March 2015 Farm Specials

Last week, Spring awoke and the farm is really "greening up" and things are getting busy.  New chicks are in the brooder, all the hens are moved out to the egg mobiles and are rotating through the paddocks behind the sheep and cows.  There are somewhere between 300 and 400 lambs running around behind their mothers in the pastures.  Calving should start any day now.  RP, Hardy and Daddy are working on the mower and rebuilding the hay baler that caught on fire in the middle of last summer.  It won't be long before it's time to start making hay again.  RR and RT are cleaning out all the bedding from the lambing barn and where the animals bedded down during the cold winter days and nights.  We are composting that now and we hope to start spreading it as fertilizer on the pastures in the next week or so.  Hardy is also working on the old tobacco barns that we repurposed to serve as our chick brooders.  He's roll coating the roofs and nailing down any loose tin.  We are thankful for Daylight Savings Time and as most farmers know, suppertime is when it gets dark.  It seems there is more work to be done than there are hours in the day.

We currently make a monthly home delivery to the Coast from Wilmington to Beaufort and Havelock.  Starting the middle of April, we will be at the Camp Lejeune Farmer's Market every Tuesday.  We are also planning on beginning home deliveries to the Outer Banks (Kill Devil Hills to Hatteras) once a month beginning in April.  Tell your friends and let us know if you would like a delivery to your home or business.

March 2015 Farm Specials

Poultry Box: $67.99
1 Whole Chicken
2 packages Skinless Boneless Chicken Breast
1 package Skinless Boneless Chicken Thighs
1 lb Ground Turkey
1 lb Maple Chicken Breakfast Sausage Links
1 lb Sundried Tomato Pesto Chicken Sausage
1 package (2-piece) Chicken Wings

Family Value Box A:  $98.99
2 packages Skinless Boneless Chicken Breast
2 packages Chicken Leg 1/4's
1 package Pork Chops (2 per pack)
1 lb Ground Pork
1 lb Ground Beef
1 lb Spinach Garlic Chicken Sausage
1 lb Mild Bulk Pork Sausage or Sage Breakfast Links (Farmer's Choice)
1 lb Applewood Bacon
1 package Andouille
2 individual pieces Beef Tenderloin (Filet Mignon)

Family Value Box B:  $100.99
2 packages Skinless Boneless Chicken Breast
1 Whole Chicken
1 Whole Pork Tenderloin
1 package Bone-in Chicken Thighs
1 lb Maple Pork Breakfast Links
1 lb Ground Chicken
1 lb Ground Beef
1 Applewood Bacon
1 package South African Boerwurst (Farmer's Sausage)
1 lb Beef Kabob

Lamb Box:  $48.99
1 package Lamb Sausage (Sundried Tomato/Feta Cheese/Basil or Rosemary/Mustard)
1 package Lamb Loin Chops (4 to pack)
1 package Bone-in Lamb Stew

Sausage Box:  $22.99
Choose 3 Packages Fresh Pork Sausage (Your Choice)
Varieties:  Maple Pork Breakfast, Mild X Sage Bulk, Mild X Sage Breakfast Links, Hot Sage Rope, Sweet Italian Links, Hot Italian Links, Ground Pork (Unseasoned), Bratwurst, Garlic Bratwurst, Zesty Italian Bulk

February 2015 Farm Specials

The weather last weekend was warm and beautiful, allowing the grass to grow some.  It also gave us just a "taste" of Spring.  We can hardly wait till the chores of hauling hay and dealing with frozen water are behind us.

We weaned a batch of calves last week and Daddy Jeff got kicked by one of the calves in the arm and ribs.  He is ok, but got a cold out working in the nasty weather.  We weaned calves.  We also moved a bunch of pigs to the finishing pasture.  There's about 50 in that pasture with more piglets on the ground.  Lambing is in full swing and they are coming so fast that I don't know what the current number actually is.  I am ready for it to warm up so that we can see lambs running races in the pastures.

