The Realities of GMO grains

I want to take a moment to discuss the realities of GMO grains. Small grains have not been genetically modified at this point except for wheat, which is not approved yet for commercial usage. All of the oats, barley, wheat, millet and sorghum that we feed our animals is from non-GMO seed. Virtually all of the corn a...nd soybeans grown in the US are genetically modified because that is the seed available. Everyone needs to understand the complexity of the GMO issue. If you plant a non-GMO variety in your field and the farmer next to you or nearby plants a GMO variety it is highly likely that your field will be contaminated by pollen from their plants. Even honey is considered to be suspect for GMO's because of the bees being a source for cross-pollination. We all wish that there were better options at this point but unless one has fields that are completely isolated by trees and they test for contamination it is hard to offer 100% assurity of non-GMO fed animals.

December Box Specials

SMALL FAMILY VALUE BOX $53.99
2 packages of Skinless Boneless Breast
1 pack of Chicken Wings (perfect for tailgate parties)
1 pack Ground Beef
1 pack of Boneless Beef Stew
1 Smoked Polish Pork Sausage or Smoked Pork Sausage w/ Peppers and Onions
1 package of Pork Chops (2 in pack)
1 lb Applewood Smoked Bacon
1 package of Mild Bulk or Maple Pork Sausage (you choose)


LARGE FAMILY VALUE BOX $69.99
1 Whole Chicken
2 package Skinless Boneless Breast
1 package of Pork St. Louis Ribs
1 package of Mild Bulk or Maple Pork Breakfast Sausage (you choose)
2 packs of Chicken Wings (great for Tailgate Party)
1 package of Ground Beef
1 package of Boneless Beef Stew


LAMB BOX - $49.99
1 pack Boneless Lamb Cubes for Kabob or Stew (1.5-2.5 lbs)
1 Lamb Sausage (Italian or Sun-Dried Tomato/Feta Cheese/Basil – your choice)
2 packs of Lamb Riblets (perfect for crockpot)
1 Rack of Lamb (8 bone rack) (1.75-2.25 lbs)

BEEF ROAST/GROUND BEEF BOX - $49.99
1 Chuck Roast (about 3 lbs)
5 lbs Ground Beef

VARIETY BEEF BOX - $49.99
2 pack of Beef Osso Bucco
1 pack Boneless Beef Stew
2 pack Ground Beef
1 pack Cubed Steak

Christmas Party Box - $25.00
2 packs Mild Bulk Pork Sausage
2 packs Chicken Wings
1 pack of Apple wood Bacon (6 slices)

* Pork Shanks for Osso Bucco -- $4.50/lb, was $5.00/lb (about 2 lbs)
* St. Louis Pork Ribs – $6.50/lb (3-4 lbs), normally $7.00/lb
* Hot Pork Sausage (Bulk) - $5.00/lb (normally $6.00/lb), limited supply
*Pork Neckbones – Value Priced at $1.50/lb (great for crockpot w/ Barbeque sauce)

Produce CSA - August 26th

Here is what is in the Produce boxes this week:
Eight ball squash, zucchini, yellow squash, onions, eggplant, Delicata squash, Tomatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Asian Pears, Bell Peppers.
If you had a full share, you got some extra things like arugula, cucumbers and heirloom German Striped or Brandywine Tomatoes.
The Delicata Squash are great sliced lenthwise, seeds removed, seasoned with sage, rosemary, pepper and salt, apple juice and sherry vinegar then baked for about 45 minutes or so at 375 degrees.
We've got lettuce planted as it has cooled off a little. We hope to be able to harvest it for those CSA boxes that will go on through September.

Produce CSA contents - 1st week of August

Produce CSA box contents this week: watermelon, acorn squash, yellow cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, onions, stringbeans, collards and peppers. Apologies for the collards not looking pretty. They have some sunscald on them due to the heat and high humidity.

