Restock Dates: Please see our Farm Blog where we post our weekly newsletter for the latest updates

2017 0311

written by

Ben Simmons

posted on

March 12, 2017

Our online farm store re-opened last Wednesday at midnight for April Delivery.

Product Update –

We still have a few pigs looking for a home. We will deliver them for processing next Sunday. Place your order today. “Ben, your bacon is second to none”! Frank K.

Custom-Processed Half Beef is available for ordering. Reserve yours by placing your deposit today.  

We have beef ground and variety shares available as well as a few more pork variety shares. Chicken will be available beginning March 22nd.

Farm Soil Health Update – early February I took soil samples from 50% of the paddocks that included land cleared in 2010 and 2012. We sent the samples to Ward Labs because they can perform what is called “The Haney Test”. The Haney Test includes a biological soil analysis – and increased biological activity is one of the components our management practices aim to increase.

I was very excited when the results came back and showed that in the last few years we have increased our soil organic matter about 50%. Organic matter is an important indicator of soil health as well as an indicator of nutrient cycling performed by soil microbes. The higher the organic matter the better the soil cycles nutrients – including water holding capacity – and the more drought tolerant our farm is. Our regenerative management practices will one day mean our farm will be more sustainable on little to no inputs.

Farm Business Model –

For about a year now we have operated our online store and since August offered deliveries to five locations. Our objective is to be convenient, simple, and flexible to the needs of our customers while offering locally raised, GMO Free premium quality beef, pork, and chicken.

While our model is new for South Mississippi, it has worked very well in other parts of the country. How about you? Are you supporting your local family farm?

Quote Worth Re-Quoting –

“A new idea is first condemned as ridiculous and then dismissed as trivial, until finally, it becomes what everybody knows.”   ~ William James

More from the blog

MS Ag Commissioner Visits NGF

Commissioner Andy Gipson Visits NGF - Monday, Commissioner Gipson (Andy) visited our farm for the third time. First, was after he was appointed and Senator Hill and I were working to increase the poultry exemption for Mississippi. The second time was after we built the USDA poultry processing plant that Andy supported our LWT Grant which helped fund about 50% of the cost. This visit was to support Andy’s efforts to both support existing farmers as well as encourage more people to farm and help feed our citizens.

Amazing Recognition

Amazing Recognition 2025 #12 Best Blogger! – A site titled FeedSpot recently released what they describe as the best Regenerative Agriculture blogs from thousands of blogs on the web and ranked by relevancy, authority, social media followers & freshness. We are amazed that Nature’s Gourmet Farm blog ranked #12 out of the top 30 blogs recognized.

Farm Improvements

Farm Improvements – Fresh water is a necessity for raising healthy animals on pasture. Until recently, we used an ICB tote on a small tralier that we would refill from our well. During the summer the frequency greatly increases in order to keep the chickens hydrated. So, I called my buddy at Southern Pipe and ordered pipe, fittings, etc. and then rented a trencher for May 16th to install 2,700 feet of 1.25 inch PVC pipe. Along the line we added 15 Plasson Quick Coupler Valves that we will hook to as we move the animals through our pastures.