​Along with the healthy food benefits, cooking at home saves you money and allows you to control your portions.  Studies have also shown that getting together for family dinner is associated with lower teen use of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana; lower risk of obesity, eating disorders and teen pregnancy; and improved physical and mental health.  Add to that list the nutrient benefits of our cooking with our meats and it’s a home run!   

Family dinner doesn’t have to be as much work as Sunday’s at Grandma’s house – you can pop a frozen pork butt or chuck roast on low in the crock pot before you go to bed, viola you wake up to the start of an easy and versatile meal.  

Keep a supply of our beef and pork in your freezer to make family meals a snap.

Essential Health 74 Park Road West Hartford CT.  Essential Health not only offers a pasture-raised meat program (that we participate in) but they also carry an entire line of Natural Foods & personal care items.  They are literally a one-stop shop for health.  Along with their natural foods they have Far-infared Sauna’s, massage, yoga, a rotating list of clinics and workshops and of course Dr. Allie’s chiropractic care for the entire community.   We love working with Allie, Dave & Mike.  Check them out online at https://essentialhealthct.com/
​

​Anyone who has visited the farm since September was sure to meet the passel of hogs we raised for The Kendall Co-Op Project.   Under the Whole Animals for the Whole Region Project – we were contracted to raise both pork and beef that is destined to feed students at Smith College, Westfield State University, Mount Holyoke and Amherst College.  https://www.kendall.org/whole-animals-for-the-whole-region/
​
The goal of this program was to increase the direct purchase of beef and pork from farms in New England and to introduce nose-to-tail dining to these campuses as opposed to buying individual cuts through distributors as they’ve done in the past.   
​
The direct benefit was pretty great – the students & staff get to eat high quality meat, the farmers were paid a fair fee for their animals and the local slaughterhouses had extra work during their slow months.  But the ripple effect is where it gets pretty interesting.  First off, the ability to raise additional animals without having to worry about storing and selling the cuts was HUGE!!  And, for just our small contribution to this program we were able to help support 7 local farms:

• Piglets were purchased from 3 local farms
• Pig feed was purchased from a farm in New York State
• Hay was purchased from 2 local farmers

One of our biggest changes for 2020 is the end of our poultry operations.  Meat birds are the most labor-intensive protein on the farm.  Raising them on pasture means they need to be protected from predators and moved frequently to provide fresh grass and forage.  While we had high hopes for our livestock guardian dogs - we have to admit defeat that Sarge can ever be trusted around the birds. 
We are instead happy to offer our customers chickens that are raised on pasture at The Farm of New Marlborough.  We will miss the antics of the chickens, but are excited to use those pastures for our flock of sheep.

​Partner of the month:  The Davis IGA in Kent, CT. The Davis IGA has been offering our beef and pork to Kent residents since January 2017.  Part of what makes local groceries so amazing is their willingness to support local food producers and other small businesses.  Many of our partners are seasonal farm stands, having our products at the Davis IGA allows year-round access to many of our customers.

On the average it seems 26 days a month go easy-peasy with only a few little blips ….….. pigs broke their ramp, goats keeping the sheep away from the hay or the bottom broke off the feeder.  But those other 4 or so days a month are the ones that test your faith.  The hydrant snapped below grade and is flooding the barn, the last 3 pigs refuse to leave the pasture (eliminating the chance of moving the other groups that weekend), the fox & bobcat took all the ducks and geese, the processor rescheduled your dates (again) those things defy all of my list making, planning and preparing and REALLY DRIVE ME NUTS!

While we didn’t have Elf on the Shelf when Farmer John was young, (certainly a good thing because I am definitely not that creative) we always stood by the phrase – “If you don’t believe he doesn’t come”.   I think a bit of that is what keeps us going here on the farm for sure.

And in this season of thanks – we are not of complaining!!  We know we have so much to be thankful for. 

