Ex Battery Babes

[alcina]

Thanks for the link Ina - I've seen this flying pig logo on bacon in Sainsburys, but the supermarket seems not to supply different cuts from this farm, only bacon. There seems to be plenty of organic pork in my local supermarket...just none with the Soil Association mark....and as has been explained here I'm only too aware that "organic" doesn't necessarily mean the animal had a "happy" life.

I've been toying with buying organic ,"happy", meat online for a while, only I'd need a bigger freezer I think, as you have to buy it in bulk.

Alcina

[ina]

Next time you are at the supermarket have a look what logos the pork has - I can try and find out the standards for the production for the certification bodies involved. Some might be imported, too - a lot of pork is - if it's German I can probably help you, too! There are also some common, basic standards that all European producers have to adhere to.

[Stonehead]

And don't forget there are some very good animals reared to organic standards, but not certified as such. We don't have organic certification (far too expensive), but our pigs, chickens and vegetables are produced using organic methods and principles. That's about as much as I can say without getting prosecuted!

We sell our surpluses to various friends and acquaintances, who are welcome to come and visit (provided they abide by biosecurity rules) and know how we operate.

So, if you can't buy official organic produce, keep an eye out for people like us. While we're not "cheap", we are definitely less expensive than many of the certified organic suppliers.

On the downside, some people get annoyed because they can't just come and buy what they want, when they want.

We only sell chicken, for instance, when we have surplus cockerels, while surplus vegetables are very seasonal. Lamb is also seasonal (we swap the use of our land for lambs), while pork is about the most regular of our surpluses.

Oh, and don't expect a commercial breast-heavy bird with lots of pale meat from poultry breeders like us. As one customer told us, "I couldn't work out where the meat was at first - there was very little on the breasts. Then I discovered the thighs and legs were big and tasty - and very dark!".

Well, the hail has now stopped so it's time to head back out again.

[ina]

Don't forget, Stonehead, Alcina lives in London... It's always better to buy from people you know, whether organic or not. If you are lucky enough to live somewhere you can get at the stuff without having to travel hundreds of miles.

Just need to add: Even farmers' markets, where you might be able to talk to the producer directly (sometimes they only have a person there selling the stuff, who is not at all knowledgeable!), aren't always the solution. I suppose in a place like London, the markets might go on all day. Around here, there's one almost every Saturday now in one of the nearby smaller towns - but they all finish at 1pm. As I work at least every other weekend, that's no bleeding good to me if I need something in a hurry! Many members of the "ordinary" working population may even never have the chance to visit one, except for their holidays. (I do that in my holidays, too...) Admittedly, there's a farmshop open until 6pm - but only during strawberry season (June to October).

[Stonehead]

Don't forget, Stonehead, Alcina lives in London... It's always better to buy from people you know, whether organic or not. If you are lucky enough to live somewhere you can get at the stuff without having to travel hundreds of miles.

I wasn't saying buy from us - I was saying keep in mind that there are other sources of good quality produce produced to organic standards (even if not certified).

I used to live in London some years back (Walthamstow and before that Kennington) but via friends and contacts managed to find organically reared pork, chicken and occasionally lamb (we grew a lot of vegetables so that was something we didn't need to source too often). It usually meant out a day out in the country, so it was two pleasures in one.

It's not always easy to find, but there are a lot of people in London who come from rural areas and know someone who knows someone. At least, that's what I found.

Stonehead

[Shirley]

Stoney... what do you feed to your chooks? Do you have a good local supplier of organic feed?

[Stonehead]

Stoney... what do you feed to your chooks? Do you have a good local supplier of organic feed?

Barley and oats bought from a farmer up near the Bloo Toon, supplemented with layer pellets bought from the Norvite shop (about 1.5 miles from us) when they're laying. The pellets are from The Organic Feed Company (part of Allen and Page) and are pricey.

We use the barley and oats for the pigs (who also get Organic Feed Company feed), the chickens, and brewing. It's good stuff and we could probably eat it, too!

The animals also range on grass (although it's time to move the pigs and I haven't quite finished the new fence), and get fresh vegetables as well. We're hoping to grow more vegetables for fodder this year, which will help reduce the feed bills.

When the croft is full stocked (we're down on pigs at the moment), we use at least 750kg of feed a month. Not much by the standards of the big boys, but a lot to take out by the bucketload!

Stonehead

[Shirley]

Cheers for that - we were at Norvite about a week ago. Didn't know it was there until we drove to Huntly and saw the sign on the way.

Apparently there is a man the other side of Huntly that does organic layers mash... makes it to order. No idea what the quality is like though.