Meat Products – Beef/Pork/Lamb/Goat
- Do you sell lard?
We would have to become a licensed food processor since lard is a
cooked (rendered) product. Our grass based pigs do not produce a
sufficient fat layer to warrant the additional facilities that would
be required.
- Can I buy fresh (unfrozen)
meat from you?
In order to comply with State of Tennessee retail regulations, all
of our meat products may only be sold frozen under our category of
license.
- What does the animal’s diet
consist of?
Cattle graze on grass and are fed dried grass ( straw ) during
periods of snow cover. The pigs consume skim milk from our dairy,
grass, roots, nuts, and receive extra produce from the garden and
pumpkins at the end of the season provided by a local pumpkin
farm. Sheep are strictly grass fed. Goats mainly consume grasses
but will eat most any vegetation, and are given a handful of our
custom blended mixture of cracked corn, oats and molasses as an
incentive to come to into the milk parlor.
- Can I get beef hooves,
sweetbreads, or brains?
No, the USDA will not allow us to have these items back from the
processor.
- How much meat is in a quarter
or half of beef, or half of pork?
When you buy whole or half a beef or a whole or half hog, the meat
is cut to
your specifications. Typical dressing percentages for beef
are: 30% ground beef, 35% steaks (rib eye, filet/tenderloin,
sirloin, round, and minute/cubed) and 35% roasts (shoulder, chuck,
sirloin tip and rump). You may also choose to include stew meat,
ribs (country or sort), and organs.
- What cuts do I get with a hog?
Pork is usually 30% sausage, 20% roasts and 50% chops, ham steaks,
and sliced shoulder. Cured Bacon is available, it will contain
nitrates to cure the meat. You may order the hams whole and the
bacon as a side in order to cure the meat yourself. We are happy to
provide you with information on how to do so! All percentage figures
are by weight - not the number of cuts.
- How much freezer space will I
need?
Plan on approximately one cubic foot of freezer space for every
15-20 pounds of meat. The interior of a milk crate is slightly more
than a cubic foot.
- Where is your meat processed
and is it inspected?
All meats except for the poultry are processed in both a state and
federally inspected facility.
- What if I don't like the meat?
Please notify us immediately if you have any problems or
questions about your order. Be sure to read the Special Cooking
Considerations before you begin; all of our meats will cook much
faster than what you normally prepare. Please use a thermometer to
avoid overcooking!
Because our meats are not factory raised, they will have much
more flavor than supermarket meats. Sometimes children who are used
to bland and processed foods will need to eat a few servings to
become accustomed to the new food, which actually has
taste.
- Are you Certified Organic?
This is probably the most common question we are asked. The answer
is, “No,” for several reasons:
Currently there is no organic certification program within the
state of Tennessee for meat. To become certified is expensive and
governmentally invasive. When applying for the proposed federal
certification, you sign that any government agency has full access
to your property at any time. (Would you sign that?)
Certified organic feeds are scarce and VERY expensive; but
remember that we use NO commercial feeds, and we actually feed very
little grain. If we were to switch to certified organic hay and
grain, we would have to
more than triple our prices.
“Organic” applies only to the feed the animal consumes. It does
NOT mean the animals are on pasture, not confined and treated
humanely! Commercial chicken operations (AKA “Chicken Prisons” ) are
“going organic” only by changing their feed, yet the poor birds
remain in deplorable conditions.
- I would like to buy livestock
from Peaceful Pastures, but I don't have a trailer; do you offer
delivery?
Because we have to be compensated not only for our gas, but our
time away from the farm and our business, our hauling fees are high.
We charge the same as any licensed and bonded livestock hauler,
$2.00/mile, one way.
Here are some other options for your to consider:
- See if your local U-Haul It place rents horse trailers.
- Some Farmers Co-ops rent livestock trailers.
- Ron Keener, in TX, makes several trips across the country
each year hauling goats, sheep, Great Pyrenees, and llamas.
He charges $250 for the first animal, plus $50 for each
additional animal. We have done business with him and he is
very reliable and takes excellent care of the animals.
- I can sometimes arrange trips to:
...... Asheville, NC - Rock Hill, SC, via
my girlfriend who lives nearby
...... Lexington-Louisville,
KY
...... Terre Haute Indiana
Poultry Products- Goose/Duck
- What is the diet of the
animals?
The ducks eat grass and insects. The geese eat only grass.
- What is the difference between
pastured poultry and free range?
"Free
range" by definition means only that the animals have access to the
outside. Poultry can "free range" on sand, dirt or even concrete!
Pastured poultry are housed on grass, with grass, legumes and
insects comprising a large portion of their diet.
Pet Food Raw Dairy
2007 will be the last year that
Peaceful Pastures will offer Pet Food Raw Dairy Products. Several
of you have asked what the reasons are for that. Please read the
below reasons. Please also see your August 2007 Newsletter for
more information.
- More than anything, it is simply time for a
change, we have milked for 14 consecutive years. They have been good
years and we do not regret any of it. On some level we will miss the
routine and the milking time at the barn.
