Monday, October 25, 2010

freezer beef and lamb


My plan was to sell our meat to you from the shop freezers.  I found out today that this plan is not going to work.  Our local USDA processors are full and can't take appointments for beef until March.    They are not taking any appointments for the lambs.  

Plan B:  I called the local  NYS inspected processor.  They do have appointments for the lamb and the beef could go in December.   This would give you some farm raised meat for your freezer.   These animals have been on pasture all summer.   The lambs to get a small amount of grain with their pasture.  The steers have not gotten anything but grass.  None of our animals are given hormones or antibiotics.  This kind of meat cannot be purchased in the grocery store.   Without USDA inspection I can not sell the meat to you.  I can however sell you the animal and deliver them to the processor.  You would then have the meat cut to your specification.  

Lambs can go anytime.  I have 2 market lambs left for the season.  Our price is $1.75 per pound live.  They weigh about 100lbs. right now.   The processors price is $70 (kill,cut,and wrap)

I have scheduled an appointment for December 7 for the beef.   The animals will be sold by the half or whole.$2.50/lb. hanging weight.  Our best guess is that it will be around 400-500lbs. each.  So that would mean around 200-250lbs per half.  The processors price is $50 flat fee, and then $.65 cut and wrap.  

We will not be keeping any market animals this winter.  This is your last chance to fill your freezers.

Don't forget we still have chicken in the freezer for you.  



Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Rhinebeck Weekend

Because the fleece entries had to be in place for judging on Friday, we entered the fair by Mulberry Street.  I don't think I would have seen this otherwise.  It was an amazing sand sculpture.  I'm not sure if it held up through the rain on Friday evening or not.  On Saturday and Sunday when I was by that entrance there were so many people I didn't happen to see it.  Did any of you notice it?  

After the showers on Friday evening the rest of the weekend was dry.  It was warm and dry...just amazing!!! I had been fretting about the cold and rain that had been predicted.  Just goes to show it doesn't pay to fret!!

The colors were amazing!!!  It was a rhinebeck to remember. 

I was traveling through one of the many building and saw this shawl.  It just happen that Betsy was in the same building...could this be the 2011 Maryland sheep to shawl pattern??


Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Farm Tour

What a great day we had!!!

 Many thanks to all who helped make this work.  Tom and Liz and Maggie who kept things rolling in the barn, Sue and Hope for skirting fleeces you did a great job, the spinning guild who answered numerous questions about wool and spinning, and Gwen and Debbie our shearer and her mom, I thank you all!!!

I hope that those of you that were visitors also had a great time.

Here is the recipe I promised for the lamb soup.

It is from the Better Homes and Gardens Crockery Cookbook.

Hearty Lamb and Barley Soup

1 1/2 pounds of lamb stew, cut into 1 inch cubes( I used bone in stew meat)
1 T. cooking oil.


2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup pearl barley
1 cup chopped onion
1 medium carrot, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 large parsnip, cut into 1/2 inch pieces(I didn't have one so i used more carrot)
1-14 1/2 ounce can of Italian style stewed tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried marjoram, crushed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 bay leaf
5 cups beef broth ( I used vegetable stock)

In a large skillet brown lamb, drain off fat
Place lamb and the rest of the ingredients in crock pot, cover cook on low-heat setting for 8-10 hours or on high-heat setting for 4-5 hours.  Discard bay leaf.  Makes 8 servings.

Now its time to get ready for Rhinebeck!!!  I am fitting sheep and packing the camper.  It looks like a great weekend weather wise (fingers crossed) maybe we'll see you there!!

Don't forget the shop is closed Friday and Saturday.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

fall colors

We took a trip to the Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival on Sunday.  It was a girls day out.  The weather was perfect, and the festival was wonderful!!  The colors were better than this picture shows, but I was camera challenged on Sunday.  The event was at the Tunbridge Fairground in Tunbridge, VT.  What a nice place.  If you have a chance its a nice place to visit next year.

The Border Collie herding was very fun to watch.  I may have caught the puppy bug...

Since I've been back I've been working hard on the shop schedule.  There is a calendar on the website www.fostersheepfarm.com.  If you go there you can find out what is happening.  I am also sending a class list newsletter to everyone on the email list.  If you would like a copy and your not on the list, just let me know fostersheepfarm@gmail.com