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Newsletter 2016 1015

written by

Ben Simmons

posted on

October 15, 2016

“Maybe we should stop asking why Real Food is so expensive and start

asking why processed food is so cheap.”

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Upcoming Order Deadlines


MADISON:
Order by Sunday, October 16, 2016
Pickup Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Hattiesburg & Hattiesburg Hwy 98 West
Order by Monday, October 17, 2016
Pickup Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Biloxi & Gulfport
Order by Monday October 17, 2016
Pickup Thursday, October 20, 2016

We believe in transparency, as there’s no better education about what it is we do, how we do it and why, than an honest and straightforward conversation about any aspect of our farm!

Thanksgiving Pork: We still have several pigs available for custom processing. All pigs will be delivered for harvest October 16th and will be ready for pickup the week of Thanksgiving. Treat your family special – serve them Real Farm Food beginning with Nature’s Gourmet Farm Thanksgiving ham.

Christmas Turkey: Our turkey poults arrived Thursday by the USPO along with Black Australorp chicks. The picture above is Beth giving each poult & chick a drink of water upon arrival. My youngest son calls it "waterboarding". Anyway, they are going to be fun. Since arrival I have gone in to check on them and will get down to look under the light. The turkeys run up to me and stretch their necks as far as they can and will try to peck my nose.

Anyway, thank you to all who signed up for a turkey and the encouragement for us to give this a try. I'll be in touch as we get closer to Christmas.

Farm Update – October will be the third month to meet customers at our Pickup Locations. And, we are very thankful how business has grown each month. What a blessing! We really did not know how folks would respond. In many other parts of the country farms have been sucessfully working during the week/ month and then taking a few days to meet customers to deliver their orders. I have thought about this a good bit and come to realize that is probably close to how farms once got their goods to consumers - of course, there were many more small farms then vs. the mega industrial farms we have now. We thank you for your business and support.

This year we have had numerous folks visit our farm to "learn" how we operate so they can maybe one day produce nutrient dense food and direct market in their communities. It has been a pleasure to get to know them and provide assistance. Several couples have been fellow Christians which is a whole nother blessing! We are very open to help folks who have a passion for farming the right way because we believe there is a great need for "clean" food - both meat and vegetables. The best thing consumers can do for their health is to cook from scratch using ingredients you know and when possible from a farmer you know.

Lastly, I was fortunate to be asked to speak about our farm and nutrition at a recent MS Power Wellness meeting. The theme for 2017 is Nutrition - Nutrition - Nutrition - Nutrition. The committee understands the importance of nutrition and employee (family) health and is working to educate employees about the benefits of nutrition.

Did you know Nature's Gourmet Farm has a Facebook page? Never thought I would be saying this but, "you can LIKE us from our website"

Take care,

Ben

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!!!