No, we didn’t drive all the way to North Carolina for a pig. We did it for “the” pig! Many of our customers already know that we raise American Red Wattles on our farm. But, what many don’t know is really how rare they truly are because it seems there are plenty to go around for the backyard farmer. Well, that’s not the case. Many of the pigs you’ll see, especially in our Southern region, aren’t Red Wattles, they are red pigs with wattles but not Red Wattles. The Livestock Conservancy, formerly the American Livestock Breed Conservancy, designates the Red Wattle as a threatened species. This once prolific homestead breed has nearly been crossbred to extinction. That mixed with modern...
The number one question we are asked is, "Why do you do this?" Then after we explain our reasons, it is typically followed by the number two question, "How do you that?" Questions derived from emotional considerations, not practical application of farming. The short answer if you don't want to read the whole article, love and it's extremely hard. Christmas was the first calf on our place, a three day old bull from a dairy up the road. We still had the stench of suburbia on us when we went to pick him up. We often imagine what the dairy farmer was thinking when we rolled up in our ritzy SUV dressed as if we were going to buy a...
To be clear... At Rural Reverie we raise many breeds of grass fed beef. We aim to please and many have different tastes and reasons for buying our product, most of which have nothing to do with breed. As always, and as stated on our website, "call for availability" before posting a deposit on a whole or a half. We'll tell you exactly what we have. We are just as proud of our grass raised Holsteins as we are our Angus. We truly want your complete satisfaction when you place your order! --- It's happened... We've lost a sale because of breed, specifically Holstein. Here's the deal though. Holstein Friesian cattle make up nearly 15-20% of the beef industry in...
One of the guilty pleasures of raising animals, is the opportunity to just sit and watch them eat, play, and interact with each other. Anyone who likes to go to the park and just "people watch" will understand. While we enjoy watching all of our animals, during kidding and lambing season it is especially entertaining to watch the mommas and babies. I could watch the babies play king of the mountain on old tree stumps all day; sometimes you get to be part of the fun when they try and use you as their stump! But what is even more interesting to watch, is how they communicate with each other. This leads me to the Naaaaaas and the Baaaaaaas, because...
We leaned up against the pick-up and prayed as they unloaded our animals at the processors. I don't usually share my private conversations with God but on this occasion I felt it best that I should. But first, a little background. We all know about callings and throughout our lives Christina and I have been called to do many things. This great endeavor of ours, Rural Reverie, is no different. We've always felt that God has graced us with many desires, and the abilities to match, but this one is extremely pointed. In Genesis Chapter 9, God gives us the gift of animals to use for food. God gifted these living, breathing, intelligent, caring, beautiful beasts to us. There are...
