"Like" our new Facebook page!
Yes, its true! We have a facebook page now. Visit www.facebook.com/NaturesChoiceFarm1 and hit "like". Eric and I plan to use Facebook to post updates on the farm, fun pictures, and product information. Thanks!!
We are taking deposits for 1/4 of beef for 2013
We are currently taking deposits for beef that will finish in early fall of 2013. The price is $5.50 per lb hanging weight. This price includes processing (butchering) fees and delivery costs as well. Quarters can be custom cut to your liking. To reserve a quarter of beef, place a deposit.
|
Meat CSA
Learn about becoming a part of our Community-Shared Agriculture (CSA)! Customers purchase shares of our production and are provided with 15 lbs of pasture raised meats (5 lbs pork, 5 lbs beef, 5 lbs chicken) each month. We also have egg shares available (4 doz per month) or 1/2 egg shares (2 doz per month) as well. Members can pick-up their shares of meat at our farmers markets or at the farm. During the winter season, we deliver at drop-off points close to where the summer markets were held.
Awarded the Frontera Farmers Foundation Grant Three times!
We just found out that we were awarded a grant for 12,000 again to construct a building to house a walk-in freezer, egg washing station, and on-farm store! Eric and I are ecstatic and feel very blessed. We owe a great deal of our success to this foundation. Thank you Rick Bayless for forming this foundation.
In 2011, we applied for a grant from the Frontera Farmers Foundation of 12,000 to purchase a chore tractor. We were thrilled to find out that once again, Nature's Choice Farm was awarded this grant! Eric purchased a tractor to complete tasks on the farm such as feeding hay to the cattle during winter months, spreading and composting manure, moving chicken houses, and many other chores.
In 2010, our farm was awarded the first grant of 12,000 to purchase and install a walk-in freezer from the Frontera Farmer Foundation as well. The walk-in freezer made forming a CSA possible because we now have ample freezer storage. This foundation supports local farmers by funding projects that encourage sustainable farming. The founder is chef and owner of Frontera Grill, Rick Bayless. We feel blessed that a foundation of this nature exists and were lucky to meet Rick and his staff. Thanks to this foundation, we are more able to provide high quality meats to local customers.
|
|
Our Farm
Nature's Choice Farm is located in Grant Park, IL and was started five years ago by Eric and Samantha Sexton. Eric's dream was to raise animals in a healthy environment and produce quality meats and eggs that are both good for you and delicious! All of our animals are raised without the use of hormones and/or antibiotics. Our poultry, cattle, and pigs are free to roam in the open air on rich, green pasture and treated with the utmost respect.
|
|
Why Pasture Raised Products?
Looking at our modern meats and eggs, you will find they can be the product of "factory farming" where animals are kept in large confinement facilities and eating diets designed to boost productivity, grow rapidly, and be cheap to produce. Our chickens, turkeys, and ducks are never kept in cages and are provided with plenty of space, fresh grass, and nutritious feed. Pasture raised meat can be leaner and higher in Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E. Eggs from pasture raised hens can have less cholesterol and saturated fat, more vitamin A, beta-carotene, and Omega-3 fatty acids. Cattle were designed to eat fibrous grasses and plants. Our cattle are never fed grain. They graze on a diverse blend of pasture plants during the summer and are fed hay harvested from our pasture during the winter. Eating nutritious foods is important to your health and important to us.
|
Our Story
We moved out to Grant Park six years ago. The land needed some T.L.C., and so we got to work! Eric fenced the entire farm and planted pasture grasses and legumes. We bought a trailer and watched as the semi-truck delivered our new humble abode! The first year, we raised 400 broiler chickens, 75 layers, and bought three Murray Grey cows and their calves. Mostly family and friends bought our products and gave many positive reviews. Samantha (Sam) is a second grade teacher in Peotone and has the summers off, so she suggested to begin selling at farmers markets. The second year was busy! We were newly married (on a beach in Mexico!) and raised almost 2000 broilers, 175 layers, 80 turkeys, four pigs, purchased more cattle, and had one calf born. We sold in four farmers markets and our on-farm sales began to increase greatly. Now we have CSA, raise about 3000 chickens, 100 hogs, 40 cattle, and 400 turkeys. As we continue to grow, we couldn't do it without our loyal customers. We love when people come and visit the farm. Our relationship with our customers is very important to us.
|
|