Our family's favorite thing to do with... the acorn squash is to put a little cinnamon and maple syrup on it and roast in oven. When about done, take some Mild breakfast sausage, crumble and brown and mix with some cooked wild rice blend and then stuff the acorn squash and put back into the oven until browned a little on top.

With all the eggplant that you have this week, it might be a good time to make some Baba Ghannouj. Also, here is another great idea from Food Network, Farro Salad with Grilled Eggplant, Tomato and Onion. You can use either spelt or wheat for the grain in the recipe.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/farro-salad-with-grilled-eggplant-tomatoes-and-onion-recipe/index.html


Thanks,

Genell and the kids

Latest Specials: July 10, 2010

5 lb Ground Beef - $28.00
1 package of Cube Steak, 3 lb of Ground Beef, 1 package of Beef Stir-fry - $30.00
5 lb of Skinless/Boneless Breast - $7.50/lb

(While supplies last)

CSA Box -July 8, 2010

In the Produce CSA boxes this week: Corn, Tomatoes: Roma and Slicing,
Red Irish Potatoes,
Sweet Potatoes,
Spring Onions,
Yellow Squash,
Blueberries,
Eggplant: Thai (Green Spotted Round) and either White or Purple Japanese Eggplant
Peppers: Bell and either Poblano or Key Largo
Field Peas: Pink Eye/Purple Hull

It is sure hot and dry here. I don't think we'll have any more corn. We are really struggling with the garden right now. Vines drying up, the worms taking over the corn, grubs and fire ants trying to eat the potatoes. The potatoes in your box were just dug 3 days ago. They are fresh and might be a little soft. They aren't nearly as pretty as those from the other field earlier in the season. The sun is scalding some of the tomatoes.

Here is a good recipe for the thai eggplants. http://www.templeofthai.com/recipes/thai_green_curry.php You can google Thai eggplants for more recipe ideas. We are eating a lot of stirfrys and also roasting veggies and making frittatas w/ lots of veggies in them.

Thank you for bearing with us during this tough weather. The kids are really working long, hard hours in the garden. They work until about 10 am in the garden and then have to come out because it is too hot to be out there. Then they go back in from 7pm until pitch black dark nearly every night. Hopefully, we'll get some rain and things will be better in a few weeks.

In your Produce CSA box this week: Cabbage, pickling cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, the last of the Kohlrabi, Green Tomatoes, Green Beans, Collards, French Tarragon, Daikon Radishes (look like white carrots). Full boxes got some Hakauri turnips and Easter Egg radishes until they ran out. Time for Fried Green Tomatoes. Daikon radishes are great in stir frys (taste sort of like a water chestnut).
Here is a great link for recipes for Sweet Pickled Daikon Radishes: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/sweet-pickled-daikon-radish-recipe/index.html

Check out these great links for what to do with Green Tomatoes...

http://tipnut.com/green-tomato-recipes/

http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/682/Green-Tomatoes-With-Goat-Chees97810.shtml

We should have some wax beans ready starting next week and the following week we will have corn and blueberries starting up. We are staying in the garden till dark. The kids are maturing and trying very hard this year, remembering to pick squash daily, harvest everything ready, chopping grass, etc. I'm very proud of them. We have about 500 tomato plants so at some point later in the summer, we should have huge amounts of tomatoes. Plan on canning or freezing some for winter or making spaghetti sauce. Don't ask me why I planted so many. They are one of my passions. I particularly love heirlooms.

Just a little bit about what's going on around the farm, etc...

The last 3 weeks have been a whirlwind. Lots to do on the farm, baling hay, weaning lambs, breeding ewes, planting summer grazing. The latest batch of Thanksgiving turkeys just came in. As many of you know I am also a Sustainable Agriculture Consultant. I am currently working on a Mobile Meat Processing Unit out in Nebraska. We hope that it will serve as a prototype for others around the country to help rebuild the needed small slaughterhouse infrastructure. I will post some pictures as soon as I get some nice ones to show you.