Poultry Box:  $63.99
1 Whole Chicken
2 packages Skinless Boneless Chicken Breast
2 packages Chicken Leg 1/4s
1 package Ground Chicken
1 package Ground Turkey
1 package Turkey Sausages (Farmer's Choice)
1 package Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage with Bell Peppers and Parmesan Cheese

Sausage Box:  $22.99
Choose 3 Packages Fresh Pork Sausage (Your Choice)
Varieties:  Maple Pork Breakfast, Mild X Sage Bulk, Mild X Sage Breakfast Links, Hot Sage Rope, Sweet Italian Links, Ground Pork (Unseasoned), Bratwurst, Garlic Brats, Zesty Italian Bulk

Family Value Box A:  $96.99
2 packages Skinless Boneless Chicken Breast
1 Small Whole Chicken (2.25-2.5 lbs)
1 package Bone-In Chicken Thighs
1 package Ground Chicken
1 package Ground Beef
1 package Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Chicken Sausage
1 package Maple Pork Breakfast Links
1 package Zesty Italian Bulk Pork Sausage
1 package Pork Riblets (perfect for Crockpot BBQ ribs)
1 package Beef Short Ribs or Beef Osso Bucco (farmer's choice)
1 package Jalapeño Cheese Beef Sausage

Family Value Box B:  $117.99
2 packages Skinless Boneless Chicken Breast
1 Whole Chicken (2.5-3 lbs)
1 package (2piece) Chicken Wings
1 package Skinless Boneless Chicken Thighs
1 package Maple Chicken Breakfast Sausage
1 package Ground Turkey
1 package Ground Beef
1 package Mild X Sage Bulk Sausage
1 Fresh Pork Ham Steak (for Baking or Grilling - approx. 1.5 to 2 lbs)
1 package All Beef Longaniza (Hot Dogs)
1 Beef Roast (Farmer's choice)

January 2015 Farm Specials

January 5, 2015

Happy New Year!  We want to take a moment to tell you how much we have appreciated your patronage through the years and we hope to serve you even better in 2015.  We are working on some new and exciting things and hope to be able to share them with you soon.  

Due to the holidays and the processing plant closing for vacation, we are a little behind schedule in our processing.  But, we will catch up over the next three weeks.  We have been busy winterizing everything for the Arctic air that we are getting over the next few days.  We have 3 new sets of piglets bedded down in the barn.  

Lambing begins in a couple of weeks with about 200 ewes bred to drop lambs.  Needless to say, there is going to be a lot of work to do.  Did you know that each ewe when she lambs gets 1-3 days in the barn depending on the weather.  Once she's lambed, we check her teats to ensure that she is able to be nursed.  We trim her hooves and deworm her.  We tag and record her lambs weight, tag number and sex.  As soon as the lambs are ready and the weather permits, mom and babies are sent out to a new pasture for the ewes that have lambed.  They will have access to a loafing barn, where they can come and go as they please.  

Calving doesn't start up until March and for that we are most thankful.  

Poultry Box:  $65.99

1 Whole Chicken

2 packages of Skinless Boneless Chicken Breasts

2 packages of Chicken Drumsticks 

1 package of Skinless Boneless Thighs 

1 package of Ground Chicken

1 package (2-piece) Chicken Wings

1 package of Turkey Sausage (Farmer’s Choice)

Small Family Value Box:  $78.99

2 Skinless/Boneless Chicken Breast

1 pack Bone-in Chicken Thighs

1 lb Pork Christmas Sausage (holiday spices)

1 package of Pork Chops

1 package of Hot Italian Pork Sausage

1 lb Applewood Bacon

1 package Chicken or Turkey Breakfast Sausage (Farmer’s Choice)

1 package of Boneless Beef for Kabob 

1 Ground Beef

Large Family Value Box:  $115.99

1 Whole Chicken

2 packages of Skinless Boneless Chicken Breast

1 package of Apple Wood Bacon

1 package Andouille

1 package Apple Wood Seasoning Lardons (perfect for homemade bacon bits, seasoning greens and beans, or with boneless beef in Beef Bourguignon recipe)

1 package Pork St. Louis Ribs

1 lb Maple Pork Sausage Links

1 lb Ground Pork (mix with Ground Beef to make homemade meatballs)

1 lb Ground Beef

1 package Beef Hot Dogs (Longaniza)

1 Beef Roast (Farmer’s Choice)

Link to Beef Bourguinon recipe:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/beef-bourguignon-recipe.html

December 2014 Farm Specials

Whew!  We are finally coming up to draw breath after a whirlwind of Thanksgiving turkey processing and delivery.  We could not have done it without the help of the whole Rainbow Meadow Farms crew, Christy and her team and our dear friends, Cindy and Tom who surprised Mama Sandra and  flew in all the way from Colorado to help with the distribution.  The few weeks leading up to Thanksgiving is the busiest and hardest time of the year here.  It was definitely a team effort and our family wants to say "Thank You" to all our friends, family and employees for the long hours, heavy lifting and time spent in the coolers.

Here are the December Farm Specials.  We put together a special Holiday Box to help you with your holiday parties and dinners.  Genell and her son Jeffrey (8 years old) developed a new Christmas sausage recipe which is featured in the Holiday Box.

