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

Around The Farm Happenings

written by

Ben Simmons

posted on

July 28, 2019

Product Update –

1) Chicken- We will process our fifth batch of chickens August 16th. Individual pieces will be added to our store for orders on August 17th - just ahead of August 21st delivery date.

2)Beef - Individual cuts - we added individual cuts to our store July 29th and are fully stocked

Custom Half Beef - if you are interested in getting a half beef it is not to late. That is what Leslie from Hattiesburg did Friday and will receive their beef by the end of July. Simply follow this link https://naturesgourmetfarm.com/custom-bulk-orders
to place your deposit.

3) Pork- We have some link & pattie sausage available. If you are looking for a half or whole pig - our next processing date will be late September.

4) Eggs- Egg production has slowed down - mostly from the older hens. We've coordinated to receive younger hens (slipped to late August) so we can get them acclimated during the summer sales slump and be laying strong when demand picks up in the fall.

FARM UPDATE:
Hey, Ben here. What a really nice day Wednesday was for order delivery. I really appreciated the cooler temperatures in the mid-80's for July and the sunny sky. Everyone was in a good mood. Gentlemen were helping the ladies tote their orders and in Picayune we have a new customer that is not shy engaging folks in conversation. It was really great to see the sharing of experiences, suggestions, and questions.

One person asked me what we do about popcorn trees? As you know, these trees are in the top 5 most invasive species in Mississippi. She was concerned because her goats were eating them and it will kill them (and cows as well). Any popcorn trees we have germinate along fence rows where birds plant and fertilize them. Late November we walk our fences and pull them up. This time of year the plants are small, the ground is soft from rains, and the temperature is cooler. This is every year! We are also pulling hedge along the fence as well.

We're currently bushhogging pastures behind the cows grazing as our primary weed control program. The idea is to cut & shatter the stalk just below the leaf line and time it before any seeds have matured on the plants. For smut grass I carry a sharp shooter shovel every time I'm in the pastures and dig them up. This has been a 9-year battle to get rid of smut grass and this year we less than any prior year. In one pasture I only found 3 plants and another only 2. So, the battle is almost won.

That's all for now. About to get loaded to take orders to meet the Madison customers.

Beth & I thank you for supporting local (integrity) regenerative food sources to create a food system that is better for the animals welfare, better for regenerating the land and better for a healthy community. That is the only way to make a positive impact.

Customer Feedback- "This family owned operation is top notch! They raise grass fed pasture raised beef, chicken, and pork. You can tell the difference in quality grass fed pasture raised meat. It’s so much better for you and the way the good lord intended us to eat. The fact that they are right here in my home state makes it even better. I will continue to purchase all my meat and eggs from Ben and his family. J. Maples

Quote Worth Re-Quoting – Simply by starting to cook again, you declare your independence from the culture of fast food. As soon as you cook, you start thinking about ingredients. You start thinking about plants and animals and not the microwave. And you will find that your diet, just by that one simple act, that is greatly improved. —Michael Pollan

Thank you for supporting our regenerative, local farm.
Ben & Beth

More from the blog

Taste Test

Greetings Ben and Beth, I'm really looking forward to my next order pick up. I'm trying to improve my cholesterol numbers, thus eating more chicken, and ran out of your chicken products. I ended up buying some industrially produced chicken, and man was that a mistake! It smelled terrible raw, also while it was being sauteed, and also later when I reheated it to put into an otherwise healthy salad. I have enough of this subpar stuff to last until I pick my order, but I don't think I can ever buy this CAFO stuff again.

Beef Update & A New Product

Beef Update – Typically this time of year folks are hesitant to buy bulk beef for their freezer due to hurricane risk. That is why we have delayed our next custom half & whole beef processing until September. If you are interested, our next harvest will be September 2nd with pickup on September 22nd. If you want to be included then please email me your name, email, and cell number to be added to our wait list - and be the first folks contacted and guaranteed to receive an order. Beef prices continue to increase and hit a new All-Time high this week fueled by strong demand and limited supply. For example, based on what a 700 pound steer sold for at the Hattiesburg Stockyard Monday, I could make more than feeding him till he weighs 1100 pounds and sell as packaged beef - but our mission is to provide nutrient-dense, clean food to our customers. Effective immediately custom beef half and whole prices will increase $0.50 to $6.25 per pound based on the hanging weight. Retail cuts will increase for September deliveries as well.

Real Health Is NOT A Pill. It's A Practice!

Two Great Must Read Articles – Typically I don't make a big deal about articles we have read, but these two are so good that I felt they needed to be shared. The first is by Joel Salatin titled "Food Think" that is part of his The Lunatic Farmer blog. You can read the full article at this link. The second article is one Beth forwarded to me from the Health Viewpoints section of Epoch Times titled "Americans Spend Trillions on Health Care but Remain Unwell - Here's Why" Dr. Yang, FAPA, a board certified psychiatrist, begins by stating the difference between treating disease and building true health lies in a proactive and preventative lifestyle. Note - Beth and I would agree with other folks who commented that his article is spot on and very important for folks to read and understand. You can read at this link.