Interrupting Adam and my series for a little more Thanksgiving fun that was worth sharing the week before the big day.
Last week a post I wrote on how to cook a pasture raised turkey on Scratchmommy.com.
The post is full of not just cooking tips, but also how to source a turkey for your holiday feast.
In the Scratch Mommy post I advocate for pasture raised birds from a local grower versus just picking up a turkey from the store.
I wrote about my decision to purchase a pasture raised turkey and said, “I cannot think of a better way to “give thanks” than doing something sustainable for the environment, that supports my local community, and is good for my body.”
It’s so true.
For the Scratch Mommy post I purchased a turkey from a farm called Homestead Heritage that I found on eatwild.com. Eatwild.com is a great resource for finding local growers of fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy in your area.
Homestead Heritage is located just across the county from our home and when I reached out to the owners they suggested I meet them at their farm to pick up my bird.
In addition to turkey, Homestead Heritage raises and sells grass fed beef and dairy products as well as pastured pork, chickens, and eggs. They even make up freezer dinners and soups using homegrown vegetables and their sustainable raised meats. They sell at a handful of farmer’s markets in Indianapolis or you can pick up their products at their farm.
I really enjoyed going to see their farm when picking up my turkey. I was able to see other turkeys that had not been processed for the 2014 Holiday Season yet. It was great to see their living conditions; a great space full of grass, sunshine, room to roam and shelter from rain and wind.
They were really interested in checking me out as I hopped out of the car to get a few photos.
I was able to meet and talk with the owner of Homestead Heritage, Jonathon. He works with his wife and was really helpful as I asked lots of different questions about the turkey.
He said that they raise Broad Breasted White Turkeys and that the free range, pastured bird’s nutrition is supplemented with an organic feed. I asked him if they do the breeding and they do not. They arrive to his farm as day old chicks and the birds take about five months to become the right size for a Thanksgiving meal.
For the Holiday’s, they take pre-orders but almost always sell out… early. So, he recommends getting on a farm’s pre-order list early.
That’s what I did with the turkey that we will be enjoying next week
I put a deposit down in June- before I even knew I was hosting Thanksgiving!
The turkey I ordered for the holiday is from a small farm on a state road that runs from my house to Purdue that I travel on often for work. They also sell pastured chickens, seasonal flowers, vegetables and starter plants.
I have loved connecting with these growers for our Holiday meals. There is something incredibly wonderful about meeting the person who raised and cared for your food. They take pride in it and were quick to offer tips and suggestions for cooking the turkey’s so that I have a good experience with the product that they poured themselves into. These growers were also beyond kind. They invited me to their homes and even helped me get the birds into my car.
They shared their passion for raising animals that have the opportunity to bask in the sunshine, eat grass and bugs, stretch out their wings, and run around.
Their passions for creating a sustainable piece of land.
Their passion for helping people understand farming better.
And for people like them, I am very thankful.
