Liberty Farm began in 2005 with the purchase of our farm in northern Morrow County, Ohio. We started with a small flock of Icelandic ewes and a handful of laying hens.
It is our goal to build a sustainable farm for the purpose of raising healthy, pastured food and healthy kids. Our pastures are managed in a chemical-free style with an eye to long-term improvement of the land.
We have 100% grass-fed, drug-free lamb to offer for sale. Our lambs produce very mild flavored meat. They eat nothing but grass and mother's milk with some vitamin and mineral supplement.
In addition, we have chicken and eggs. Our meat birds and laying hens are fed certified organic feed from Curly Tail Farm here in Central Ohio and live on pasture in hoop houses that we move regularly to fresh grass.
The chickens follow the sheep in the pasture rotation. This means that the grass is nice and short so the birds can take full advantage of it. Their contribution is to fertilize and scratch the ground, making better pasture for the sheep.
and:
We are now taking orders for lamb that will be processed in September. Whole and half animals are available. They are going fast - reserve yours today with a phone call or email! The price is $3.25 per pound (carcass weight - processing not included).
Broiler chickens are available now and we will be butchering more in September. They are $2.50 per pound which includes processing. Weights range from 4-6 pounds.
Eggs are $2.50 a dozen. Our supply will be better in late August.
If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you may remember a post some time ago explaining that we don't sell chicken because we don't produce any grain which is their primary food source. Allan Nation has often pointed out that the biggest difference between organic and "conventional" agriculture is the name on the bag of inputs. He's right and that isn't sustainable. So why the change at Liberty Farm?
The first reason is practical. To be honest, we're hemorrhaging money and broiler chickens are a sure way to increase cash flow. Are we selling out? Maybe... At least the chickens are a good fit with our sheep on pasture.
Secondly, as much as I might like to see a change in modern organic and "sustainable" ag, it ain't happening yet. And it probably won't until the price of oil makes shipping grain and supplements cost prohibitive. When that finally happens, it will bring a lot of changes. For one, we won't be eating young, tender, large-breasted chickens anymore because those hybrid birds are so nutritionally demanding. They need lots of protein and a precise balance of vitamins and minerals. We found this out the hard way this spring when we lost 46 out of 50 birds due to a lack of vitamin B in the supplement.
So we're selling chicken for the time being - chickens that live their short lives feeling the sun on their back and the grass under their feet. There is no comparison whatsoever to confinement raised chicken, including the industrial organic crap. Get it while it's hot.
In the meantime, I'm working on learning more about organic no-till grain growing and experimenting with different heritage breeds of chicken that will thrive on feed that I can produce by hand.
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