Produce CSA Box - Week 1

By now, y'all have had your first Produce CSA box. I hope you are enjoying all the fresh veggies and fruit. I am sorry to take so long to post but we have been scrambling to get some irrigation installed in one of the main gardens. We've spent much of the last week running irrigation pipe under the road, digging trenches, laying out drip tape, etc. The Romaine lettuce and the cabbages were looking pretty bad, flopped. It just seems that we are in a very bad dry pattern. The first batch of stringbeans didn't germinate well, so we are replanting since we've got irrigation installed. We have a lot to plant this week.

Anyway, if you weren't aware one of the greens that you most likely had in your box this week was tatsoi. It looks and tastes like spinach. The stem is a little different. The lettuces were beautiful this week and I hope you are enjoying lots of salads. We've been eating strawberries on our salad with a balsamic vinegarette.

Please note that we picked the berries ripe on Wednesday afternoon for the weekly boxes and immediately put them into the walk-in cooler at 38 degrees. The CSA boxes were very full this week. We couldn't even close the lids. We do endeavor to try and not squish any strawberries.
In your box, you have some white root veggies. They are Hakauri turnips. Also, I found this nice article today on the NY Times website on roasting radishes. The thought had never crossed my mind. But they suggest butter and salt. They say it changes the whole flavor profile. So, I am going to roast some tomorrow night w/ a roasted chicken and grilled asparagus. Here is the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/12/dining/12appe.html?hpw

Salad Bar Lamb and Beef

Are you having a salad for lunch today? These sheep and cows are. A nice selection of spring greens.

Chicory, Pasha turnips, Broccoli raab, Oats, Ryegrass, Dandelion, Clover, Hensbit and various other wild herbs and forbs.

Produce CSA update - April 21, 2010

Just to let the Produce CSA customers know. Boxes start the first week of May. Lots of spring greens, onions, radishes,lettuces, etc. Garden peas don't look as pretty as we were hoping. Maybe they will come on along soon. With the rain today, we are getting more transplants in the ground. Summer squash, melons, tomatoes, etc. The kids are busily working.

Those of you in New Bern will get your first boxes on Saturday, May 1st. Everyone else will start the following week.

April Value Beef Box

**VALUE BOX IS CURRENTLY SOLD OUT. WORKING ON A NEW VALUE BOX. WILL POST SOON. **

This is a great value. The same pricing per lb that you would get if you bought a Half of Beef. We'll even give you tips on cooking the cuts.

April Value Beef Box: (all for $5.50/lb)
** $70.00 value for about $50.00**

1 Chuck Roast (about 3 lbs)
1 Shoulder Roast (about 2-3 lbs)
1 package Short Ribs (about 1.25-1.5 lb)
1 package Osso Bucco (about 1.25-2 lb)
1 package of Beef Liver (free)

April Specials

We hope y'all had a great Easter. We did. It is so busy here that we are late getting the April specials posted but here they are. There are some significant savings on our beef this month. It's a great time to stock up your freezer as the beef is cryovacuumed and will not freezer burn for 6 months to a year.

Specials:
Skinless Boneless Chicken Breast 5 lb - $6.50/lb (normally $8.99/lb)
Chicken Leg Quarters 5 lb - $3.50/lb (normally $3.99/lb)
Boneless Beef Stew - $5.00/lb
Beef Osso Bucco (perfect for the crockpot or oven-makes a rich broth)- $5.50/lb
Beef Shoulder Roast - $5.50/lb (SOLD OUT)
Beef Chuck Roast - $5.50/lb (SOLD OUT)
Beef Soup Bones - $4.50/lb
Beef Liver - $2.50/lb

Lamb Riblets (great for soups, middle eastern dishes) 2 lb or more $4.00/lb (Normally $5.00/lb) – limited supply
Lamb Denver Ribs - $4.50/lb
Pork Neckbones (great for crockpot) $1.50/lb (normally $2.00/lb)
Pork Riblets (for soup or crockpot Barbeque) $3.00/lb (normally $6.00/lb) – limited supply

