need two pounds to get everyone fed tonight?

2. How much freezer space can I dedicate to meat storage?

The freezer of a typical fridge/freezer can easily hold any of our CSA shares, or one of our 20lb bundles, in addition to a “normal” variety of other frozen items.  If you’d like to try ordering a ¼, ½ or whole animal, more freezer space is necessary.  Chest/upright freezers can be a great investment, especially if you also want to store fresh fruits or produce harvested in season.  You can often find them used on Craigslist or Marketplace, though I’m wary of any that are more than 10 years old (likely limited lifespan and less energy efficient).  Try to choose a size freezer that you will fill at least once a year – freezers are most efficient when they are full! 

Another option is to rent freezer space as needed.  The Ithaca Meat Locker (http://ccetompkins.org/agriculture/buy-local/local-meats/the-meat-locker) offers lockable bins for $3-5/month.  Our local grocery store also offers the same service – check into what might be available in your community!  

3. How fussy is my household about the cuts of meat we cook with?  

Do you only like to cook with your tried & true favorite cuts, or are you open to trying new things?  Both our CSA shares and 20 lb bundles include an element of surprise – you do not have complete control over the items you receive.  Both DO include staples including ground beef, bacon, and sausage, but the balance of the order will vary.  They’re a great opportunity to experiment, perhaps learn a new technique for a new recipe, and push outside your comfort zone on occasion!  You can also plan your meals around the meat cuts you receive, rather than having to plan everything from a blank slate.

In contrast, each ¼, ½ or whole animal purchase is cut specifically for your order, so you can choose exactly the items you receive.  However, you receive the cuts in proportion to how many are in one animal.  There’s only so much bacon & so many steaks in each animal.  Your order will also include parts like the shoulder and rump.  There’s flexibility in how these parts are processed – they can be cut as roasts, less common steaks, or ground for more sausage/ground beef.  You need to be willing to cook with all of the cuts (in some form) or you’ll soon find you’ve used all of the bacon and still have 7/8 of a pig in your freezer!

4. Can my budget handle larger, infrequent outlays for stock-ups, or do I need to purchase on a weekly/monthly basis?

Ordering a ¼, ½ or whole animal is a one-time purchase that will range from $325 to $2400, but because you’re buying a large volume it’s the most cost effective way to purchase our meats.  We offer these options every 2-3 months, so you can plan your purchase in advance, perhaps to coincide with a time that you have more cash available (like your tax return!) .  We also gladly accept EBT or credit cards.  

Teaming up with a friend, neighbor, or family member is another great option for capturing bulk pricing while making the cash outlay and freezer space requirement smaller.

Our CSA shares are a 6 month commitment, which can be paid up front or in monthly installments, making it easier to budget evenly.  Our freezer bundles are a one-time purchase with no ongoing commitment, and can be ordered anytime!

Just how much is a ½ pig or ¼ beef? 
A ½ pig is roughly 60 lb of meat for your freezer, and might look like 6 lb bacon, 15 lb ham/ham steaks, 10 lb shoulder roasts/steaks, 15 lb chops/loin roasts, 8 lb sausage, 3 lb ribs, 1 lb hocks, 2 lb heart/liver (or more cuts can be ground for more sausage).   You’ll need 3-4 cubic feet of freezer space for a 1/2 pig.  Double these numbers for a whole pig.

Our beef vary more in size from animal to animal but 150lb is a typical hanging weight for a ¼ for our farm.  This might be 35 lb ground beef and/or patties, 10 lb chuck roasts/steaks, 5 lb stew beef, 5 lb soup bones, 4 lb brisket, 10 lb premium steaks, 5 lb sirloin, 10 lb round/rump roasts/steaks, 4 lb short ribs, 4 lb organs. (This is just an example – you choose how it’s cut!)  You’ll need about 5 cubic feet of freezer space for a ¼. Double for a ½, double again for a whole beef!

