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

Farm Updates

written by

Ben Simmons

posted on

September 28, 2020

Good Morning and hello from your farmer,

WHEW! Thank you Lord Jesus that we were not impacted by Hurricane Sally. While the winds were not forecasted to be that significant, the 10-15 inches of rain is enough to present major issues.

We started preparing Saturday afternoon. Sunday, I contacted my USDA rep to see if we could schedule our Wednesday chicken processing for Monday afternoon - that way we would not risk a batch of chicken if the weather turned for the worse. Fortunately, we have great inspectors to work with and our processing team stepped up and made it happen.

Then, Sally turned North on Tuesday and went through Mobile Bay. This put us on the west side of the storm and all the forecasted rain dwindled to zero!

Unfortunately, our blessing became a major problem for our Alabama friends. A farmer friend in Foley had major destruction. In fact, Beth & Jared are headed there Saturday morning to take some supplies, gas, and also help with rebuilding his mobile hen trailer. Another farmer friend about 100 miles inland loaded his pastured turkeys (ready for processing) into a cattle trailer for safety. Unfortunately, about 50 suffocated and died.

I am sure Stewart & Matthew would appreciate your prayers as they recover and rebuild their farms.

Rescue Pigs: maybe you remember that last May we purchased 100 pigs from a commercial farm in North Carolina that were scheduled to be euthanized.

We put them on pasture and built them a tarp shelter to block the sun so they did not get sunburned (they are white in color and burn easily).

Well, needless to say they are thriving and doing great. Here is a picture of some of them I took last Sunday morning.

Pigs-2020-0913-RESIZED.jpg

EGGS: are on everyone's mind! Two things needed to "really" improve egg production is cooler nights and time - and both are forecast for this week. The older flock lay rate continues to get better and the egg size has improved from mediums back to large. We expect them to improve as the weather cools off. The younger flock high last week was 56 in a day. Today, we gathered 120. Next week should be a really good week for both quantity and size.

Lastly, be on the lookout for some new items when beef & pork are restocked next week!

More from the blog

Tribute to Tess - our loyal farm dog

A Tribute to Tess- Thursday morning was a very sad time here on the farm. Without going into all the details, a tragic accident first thing Thursday morning involving our beloved Tess that caused her death a few minutes later. First thing in the morning she is typically at the back door waiting for one of us to come out so she can greet us. But, not this day. We are all very sad and heartbroken. Tess was such a joy and loving to all who knew her. It has been especially hard for our son Jared as he and Tess were best friends. Many of our customers who have been to our farm know she always greeted with a big smile and happy spirit.

Health vs. Economics is THE Battle

Health vs. Economics is THE Battle - or maybe health vs. priorities of the general public when you consider that in 2024 the Apple App Store generated $1.3 trillion in sales!!! Vicki, a repeat customer from the MS Gulf Coast, sent me a short 3 minute video from a Joe Rogan Podcast with RFK Jr. discussing pig farms in North Carolina and how the CAFO pig operations got started. NOTE that the big companies own the pigs – the farmers only own the debt and do the work (and take all the risk). Please watch the video here.

"Pasture Raised" Defined

The USDA has officially updated the definition of “pasture-raised” to require that animals spend the majority of their lives on rooted, vegetative pasture, distinguishing it from “free-range,” which only mandates outdoor access. This update became effective March 2025. Here at Nature’s Gourmet Farm that is how we raise our animals – whether it be cows, pigs, meat chickens, egg layers, or turkeys. Pasture raised is our management choice and reflects our stewardship ethos. Frankly, pasture raised is how God created them to be versus. in a Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO). CAFOs represent man’s inhumane wisdom!!!