Whole Duck (about 5 lbs each) $5.99/lb (normally $8.00/lb)
Bone-in Turkey Breast - $4.99/lb (normally $7.00/lb)

Heritage Turkeys $4.99/lb (about 8 lbs) -(normally $7.00/lb)
Fresh Hams $4.00/lb (normally $5.50/lb)

SMALL FAMILY VALUE BOX $49.99
1 Whole Chicken (about 3 lbs)
3 packages Chicken Leg Quarters
1 package of Beef Short Ribs
1 packages of Pork Sausages - (Can be substituted for Ground Pork or Ground Chicken)
1 package of Lamb Sausage (Sundried Tomato or Italian) Can substitute w/ chicken sausage
1 package of Spinach Garlic Chicken Sausage (will substitute for another chicken sausage flavor if we run out)

LARGE FAMILY VALUE BOX $59.99
1 Whole Chicken (about 3 lbs)
1 lb Skinless Boneless Chicken Breast
2 packages of Pork Sausages (can be substituted for Ground Pork or Ground Chicken)
1 package of Pork Chops (2 each)
1 package of Lamb Denver Ribs
1 package of Beef Osso Bucco
1 pack of Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage w/ Red Peppers and Parmesan Cheese or Sundried Tomato Lamb Sausage (will substitute for another chicken or lamb sausage flavor if we run out)

(Choose from Pork Sausage Varieties: Mild Breakfast (link or bulk), Hot Breakfast bulk, Maple Breakfast links, Sweet Italian link, Hot Italian Link, Bratwurst link, Chorizo bulk )

Farm Tour is Full!

The Farm Tour and Potluck in the Pasture is full! Thanks so much y'all for a great response. We look forward to a great day. Pray for sunshine.

P.S. Here are two pictures taken yesterday at the farm. a patch of wild violets growing along the edge of one of the pastures and a photo of one of our Berkshire boars rooting around with a group of feeder pigs. Today we are seeding tomatoes, peppers, squash, etc.

Today's Garden work

We spent the afternoon working in the garden. Big Jeff (Poppy) and little Jeff drove the tractor. Hardy, Alena and I planted some more snow peas, sugar snap peas, arugula, bok choi, tatsoi, kohlrabi and radishes. We will be planting every day for the next two weeks. Potatoes need to go in the ground this week, but it might be Monday before we get to it. I'm also thinking about planting some fava beans.

This past fall, we planted ryegrass and grazing turnips in the main garden so the sheep could graze it over the winter and they could also fertilize the plot. Now, we are tilling up rows as we need them for planting. At the end of this summer, we will turn in a batch of feeder pigs with their nice rototiller noses into the garden plot to have a feast before we plant the winter grazing next fall. I'm also going to try some "weeder geese" and ducks this summer to see how they do. The geese are supposed to help with weeds and the ducks are supposed to help with bugs. I wish something would eat the potato bugs. They are the most formidable pests to deal with. Will post how that goes.

Only 15 spots left on the Farm Tour

Don't wait too late to sign up!

Happenings from the Meadow 3/13/2010

Jeffy, Hardy and John spent the day working in the garden. Peas are in the ground.

Pictured here, are some brand new baby pigs snuggling up in their nesting box. The pigs have a box with a heat lamp to help keep them warm the first week of life. The can go in and out of their nesting box to get with the sow and nurse. After the first couple of weeks, they will head out to pasture. We had 3 sows have pigs this week. One of the sows, it was her first time. She had a rough labor and seven of her pigs were stillborn. But she has two very nice piglets.
One sow had 12 and one sow had nine pigs.

Update on Farm Tour and Produce CSA

We already have 11 people signed up for the Farm Tour. There are only 39 more spaces. So, sign up early to ensure a place.

Also, the Produce CSA is 1/2 full. Don't forget to sign up early so that you can get your box of veggies.