To summarize: if you have freezer space and the ability to make larger, less frequent purchases, stocking up with a ¼, ½ or whole animal is the most cost effective way to purchase local meat.  You can place a reservation for pork or beef today! If your freezer space is limiting, our monthly CSA shares divy that purchase up into smaller deliveries.  Or, if you’d prefer to not make a monthly commitment, you can order a 20lb bundle whenever it’s convenient, or you can pick and choose by the cut from our current inventory!  Hopefully these questions have helped you think about your households’ eating & buying habits and will help you to make the meat purchases that suit you best!

I have a confession – we could care less about football in this house.  It would have been cool to see Buffalo make it all the way, just because they’re in our backyard and have been SO FAR from it for so long, but otherwise….The first Sunday of February is just another day.  

But football game or not, classic comfort food to warm up from winter weather IS key to survival in this house.  Mac n cheese, meatloaf, and chili all make appearances.  We make them in large quantities and then feast on the leftovers or toss some in the freezer for quick meals on busy nights.  This favorite recipe for Beef Roll Mozzarella adds an Italian twist on a classic meatloaf.  Let us know what you think!
(You can stock up on our ground beef at a great price here!)
Beef Roll Mozzarella
1 ½ lb ground beef
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
1 tsp onion powder
1 egg, beaten
½ C dry bread crumbs
4 oz chopped mushrooms
Liquid from canned mushrooms or ½ C water
½ green pepper, chopped
1 ½ C shredded mozzarella
1 (15oz) can tomato sauce
 
Combine beef with next 5 ingredients.  Add enough water to mushroom liquid to make ½ C.  Add to meat mixture with mushrooms and peppers, mix well.  Line 9x13 pan with wax paper.  Press meat mixture out flat on top of paper in pan.  Sprinkle cheese on meat, leaving one border free of cheese.  Roll meat with cheese as you would for a jelly roll, removing paper as you roll.  Place seam side down in same pan.  Spread ½ of tomato sauce over the roll.  Cover with foil & bake at 375 for 35 min.  Remove foil, spread on remaining sauce, bake 15 minutes more.  

When you open your freezer, are you met with an ice-covered abyss of unidentified objects? 
Does the thought of “stocking up” on anything scare you because you’ll have to make more space? 
Not sure what you should meal plan because you don’t know what’s left in there? 
Whether your freezer is just ½ of a typical fridge, or you have the largest chest you could find, keeping it under control will make your life better! 

This hit home last time we returned from the butcher with two truckloads of meat!  Our fleet is seven chest and upright freezers, plus the freezers of two extra refrigerators, and keeping track of what’s where, how much inventory we have left, and GETTING IT ALL IN is no easy feat! No lies, I consider myself something of a pro at freezer jenga. 

Here are 5 tips to make life with a freezer more enjoyable:

1. Find containers that fit efficiently.  We use the heavy duty cardboard boxes from our butcher because they fit in the freezer perfectly. (We always have tons of these boxes so let us know if you’d like some!) Heavy duty plastic bins are another option we like.  You lose a small amount of capacity by using boxes & bins, but the trade off in being able to pull them out to access what’s underneath or behind is worth it! 
2. Choose a strategy to organize: group all like items together, like all beef in a bin, all pork, all veggies.  Depending on space & volume, you might sort even further – all steaks together, all sausage, all roasts, each type of veggie.  This method makes it easy to see how much you have left of each item.
   OR    Mix items proportionately to the rate you’ll use them.  For instance, put a week’s worth of items in one container – maybe that’s 3 meats, 5 veggies and 2 fruits. Pack variety in each container, then each week, use the items in that box to meal plan.This method forces you to use everything up and makes weekly choices less overwhelming!
3. Label!  Label at least every box/bin, preferably every item with the date it went into your freezer, so you can use the oldest first!  Use magnetic clips or a dry erase board on the freezer to draw a chart of what’s where.  Sometimes we also write a note on the top box of what’s underneath it.  Do not assume that you’ll be able to tell the difference between frozen green beans & rhubarb a year from now!
4. Check your freezer!  Open it every 3 days to make sure it’s functioning!  If it’s not, items should still be cool with this time interval and safe to refreeze.   If you can’t check often, install a temp monitor with an alarm to protect your investment! You don’t want to find out your freezer failed when you smell it!
5. Defrost if & when you get more than ½” of ice buildup.  Easiest to do in cold weather – remove everything and set it outside (protected from animals!).  Turn the freezer off & block the lid/door open.  Within a few hours, you should be able to pull chunks of ice out of the freezer, which is faster & easier than waiting for it to melt completely.  Either open the drain and place a container under it, or use old towels to sop up any water in the bottom.  Now is a good time to give the freezer a thorough scrubbing!  Dry, remember to TURN BACK ON, and replace your neatly organized inventory! 