Poultry Box  $66.99
1 Whole Chicken
2 packages Skinless/Boneless Breast
1  lb Ground Chicken
1 package Skinless/Boneless Chicken Thighs
1 package Bone-In Chicken Thighs
1 package (2-piece) Chicken Wings
1 package Cranberry Sage Turkey Sausage

Small Family Value Box  $83.99
2 Apple Wood Ham Slices
2 Split Chicken Breast
1 package Pork Chops (2 per pack)
1 lb Ground Beef
1 package Beef Short Ribs
2 packages Chicken Leg 1/4's
1 lb Pork Mild Extra Sage Sausage
1 package South African Boerwurst (Beef/Pork Farmer's Sausage)
1 package Bulk Maple Sage Chicken Sausage

Large Family Value Box  $135.99
1 Whole Chicken
1 Beef Roast (Farmer's Choice)
1 lb Ground Beef
1 package Hot Italian Pork Sausage
2 Whole Pork Tenderloins
2 Fresh Ham Slices (great for grilling or baking)
1 package Skinless/Boneless Chicken Thighs
2 packages Skinless/Boneless Chicken Breast
1 lb Apple Wood Bacon
1 package Sicilian Turkey Burgers (4 per pack)

Holiday Box  $82.99
2 Quail (dinner for two)
1 lb Pork Christmas Sausage (holiday spices)
1 package (2-piece) Chicken Wings
1 package Beef Longaniza (hot dogs) - make cocktail weanies or wrap in crescent rolls
1 package St. Louis Pork Ribs (rub and smoke for your party)
1 lb Apple Wood Bacon
1 lb Ground Beef
1 lb Ground Pork (use with beef and spices to make meatballs)
2 Apple Wood Ham Slices (perfect for Ham biscuits on Christmas morning with an Orange Cranberry Relish)

Additional Specials:

Apple Maple Turkey Sausage - $9.99/lb
Apple Wood Ham Slices - $35.99 for 5 slices (enough to make approximately 25 full-size biscuits that would be great with an Orange Cranberry relish)

October 2014 Farm Specials

We are just a few weeks from processing Thanksgiving turkeys.  There are just a few left that are not spoken for.  So, if you were planning on serving one for your family get your order in ASAP!  Also, don't forget to order your X-Sage Bulk Pork Sausage for stuffing.

Fall calving and lambing have begun.  Hardy, Daddy and RC III are busy planting the winter grazing for our animals.  Winter pastures are being planted with barley, oats, rye, ryegrass, triticale, turnips and Austrian Winter peas.  All of these are non-GMO and mostly heirloom varieties.

There's some exciting things coming soon.  So, keep watching our FACEBOOK page and our blog.  Remember, to tell your friends about us and get them to like our FACEBOOK page.  If you tell a friend about us and they place an order, make sure they tell us who referred them and you will get a free item.

Poultry Box:  79.99
1 Whole Chicken
2 packages Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
1 package Skinless Boneless Chicken Thighs
1 package Ground Turkey
1 package Ground Chicken
1 package (2 piece) Chicken Wings
2 packages Chicken Drumsticks
1 package Chicken or Turkey Breakfast Sausage (farmer's choice)
1 package Chicken Dinner Sausages (farmer's choice)

Small Family Value Box:  100.99
2 packages Skinless Boneless Chicken Breast
1 package Bone-in Chicken Thighs
1 package Quail (2 per pack)
1 package Pork Osso Bucco
1 package Ground Pork
1 package Ground Beef
1 package Apple Wood Bacon
1 Pork Tenderloin
1 package Chicken Sausage (farmer's choice)
1 package Pork Maple Breakfast Sausage
1 package Boneless Beef Stew

Large Family Value Box:  133.99
1 Whole Chicken
2 packages Skinless Boneless Chicken Breast
2 packages Ground Beef
2 packages Beef Osso Bucco (4 pieces total)
1 package Apple Wood Bacon
1 package Turkey Burgers (farmer's choice) - 4 pieces total
2 packages Pork Chops (4 total)
1 package Chicken Sausages (farmer's choice)
1 Mild Extra Sage Pork Breakfast Sausage
1 package Hot Italian Pork Sausage (not too hot.  perfect in Italian Wedding soup)

Tailgate Special: 84.99
1 Beef London Broil
1 Pork Boston Butt
2 packages Ground Beef
1 package Pork Garlic Bratwurst
1 package South African Boerwurst
1 package (2-piece) Chicken Wings

