Delivery News
REMINDER: Order deadline is Noon the day before we deliver:
There are a few important notes worth mentioning this week:
  1. Pork: The last time we processed pork we got a large volume of sausage. We now have more pork ready to go to the processor, but we still have lots of sausage on hand. So, I have added a sausage value pack option to the website so that you can order a 20lb value pack of sausage which will save you $1 per pound. To be clear this is 20 - 1 lb. packages. We are doing this for a limited time to move this from our freezer to yours so that we can have the room to process the pork that is ready now. 
  2. Summer Vegetable Share started 2 weeks ago, but you can still sign up online at a prorated price. Click the "Find Out More" button a couple of blocks down to read all about the veggie share. You can order now and pick up your first share this week. 
  3. Beef: The new item that I mentioned last week, Ground Beef/Organ blend is now online. We had our processor blend 10% Liver, 10% Heart into the ground meat. This will be available for online order only. If you are looking for a way to get organ meat into your diet, this is for you.
  4. Milk: It's HOT, remember to keep your milk cold.
    • Tips:
      • Bring a cooler or thermal bag with ice or cold packs inside.
      • Set your Refrigerator Temp to 35-36 degrees.
      • Put a thermometer inside your fridge to monitor temp. 
FarmFan: Get Text Message Reminders and Receive Rewards.
As one of our Farmfans you are able to receive text message reminders, both to place your order and to come pick-up your order. You will also have the ability to check-in when you pick-up. As you accumulate check-ins you will earn rewards such as Grocery Bags, T-shirts, Discounts.

Summer Vegetable Shares are available now.
Sample Share Photo. Each weekly share will vary. 
It's time to sign up for the Summer Vegetable Share. Get a box of fresh, local, organic vegetables each week delivered to the delivery location of your choosing. New for this year, you will now be able to put your share on hold for a couple of weeks if you are on vacation, then receive extra when you are back in town. 
 
On the Farm
Cross-Section of Fodder grown for Dairy Cows
Fodder for Dairy Cows:
We all know how spring milk is the most coveted milk of all. That is because the young tender grass in that time of year makes great milk. Our question here at Carlton Farms was: Why can't we find a way to make milk of that quality all year round? We have rotated pastures, used a green-chop system, planted different varieties of grass.  All of those things worked to some extent and we still implement most of those practices. However, we still couldn't emulate that spring milk the way we wanted. 
About a year ago we started sprouting barley fodder to feed the cattle. You may ask "what is fodder?". Well I'm glad you did.  
If you have adopted the principles of a Weston A. Price inspired diet you will already know the benefits of soaking and sprouting seeds. To put it in a nutshell, soaking and sprouting increases protein and digestibility. So we are now doing this for our cows. 
We spread the seed on a flat tray and soak with water.  There is a mechanically controlled system that waters the seedbed every couple of hours for 7 days. On the seventh day the seedbed has grown into a 8-10 inch tall mat of grass (see picture above).  Right now we harvest 21 trays of fodder daily, which equals about 1000 pounds of young tender grass. Plans are to double the size of the system this year. To be clear the Fodder grass that the dairy cows receive is in addition to the pasture grass that they already have access to daily.  The fodder is simply a younger more nutritious grass to supplement the pasture. 
Currently our dairy cattle are grass fed as I described above, but they do receive a small amount of feed in the barn when they come in to be milked. Our hope is that by increasing the fodder production, we will eventually be able to go to provide for the demanding nutrient requirements of our dairy cows while feeding no grain.

I will be posting pictures of our endeavors on the farm. Including a video of the Fodder System. Be sure to check out:  www.facebook.com/carltonfarm  or on our new instagram account @carltonfarm

Thanks for your continued support. At Carlton Farms we are proud to be your farmer.

Sincerely,

Chad Carlton
Carlton Farms