- As we have related in previous newsletters and in
phone conversations, it is almost impossible for us to find
reliable farm help despite paying very well for our area and
offering benefits. The dairy enterprise is the most dependent upon
hired labor. Eliminating it allows Darrin, Jenny, Bobby (full time
farm employee), Jessica (full time customer service) and Rachel
(part time farm employee) to handle all of the day to day workload
without feeling, stressed, stretched and pressured to bring in “just
any” additional help.
- Most of our goat milk sales have been generated
through The Maker’s Diet. When we elected to expand the
milking line in 2007 in order to accommodate the extraordinary
demand of 2006, we had no idea that The Maker’s Diet was
already rapidly diminishing in popularity. Because of this decline,
our goat product sales are down 75%. We simply cannot justify the
time, labor and expense of milking when the products do not
sell.
- Due to the popularity of ethanol, corn (a chief
component of all animal feeds) prices have risen markedly. Even
though our goats receive only limited feed while in the milk parlor,
the 50%+ price increase of our feed this year has had a significant
impact. If we were to continue milking, even on a smaller
scale, we would have to raise the prices of the products at least
20%.
- Despite being licensed and regulated as a pet
food facility, we recognize that our operation, like so many,
functions within a “gray area” of the law. Neighboring states are
becoming more and more aggressive in their pursuit and persecution
of raw dairy producers and it is only a matter of time before the TN
Dept. of Agriculture rejoins the hunt. We fought Big Brother over
the raw dairy and won, but we do not have the manpower or financial
resources to again be so diverted from our livestock and their well
being.
- Over the last year, Jenny
has rescued ten horses and they need her time and attention to
explore their personalities and talents in order to eventually find
new careers.
Ordering And Shipping
- I placed an order online. When
is my credit card charged?
We never charge a credit card until the day the order ships.
- Why is my total on the invoice
different than what the website gave me?
The website gives only an estimate of your total based on average
weights. Each package is sold by weight, and each package is weighed
at the time your order is compiled. The shipping estimate on the
website is also based on the average weight of each item. Once the
order is compiled, the entire package is weighed and the shipping is
then calculated based on the weight and destination zip code.
- When will my order ship?
When will my order ship? We ship meat/dairy the 2nd and 4th Mondays
of each month. The ordering deadline for a Monday shipment is noon
on the Friday before. Soap is shipped within 2 weeks of the order
date.
- May I return my cooler and
gel packs?
While we support efforts to recycle, the gel packs and
coolers we use are single use only items. They are not designed to
be shipped repeatedly and do not hold their integrity with multiple
uses. Fed Ex is really rough in handling the boxes and empty coolers
have come back to us in pieces before!
- I just got my order and was
charged for dry ice, but I don’t see any in the package.
We buy several hundred pounds at a time, the shipping slabs are not
wrapped individually. Therefore, as the dry ice evaporates
during the transit process, it is not
uncommon for there to be no trace of it upon arrival depending
on the duration of the transit
time.
- What forms of payment do you
accept?
We accept all major credit cards, and payment through PayPal. Checks
may only be written as a deposit for whole, half, or quarter
animals. Cash is accepted for pick-up at the farm only.
- Can I mail you a check or
money order to pay for my order?
Payment is required before any product ships. Since the
order total is not available at until it is compiled and weighed,
checks and money orders are impossible to write in advance. Checks
are acceptable only for existing accounts when the order is picked
up at the farm.
Road Trip Deliveries/Nashville
Deliveries
- Do you bring extra meat or
dairy on the road trip/Nashville deliveries?
To preserve the best quality of products, we minimize the time each
item spends in transport, and therefore do not carry any extra
product.
- Where do you stop on the
Georgia/Florida deliveries?
GA/FL Road trip delivery route
info.
- Your road trip stops are not
convenient for me; can I meet you at a gas station or at on exit?
Because we are making many stops in two states along the route, we
must streamline the process for easy access with our truck/trailer
to reduce traffic issues and stay on schedule. Many businesses do
not look favorably upon someone doing business in their parking lots
as it takes up space for their customers. Rest stops are a safe,
easily accessible place to make deliveries without disrupting
other’s businesses.
- Why do I have to order so
early for road trips?
There are many different factors that we must consider several weeks
before each trip. Keep in mind that we are compiling thousands of
pounds of products for these trips. To provide you with the freshest
products, we must know far enough in advance to have the appropriate
number of animals processed . Remember all of our beef is aged at
least 21 days for the best flavor so the animals are taken weeks in
advance of the trip. All dairy must be collected and frozen over a
period of several weeks to obtain an ample supply to meet the
demand. It also takes quite a long time to process compile and weigh
each order prior to the trip, and we must know in advance the
size/capacity of the vehicle and/or trailer to rent.
- When do I pay for items
ordered on a road trip?
The orders are compiled and weighed a few days prior to the trip.
Credit cards are charged once the total has been calculated.
- Can I pay by cash or check for
the road trip delivery.