September 2014 Farm Specials

Farm Aid 2014 was a blast!  It was great having the concert in Raleigh this year and getting to participate in so many of the events surrounding Farm Aid.  Our farm hosted a tour and BBQ for my fellow coworkers from the Socially Responsible Agricultural Project.  I was interviewed by Willie's Roadhouse Radio on Sirius XM about our farm and then were asked to pair up with Country musician, Jamey Johnson, to talk about the triumphs and challenges of transitioning from contract poultry production to going back to the traditional ways of raising animals out on pasture.  It was a real honor to meet several of the artists, including Willie Nelson, Carlene Carter and Jamey Johnson and to thank them for the work that they are doing to help save the family farmer by helping farmers in crisis.  If you want to learn more or are looking for a great cause to support, check out www.farmaid.org 

So, we are finally settling down from Farm Aid activities and getting the September Farm Specials posted.  Also, a lot of the Thanksgiving turkeys have already been spoken for.  Don't forget to get yours ordered before they are all gone.

Poultry Box:  $74.99
1 Whole Chicken
2 packages of Skinless/Boneless Chicken Breasts
1 package Ground Turkey
1 package Bone-In Chicken Thighs
1 package Chicken or Turkey Breakfast Sausage (farmer's choice)
1 package Caribbean Turkey Burgers
1 package Chicken Grilling Sausages (farmer's choice)

Tailgate Special:  $50.99
1 package of St. Louis Pork Ribs
1 package of Ground Beef
1 package of Garlic Bratwurst
1 package Buffalo-style Chicken Wings
1 package Jalapeno/Cheese Beef Sausage
1 package Hot Dogs (Longaniza)

Small Family Value Box:  $97.99
2 packages Skinless/Boneless Chicken Breast
2 packages of Chicken Leg 1/4s (4 Leg 1/4s total)
1 package Apple Wood Bacon
1 package Beef Osso Bucco
1 package Pork Chops (2 per pack)
1 package Mild X Sage Breakfast Sausage
1 package Polish Sausage
1 package Ground Beef
1 package Chicken Sausage (farmer's choice)
1 package Ground Chicken
1 package Chorizo (bulk)

Large Family Value Box:  $138.99
1 Whole Chicken
2 packages Skinless/Boneless Chicken Breast
1 package Beef Short Ribs
1 package Apple Wood Bacon
1 package Andouille
1 package Chicken Sausage (farmer's choice)
1 package Beef Stew
2 packages Pork Chops (4 total)
2 packages Apple Wood Ham Slices
1 package Skinless/Boneless Chicken Thighs
1 package Ground Pork
1 package Ground Beef
1 Maple Pork Breakfast Sausage

August 2014 Farm Specials

We took a much needed vacation the first week of August and have been trying to catch up every since then.  Finally, it has stopped raining and we are cutting hay.  There's 14 new pigs on the farm in the last couple of weeks, new layers and the first batch of turkeys are big enough to go to pasture.

Important note:  The supply of turkeys for Thanksgiving will be tight this year.  Orders are coming in fast.  So, get your order in and $25.00 deposit paid quickly.

Here are the August Farm specials:

Poultry Box:  $75.99
1 Whole Chicken
1 package 2-piece Chicken Wings
2 packages of Chicken Leg 1/4's
1 package Skinless Boneless Chicken Thighs
1 lb Ground Chicken
2 packages Skinless Boneless Chicken Breast
1 package Turkey Sausages (Farmer's Choice)
1 package Chicken Grilling Sausages (Farmer's Choice)

Small Family Value Box:  $93.99
2 packages Skinless Boneless Chicken Breast
1 lb Ground Pork (make your own sausage or meatballs)
1 package Chicken Grilling Sausages (Farmer's Choice)
1 lb Pork Stir Fry
1 Pork Tenderloin
1 package Maple Pork Breakfast Sausage Links
1 package Apple Wood Bacon
1 package Hot Italian Pork Sausage Links
2 slices Apple Wood Ham (perfect for Ham/Lettuce/Tomato sandwiches)
1 lb Ground Beef
1 package Beef Kabobs

Large Family Value Box:  $129.99
1 Whole Chicken
2 packages Skinless Boneless Chicken Breast
1 package Bone-in Chicken Thighs
1 package Chicken Grilling Sausages (Farmer's Choice)
1 package Sage Breakfast Pork Sausage Links
1 package Pork Garlic Bratwurst
1 package Jalapeno/Cheese Beef Sausage
1 package Apple Wood Bacon
2 packages Pork Chops (4 pieces total)
1 lb Ground Beef
1 London Broil
1 package Meaty Pork Neckbones (for soup or in crockpot with BBQ sauce)