We are not certified organic. We do not spray or amend anything on our farm that would violate the organic standards - no chemical pesticides, herbicides or fertlizers. Everything we grow is non-GMO and all feed we purchase is non-GMO. We are confident our animal welfare practices far far exceed the organic standard. We do not give our animals antibiotics except to treat a single individual should one fall ill or be injured. And only if the specific antibiotic would be helpful to bring it back to health.
We encourage people to visit the farm to self-certify how we raise our animals. We don't have official farm tours or set times for visitors. Just contact us and make an appointment. May through December we cannot host visitors on weekends due to our farmers market commitments.
Maybe. For USDA processing, there are parts, like lamb head and pelts, we can get back but have to get them for the entire group of animals being harvested at one time and the slaughterhouse charges a fee. There are other parts like stomach, intestines and lamb feet we cannot get back at all.
With planning we can sometimes accomodate special USDA cuts. We are limited by what the cut and wrap shop will do.
For whole and half animals the options are listed on the cut and wrap instruction forms. We do not save any part of the digestive tract on any animals.
Yes this is an option and a great way to purchase meat. Typically we ask you to come the morning of the harvest so you can take the meat home with you right away. In certain circumstances we are able to bring a whole lamb or goat or half a pig to one of our farmer's markets or at a meeting point. In all cases we need to know you want to do the cut and wrap yourself when you get on the waiting list so we can start working with you on logistics.
Whole lamb and goat harvests are twice a year - usually around April or May and also in December.
Whole and half hog harvests are usually every other month. However, we cannot harvest in October, November and early December due to the cut and wrap shop being too busy for our animals (due to deer season).
Meats can be picked up at the farm, at first Saturday of every month Walnut Creek drop off point, at our Saturday farmer's market in Palo Alto the first and third Saturdays of every month, or at specified meeting points along our travel to the farmer's market.
When you purchase a half or whole hog or whole lamb or goat you get to specify how the butcher cuts and packages the meat. The cut and wrap specification sheets are here: pork or lamb or goat.