All orders must be paid for prior to our departure from the farm.
Due to safety concerns, carrying cash/checks to rest stops (often
after dark) is never a good idea
- For a Road Trip/Nashville
delivery, do I have to order dry ice?
No. Just bring your own coolers for transporting your products home.
- Do you have a page just for
the GA/FL deliveries that will answer other questions I may have?
We now have a webpage set up just for the GA/FL deliveries!
Please see the
GA/FL
Delivery page on our website for all the information regarding
the delivery!
Operational Questions
- How are your animals
slaughtered?
All of our animals are slaughtered according to USDA protocol in a
federally licensed facility under the constant supervision of a USDA
inspector
- How do you know it is humane?
Although we are not allowed to be present on the kill floor due to
USDA regulations, we have built a good relationship with the
processor and have confidence in their procedures. We stand by our
commitment to the humane treatment of all animals from the beginning
of their lives until the end.
- How do you know it is clean?
Each step of the process from slaughter through packaging and
storage is regulated and supervised by an onsite USDA inspector. The
inspector is present during all hours of operation and requires
strict compliance with all procedures
- How is your meat packaged?
Our meat is packaged in clear food-grade freezer film (plastic)
which is designed to go directly into your freezer upon purchase.
The film reduces freezer burn and allows for great long-term
storage. Wax lined freezer paper may be requested when purchasing
animals by the whole or half for those who are sensitive to
plastics.
Soap
- How can I get free Soap
samples?
We are unable to provide free samples of soap.
- What are the soap ingredients?
The ingredients vary by soap, but all contain coconut and olive oil.
Our soaps do not contain mineral or other petrochemical derivitives.
Our goat’s milk soaps contain some tallow. See each soap description
on the soaps page for more information.
Miscellaneous
- Do you have a catalog?
Due to the high costs associated with publishing and the seasonal
availability of our products, we do not publish a catalog. However,
all of our products with descriptions, pricing and availability are
located right here on our website. If you have questions that you
would like answered by a live person, please contact our Customer
Service Department at 615-429-6806 M-F, 7:00am-4:00pm CST.
- Can I come out to the farm on
Sunday if its just to pick up an order?
We are sorry, but we do not conduct any business on Sunday
as we are closed for worship and rest.
- Why do I need an appointment
to come to the farm?
Since we are a small family operated farm, we are frequently out
working at various locations on the farm and not at the house. We
ask that you make an appointment in advance so we may schedule
someone to meet you at the house. We recognize that many of our
customers travel a good distance to pick up their orders, and we
wouldn’t want anyone to waste a trip if we miss your visit!
- Do you ever let families
come out and volunteer to learn first hand about what you do?
Sometimes, under appropriate circumstances. Farming of any kind can
be somewhat dangerous and accidents are always a possibility.
Therefore for safety and insurance purposes, we cannot allow
children under 12 to participate or be present during volunteer
activities. Each request is decided on a case by case basis, please
contact the farm directly for more information
- When can I call and talk to a
real person?
Please contact Customer Service at (615) 429-6806 Monday –Friday
7:00am- 4:00pm CST. If you are connected to voicemail, please leave
a message as another customer is likely being helped. You may also
call and leave voicemail at this number 24 hours a day, but leave a
daytime contact number. Catching a live person at the farm is more
difficult, but phone calls are usually returned within 24 hours.
- Do you ever sell any live
animals?
We have a limited number of live goats, sheep and dairy cattle each
year. Please contact us for more information.
- Do you sell organic
produce/vegetables/fruit/grains or flour?
We do not sell these items on our farm. Please follow these links
for producers of these items:
-
- Produce CSA – Long Hungry Creek Farm, Red Boiling
Springs, TN. Jeff Poppin: e-mail address is
jeff@barefootfarmer.com . Farm Phone 615-699-2493
www.barefootfarmer.com
- Produce - Paradise Produce - Stacey Geny - Email:
Paradiseproduce@yahoo.com Phone: 615-746-4861 - Stacey
does the same Nashville delivery as Peaceful Pastures
- Produce CSA - Bug Tussle Organic Farm – 950 Rack Creek
Road,Gamaliel, KY 42140
Eric & Cher Smith,
www.bugtusslefarm.com phone: 270-457-BUGS
- Produce - Limited selection of vegetables, Abundant
selection of lettuces and greens.
Mark Sherfey. Muddy Pond, TN.
marksherfey@afo.net.
- Fruit – including some unusual fruits and berries – Hector
Black, Hidden Springs
Orchard. Cookeville, TN
hblack1925@fastmail.fm 615-268-9889
- Do you know where I can buy
naturally cured hot dogs, lunch-meat, salami, etc…?
At this time we are unaware of any sources for these products. These
items are regulated by the
state of Tennessee rather than USDA, so our federally licensed
processor is prohibited from
producing these items.
- Do any stores in my area carry
your products? At this time we offer direct to consumer products
only and our products are not available at any retail locations.
At this time we offer direct to consumer products only and our
products are not available at any retail locations.
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