The first time buyer might spend some time doing a little head scratching the first time they purchase a whole or half animal for the family or grouped community of friends. The experience can be confusing for someone deciding to go down this path. There are typically three ways that commodities such as ours, whole and half meats, are sold direct to customers. These below numbers are based off our Moderated Angus Cattle. Hoof Weight. Purchase the product or a portion of the product and then pay for processing separately. Realistically, your looking at about $3,200 for a decent, yet questionable, Craigslist steer. Now that the animal is purchased, the seller usually drops the animal off at the processor...
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 bottle steer. 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 Shih Tzu or something. We figured...
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...