If we can get into the field tomorrow, we are planting beets, radishes and cabbages.

What's Happening on the Farm - Monday 3/8/2010

We spent the afternoon working in the garden. The weather was beautiful. The kids even had on shorts. We planted spring onions, broccoli, broccoli raab,rainbow chard and spinach. Also went to check on the 9 new baby pigs and the baby rabbits. We'll be very busy this week in the garden as it is supposed to be beautiful and warm. Spring feels like it is here. We went scrounging around in one of the beds from last year and found Leeks. I had forgotten that we had even planted them. We'll see how they finish out. Hopefully we will be able to have a few Leeks in the CSA boxes. Daddy trimmed the grapevines over the weekend. Raymond trimmed the Peach trees.
There is so much work to do even just trying to clean up all the mess from winter. Dragging the paths to level ruts where we got stuck. Making repairs on equipment, etc.
Subscriptions for the Produce CSA are coming in fast. Slots are filling quickly. So, if you want to sign up, please do so soon.
Also, don't forget the farm tour. There is only room for 50 guests and reservations are coming in. Thanks so much to all our friends for helping us to change the face of agriculture to one that is more socially just and for supporting our children in their garden endeavor. Each one of you are personally responsible for helping to bring about a new generation, a "Nation of Farmers", helping to make farming a respectable job again. Many Thanks!

Heritage American Devon/Angus Beef Boxes

Grass-based diet, Dry-aged for 3 weeks

Did you know that the standard for commodity beef is wet-aging? Beeves are processed and cut into primals, then cryovacuumed. This wet-aging process can be a prime breeding ground for E.coli. We don't do this. Our beeves are slaughtered and the carcasses are dry-aged for three weeks before the carcasses are ever cut-up. The water conductivity levels on these carcasses are very low, therefore not very conducive to the growth of E.coli. Yes, we lose some carcass weight by aging this way but we think it is worth it. Afterall, the goal is not maximizing profit but producing clean food that we want to feed our family and yours.

Small box: $55.00
• 1 Chuck Roast
• 1 Sirloin Tip or Shoulder Roast
• 1 package of Stir Fry
• 5 lb Ground Beef

Large Box: $75.00
• 2 T-Bone Steaks
• 1 Roast (Shoulder or Chuck)
• 1 package Osso Bucco
• 5 lb Ground Beef
• 1 package Cube Steak

Beef Best Value Packages

1/4 of a Beef: $5.75/lb

1/2 of a Beef: $5.50/lb

FARM TOUR and POTLUCK IN THE PASTURE - 5/1/2010

Rainbow Meadow Farms Tour and "Potluck in the Pasture"

Come out and join our family, visit the animals and build the bonds of community

Where:Snow Hill, NC
When: Saturday May 1, 2010
Time: 12:30pm-4:30pm
Cost: $10.00, all children 5 and younger are free
Tour: 2 hours
Dinner: 3pm
Co-sponsored by Slow Foods Down East
Reservation seating for 50 guests
RSVP: www.rmfpasturepuremeats.com

or Contact: Genell Pridgen
(252)747-5000
rainbowfarms@esn.net

Info: Rainbow Meadow Farms is a 264 year old, family-owned, multi-generational, pasture-based, local farm in Greene County, NC.
We produce:
Salad Bar Beef
Pastured Pork
Salad Bar Lamb
Pastured Poultry (Eggs, Broilers, Turkeys, Ducks, Guineas)
Forage-fed Rabbits
CSA garden

Dinner info: Barbequed Pork, Lamb and Beef - meats provided by Rainbow Meadow Farms.
You are asked to bring a potluck dish that includes a locally grown ingredient and a small sign identifying the dish and the local ingredient.