• Our littlest farmer was born at the end of November – happy, healthy and welcomed immediately by his older brother. 
• The support of our customers was once again amazing in 2019.  While we really did miss seeing everyone at the farmer’s markets, having our products available at our partner farm stands and stores has provided us precious time with our family.  We are honored that you choose to feed your families the products we work so hard to raise.
• We are blessed to have access to a feed wagon this year for the pigs.  Nothing this season has been more satisfying than to fire up the tractor and watch the auger automatically pour the feed into the one-ton capacity feeder.  In that past we had to manually fill just over eighty 5-gallon buckets, while balancing in the tractor bucket or dancing with pigs bumping your legs (trust me - my rotator cuff is celebrating as I write this).

Speaking of Partner Farm Stands, have you checked out Barden Farm Market 510 Main Street New Hartford yet??  Aside from offering our proteins they have baked goods, prepared foods, local crafts, Sweet Pea Farm cheese and milk, and their own seasonal veggies as well.  Not only do they have their neat little store on Main Street, but they have partnered with Brewery Legitimus to offer a unique CSACB  - a CSA that includes Craft Beer and cheese. (www.bardenfarm.com)


​Meat of the month – Boston Butt
Second only to ground beef this is one of the easiest and more versatile meats we offer. Pulled pork is low carb, gluten-free, Whole 30 compliant, dairy-free, low carb, paleo, carnivore and keto friendly. You can toss it in the crock pot (frozen) and come home to an amazing meal.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                       CONTACT: Stephanie Wuorenma
Phone: (202) 446-2138
Office: Terrebonne, OR (Pacific Time Zone)
Email: mediarelations@agreenerworld.org
Website: agreenerworld.org
 
   
HOWLING FLATS FARM IN CANAAN, CT, AWARDED TOP ENVIRONMENTAL AND ANIMAL WELFARE CERTIFICATION
 
  
-- Local farm uses sustainable agriculture methods to earn Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW certification for its pasture-raised beef cattle --
 
CANAAN, CT (NOVEMBER 19, 2019)--The beef cattle at Howling Flats Farm are now Certified Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World (AGW).

This certification and food label lets consumers know these animals are raised outdoors on pasture or range in accordance with the highest animal welfare standards in the U.S. and Canada, using sustainable agriculture methods on an independent farm. Consumer Reports has rated Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW as a "highly meaningful" label for farm animal welfare, outdoor access and sustainability--and the only animal welfare certification in which they have confidence.

Like other Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW farmers across the country, Kelley Babbin and her family recognize the growing consumer interest in how animals are raised on farms. Managing animals outdoors on pasture or range has known benefits for animals, consumers and the environment.

Howling Flats Farm uses rotational grazing practices and sustainable farming techniques, which results in lower environmental impact and a higher quality product. Kelley Babbin of Howling Flats Farm says she chose to pursue certification because, "many of the industry's labels have been watered down and manipulated to be meaningless. We believe that Animal Welfare Approved by AGW certification has real value and provides our customers with proof of our hard work to give our animals the best."

AGW Executive Director Andrew Gunther says,
"We're proud to certify farms like Howling Flats Farm that have demonstrated their commitment to transparency and verified, high-welfare, farming practices. These stewards of the countryside are quite literally building a greener world while producing delicious food, and we're honored to help consumers find them--and in doing so choose products that match their values."
 
Howling Flat Farm's Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW pasture-raised beef is available direct from the farm. The farm also supplies beef to several local colleges through a collaboration with the Kendall Foundation's Whole Animals for the Whole Region project. For more information about Howling Flats Farm, visit howlingflatsfarm.com and the farm's Instagram and Facebook page, or contact Kelley Babbin at Howlingflatsfarm@gmail.com.
 
 
ABOUT A GREENER WORLD
A Greener World (AGW) identifies, audits, certifies and promotes practical, sustainable farming systems by supporting farmers and ranchers and informing consumers. AGW's growing family of trusted certifications includes Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW, Certified Grassfed by AGW and Certified Non-GMO by AGW. Each program is designed to have positive and measurable impacts on the environment, society and animals, and to encourage truly sustainable farming practices. AGW's standards and procedures are robust and transparent and achievable.

A nonprofilt funded by public donations and membership, A Greener World offers a range of resources to help people make informed food choices, including an Online Directory of certified farms and products and to food label claims. For more information visit agreenerworld.org.
 
###