How are farm fresh eggs different than grocery store eggs? Let me count the ways.

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June 17, 2022

Farm fresh eggs. What's so special about them?

Eggs might be the most versatile item in your kitchen. It's hard for me to think of a recipe that doesn't contain them. And because they're so frequently used, I would argue that means it's important to get the highest quality eggs.

If you're buying eggs from us, you probably know that eggs are unfortunately subject to some of the most manipulative labeling and "greenwashing" that companies use. "Cage free" or "free range" eggs, as labeled in the grocery store, don't mean what they imply. There's lots of fine print and truths left unsaid.

But eggs, when raised right, are some of the most nutrient-dense and affordable products that you can buy. So let's talk about how to raise them right.

First, laying hens should be raised outdoors. Our laying hens are outside - 365 days a year, all day long. Protected by our poultry netting, they forage, scratch, and take dirt baths in fresh pasture. They lay eggs and sleep in our mobile coop, which is moved to a new area three times a week.

Second, laying hens should eat bugs. Chickens are omnivores, not vegetarians. Allowing them to eat bugs, worms, and other critters helps them meet their nutritional needs. As an added benefit, it also helps keep down the tick population - something that everyone should care about!

Third, laying hens should lay in accordance with their circadian rhythm. Using artificial lights to prompt chickens to lay by disturbing their circadian clock, as most big barn chicken facilities do, is destructive to the animal's health. Yes, chickens do lay less over the winter. And that's how it should be, as we practice better awareness for the earth's rhythms, rather than our artificial ones.

Fourth, laying hens should produce deep orange yolks. How do you know that an egg is truly farm fresh - and nutritious? It's in the yolk. Eggs are rich in selenium, choline, protein, folate and B vitamins - among many other nutrients. Not only do eggs help improve your "good" cholesterol, but they're also an excellent source of "brain food" to keep your brain healthy. Deep orange yolks reflect the quality of nutrition that you're receiving.

Finally, eggs should be clean - naturally. Cleaning eggs with water or soap destroys the natural "bloom" that hens leave on their eggs. Leaving the bloom on helps keeps eggs fresh - even on the counter! - and protects them from potential bacteria. Our "roll away" laying boxes gently roll the eggs away from hens, to keep them clean and fresh.

What did I miss? How do you like incorporating eggs in the kitchen? I'd love to hear from you.

eggs

regenerative

farm practices

Why should we care if grass-fed beef is grown in America, anyway?

The government is importing over 600 million pounds of ground beef. A big company is claiming that grass-fed and grass-finished beef "doesn't exist" in this country. So if we can just buy our beef overseas, why does it matter at all if we grow it here or not?

Can we care about animals - and still raise them for food?

I probably spend the most time with the pigs on our farm. Part of this is practical: since pigs can’t sweat, we spray them down twice a day to help them wallow in the mud and stay cool. But part of it is emotional, too. I enjoy being around the pigs. When there’s a lot on my mind, or I’ve spent too much time on the computer and need to get outside, wandering over to that week’s pig paddock is one of the ways I can clear my mind. Pigs are highly emotive and responsive. When I spray them down with the hose, they like to sit back on their haunches, prick back their ears, and snap playfully at the water as it showers down on them. And then joyfully roll around in the mud afterward, of course. But they’re responsive to humans in general, too. They are naturally curious and, in the case of our heritage breed Red Wattles, gentle. They’ll come up and sniff you, rub their mud-streaked bellies over you, and let you scratch their ears. And maybe this is the part where you start to wonder: But aren’t you raising them for food? Why would you want an emotional connection to an animal that you are raising for food? I understand where this question is coming from. I was a vegetarian for nearly a decade because I didn’t like the thought of killing animals, especially within the framework of our industrial food system. But actually, it isn’t a problem or moral quandary for me. Yes, we grow fond of and attached to our animals, including our pigs. Yes, we still send them to the butcher or process them on our farm for food. And yes, this still makes sense to me. I would gently suggest that the idea that we shouldn’t have any emotional connection to our food - that we can only eat meat that comes from animals we withhold our emotions or affection from - is a sign of our disconnection to the way food is grown. That is, after all, one of the premises of industrial agriculture. Designate animals with one sole purpose - “becoming food” - and then shut them away in buildings, cramped quarters, or far away from humans who might interact with them beyond the farmer. And the farmer, too, should be as disconnected as possible. After all, this is an efficient machine. The problem, from a regenerative perspective, is that growing food is never just about growing food. Food is the gift you receive at the end of your work, but it’s the work itself - and the consequences of the work beyond the food - that is the point. The work, on our farm, is caring for the land. That means working alongside animals to nurture native plants, clear forest areas to make existing trees healthier, and create habitats for birds, pollinators, and wildlife. And that means becoming attentive and thoughtful - to animals and to the land. Watching, learning, and yes, developing bonds with the habitats you’re nurturing and the animals that are helping you do so. Is it sad to load up animals and take them to the butcher at the end of the season? Yes, it often can be. But I don’t feel guilty about it. I know that we’ve given them the best life possible, and that we’ve partnered with them to leave our farm better than we found it each year. And if that doesn’t make sense, that’s okay. I’m not saying that everyone has to agree with me. I’d simply like to advocate for a way of farming and consuming meat that includes this experience - one of affection and bonding between animals and humans. After all, this is one of the many ways we try to do things differently on our farm. We don’t want to just provide you with food that meets your standards - non-GMO, no vaccines, no antibiotics, grass-fed and pasture-raised. We also want to help you reconnect with that food. And part of that is knowing the animals, hearing stories about them, and yes, maybe even having an emotional connection with them, despite the end goal of providing meat to you.

Know your beef farmer - and stock up on grass-fed and grass-finished beef you can trust.

Worried about the recent beef news about imports? Want to know where your beef comes from - and that it's actually beef? Our 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef is honest, trustworthy, and truly local. Try it now get the peace of mind that comes from sourcing food you can actually trust.

How are farm fresh eggs different than grocery store eggs? Let me count the ways.

More from the blog

Why should we care if grass-fed beef is grown in America, anyway?

Can we care about animals - and still raise them for food?

Know your beef farmer - and stock up on grass-fed and grass-finished beef you can trust.

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