March 2010 Specials and Family Value Boxes

Skinless Boneless Chicken Breast 5 lb - $6.50/lb (normally $8.99/lb)
Chicken Leg Quarters 5 lb - $3.50/lb (normally $3.99/lb)
Skinless Boneless Thighs 5 lb - $5.50/lb (normally $6.99/lb)
Curry Chicken Sausage (new flavor - fully cooked) $7.99/lb - normally $8.99/lb

Italian Lamb Sausage $7.99/lb - normally $8.99/lb
Lamb Riblets (great for soups, middle eastern dishes) 2 lb or more $4.00/lb (Normally $5.00/lb)
Ground Lamb 3 lb or more - $7.50/lb (normally $8.50/lb)

St. Louis Ribs (approx. 4 lbs each) $6.00/lb (normally $7.00/lb) (while supplies last)
Neckbones (great for crockpot) $1.50/lb (normally $2.00/lb)
Pork Riblets (for soup or crockpot Barbeque) $3.00/lb (normally $6.00/lb
Bulk Sausage (not links) (flavors are Mild Breakfast, Hot Breakfast, Ground Pork, Chorizo) 3 lbs or more - $5.00/lb (normally $5.50/lb)

Whole Duck (about 5 lbs each) $7.00/lb

Easter Specials:

Heritage Turkeys $5.00/lb? (normally $7.00/lb)
Applewood Smoked Ham - $6.00/lb (about 4 lbs - normally $7.50/lb)
Fresh Hams $4.00/lb (normally $5.50/lb)



SMALL FAMILY VALUE BOX $49.99
1 Whole Chicken (about 3 lbs)
3 packages Chicken Leg Quarters
2 packages of Pork Sausages - (Can be substituted for Ground Pork or Ground Chicken)
1 package of Pork Riblets
1 package of Italian Lamb Sausage
1 package of Curry Chicken Sausage (will substitute for another chicken sausage flavor if we run out)

LARGE FAMILY VALUE BOX $59.99
1 Whole Chicken (about 3 lbs)
1 lb Skinless Boneless Chicken Breast
3 lbs of Pork Sausages (can be substituted for Ground Pork or Ground Chicken)
1 package of Pork Chops (2 each)
1 package of Lamb Riblets
1 package of Ground Lamb
1 pack of Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage w/ Red Peppers and Parmesan Cheese (will substitute for another chicken sausage flavor if we run out)

(Choose from Sausage Varieties: Mild Breakfast (link or bulk), Hot Breakfast bulk, Maple Breakfast links, Sweet Italian link, Hot Italian Link, Bratwurst link, Chorizo bulk )

2010 Produce and Meat CSA's are open for enrollment

Brrr! It has been a cold, wet winter. We have kept busy everyday trying to ensure that all the new baby lambs, chicks, and pigs are warm and eating well. Currently, we have 6 bottle lambs and lots of lambs nursing their mothers. Three sows are ready to farrow, just as we are moving a litter of 12 pigs out of the gestation pen to the winter nursery. We have had to feed a lot of hay this winter because it was so wet and cold that the last of the winter grass that we planted didn't come up. I suspect that the seeds rotted in the ground. The weather is still cold but we've had a few days over the last week or so that give me hope that Spring is just around the corner.

Hardy and Alena are growing a CSA garden again this year. Wet, cold weather has delayed our planting. But, the land is disked and cultivated. We will be bedding rows and planting by the end of the week. Due to the cold weather, it appears that the Produce CSA boxes will not start until late April or the first week of May. Spring seeds are in and we will be planting lots of lettuces, mesclun, greens, spring onions, radishes, beets, carrots, snow peas, sugar snap peas, and potatoes.

Shares are filling quickly for the Produce CSA, so contact us soon if interested. You may sign up via our website, http://www.rmfpasturepuremeats.com/, or contact us directly at rainbowfarms@esn.net and we will send the forms to you. The Meat CSA has a rolling enrollment and you can sign up for a 6-month period at your convenience. Hardy, Alena and all of our family look forward to helping you enjoy the blessings of seasonality and the joy of cooking at home. We see our mission as not only providing healthy food but in building community. We look forward to serving you.