Polyface Farms
When you attempt to do something extraordinary, outlandish, and outside a paradigm, you look around to see who else is also attempting similar things. When I saw the documentary FOOD INC, I was watching agriculture as I knew it- perhaps from a “darker” side of the business. But undoubtedly my favorite part in the movie is when a unique farmer is showcased and he is Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms.

In the documentary, Polyface is featured as the pastured poultry, grassfed beef, pastured pork guru and is interviewed in contrast to modern day agriculture and ideals. I have always wanted to see how this farm looked since I have only read the books and listened to him speak in Guelph. What could I learn from Polyface?

Last week I had that chance while driving through Virginia. We made our way through the snake-like roads bordered by ranch-like pastures with wide open, hilly spaces. When we arrived at Polyface, which is 100 acres pasture and 400+ acres of woods, the farm was bustling with working interns. Spring work has begun and nothing energizes a winter-worn farmer more!
We saw on their website that walk-in visits were encouraged, so when we got there we started snooping around. We got to meet Joel, son Daniel and we talked with some of their interns- all of which were very friendly and happy we stopped in. “Make yourself at home” was Joel’s welcome.

We saw the infamous “Eggmobile”, “Pigerator Pork” (in action) and the “salad bar beef” were already on the hill’s grazing. Seeing all this made me anxious to get home and let my cows out to pasture!

The farm is transparent in it’s values, methods of animal husbandry and customer satisfaction. It is no secret that their #1 goal is to produce “Clean Food”. You sense it as you walk around, un-bothered and with no, “no tresspassing” signs. Their store is filled with Joel’s Books, t-shirts proclaiming “Grassfed” and information on where the animals are on the farm so that you can go find them. It was so inspiring to see first hand. If you haven’t seen or heard about Joel Salatin, or the movie Food Inc or Fresh or American Meat, I encourage you to take the time and educate yourself with what other farmers are doing to produce “clean meat” and produce. Another great film which is based in Ontario is To Make a Farm which is yet another refreshing documentary about food and farming.

Springtime at Blackview
With the thoughts of Spring comes grazing, calving, hatching, and farrowing…but it hasn’t fully arrived yet.
But until then, there are two things we are doing here at Blackview – we are clearing our freezers to make room for 2015 produce & we are wondering what the level of interest is for Beef, Pork, Duck, Chicken, eggs, and turkey. Send us an email and let us know what you and your family would like to try!

Rest assured that our beef is only fed grass…100%. Feel good about our proven Omega 6 & 3 Raio (3:1) and taste the delicious flavour that a grass fed and finished beef tastes like!
Our pork and poultry are also pastured and are as free-range as possible. They are heritage based breeds that are fed a varied diet of non-gmo grains, grass, sprouts and apples (all when they are seasonably available). Nutritionally speaking, our pork and poultry are showing really good levels/ratio of Omega’s, as well as finding 0.5% EPA and 1% DHA in the chicken (higher levels found in Fish, but none is found in grocery store chicken).

May we be your “clean meat” connection this year?