Well, we have taken our first steer to the processor and are expecting a lot of beef in about two weeks. We are going to try to sell half of it at $5 per pound dressed weight. We must sell 1/4 or 1/2 of the steer until we get a handler's licence, so that's a lot of beef. This steer was grown without antibiotics or hormones, in a pasture that received no chemical poisons, pasture raised with a grain supplement. The hay it received was also from our non-treated pasture. The dressed weight is 595 pounds so 1/4 of that is 148.75 pounds. A lot of beef to divide with friends and neighbors if you buy a quarter. We were glad to successfully make it to the processor as we didn't make it the last appointment, and this time we had gotten the steer into the trailer the day before and it went out the side door. We were not anticipating that.
We have broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, chinese cabbage, foxgloves, hollyhocks, and cosmos germinating in the greenhouse.
We have 25 meat birds coming at the end of April for a trial run, and have chosen Freedom Rangers for this first time, after many recommendations from the Growing Small Farms listserv.
Additionally, we are planning some pastured pigs for around that time to join the pasture in a multi-species rotation to add to the pasture health, as well as to the health of all the animals. Lots of stuff going on, as we are planning for me to go full time farmer this year.
We have ordered a lean to greenhouse to expand our greenhouse space and put it in a convenient location.
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