 
Hopefully these tips will help you keep the Abominable Freezer Monster under control – and make stocking up an easier option! 

​

SWEDISH MEATBALLS     Servings: 4-6
3 lb ground beef
1 onion, diced
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 C seasoned dry bread crumbs
½ c fresh chopped flat-leaf parsley (or 1 Tbsp dried parsley)
2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
GRAVY: 4 Tbsp flour
2  ½ C beef consommé or broth
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 C milk
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
12 oz medium egg noodles, cooked
¼ C butter
3Tbsp fresh chopped flat-leaf parsley (or1/2 Tbsp dried parsley)

1. Thoroughly mix together ground beef, onion, eggs, breadcrumbs, parsley, salt & pepper. Form into ¾ -1” meatballs.
2. Heat large non-stick frying pan over med-high heat (a Dutch oven or electric frying pan can also work well). Brown meatballs on all sides, in batches if needed.  Use slotted spoon to remove meatballs to plate, leaving drippings in pan.
3. Sprinkle flour over drippings and whisk until combined.   Cook for 3-4 minutes or just until flour turns light golden brown.
4. Slowly whisk in consommé/broth and Worcestershire.  Add milk, salt and pepper while whisking constantly to prevent lumps.  Cook for 5- 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, or just until gravy starts to thicken.  Add meatballs & juices back to pan; gently toss to coat meatballs.  Lower heat to medium and simmer uncovered  for 10-15 minutes or just until meatballs are cooked through.
5. Toss hot cooked egg noodles with butter to coat.  Divide noodles among plates and top with meatballs & gravy.  Sprinkle with parsley.

 
BEEF & POTATO MOUSSAKA    Servings: 6-8
1 lb ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
¾ C water
1 can (6oz) tomato paste
1 tsp salt
½ tsp dried mint (optional)
¼ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp pepper
Parmesan sauce:
¼ C butter
¼ C flour
2 C milk
4 eggs, beaten
½ C Parmesan cheese, grated
½ tsp salt
5 medium potatoes, peeled & sliced

1. Cook beef, onion, and garlic until the beef is no longer pink; drain.  Stir in water, tomato paste, parsley, salt, mint, cinnamon, pepper.  Set aside.
2. For sauce, melt butter in saucepan over medium heat .  Stir in flour til smooth, gradually add milk.  Bring to boil; cook & stir 2 minutes or until thickened.  Remove from heat.
3. Stir small amount of hot mixture into eggs.  Return all to saucepan, stirring constantly.  Stir in Parmesan & salt. 
4. Place ½ of potato slices in a greased, shallow 3-   qt baking dish.  Top with ½ of the Parmesan sauce & all of the meat mixture.  Arrange rest of potatoes over meat, top with rest of sauce.
5. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until potatoes are tender.  Let stand 10 minutes.

 
 
GROUND BEEF & CAULIFLOWER HASH      Servings: 4
2 ½ + C frozen cauliflower (defrosted & drained) OR fresh cauliflower OR summer squash, chopped
½ C bell pepper, chopped
¼ C onion, chopped
1 lb ground beef or sausage
2 C shredded cheese (Goblin, sharp cheddar, mozzarella – or a mixture)
¾ tsp garlic powder
¾ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper

1. In a large skillet, cook pepper & onion in oil or butter over medium-high heat. Cook until onions are translucent and peppers are tender, 3-4 minutes. 
2. Add ground beef or sausage; cook until no longer pink. 
3. Add cauliflower, garlic, salt, pepper; cook until tender.  (If using fresh vegetables, add ¼ C water and cover pan to steam).
4. Top with cheese; turn heat to low, cover pan and allow cheese to melt.