Organic/Free Range Meat, Poultry and Eggs - Thoughts?

[alpinerabbit]

Q: what is the eco-balance of personally driving out to a farm to get the stuff... watch out for that as well.... (you could always haul it by bike)...

[Crankin]

+1 on Charlton Orchards. I have been buying produce from them at the Bedford farmer's market all summer, even though there are at least 5 farms within 5 miles of my house. They sell a lot of different things.
I know that there is a farmer in Lincoln who allows you to buy "shares" of his beef and chicken for the year. I am not sure if it is organic, but there must be other farmers in MA who do this.

[Trek420]

Q: what is the eco-balance of personally driving out to a farm to get the stuff... watch out for that as well.... (you could always haul it by bike)...

You could. Or map your own Sonoma sustainable bike tour

www.farmtrails.org

But seriously one can argue about about beef till the cows come home whether it's the cow farts, the high costs of transport, feed and water, burning the rain forest to make our happy meals .... I just feel if you have local options for food it's better on oh so many levels.

The farmers and ranchers in Chile or Argentina (or here if you're in Chile or Argentina. This is a global board after all) are wonderful. But I'm here and I can't ride there. Eating local whenever and however possible is one way we can preserve our great places to ride.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005..._grassla_1.php

[ccbloom]

Crankin' and Jolt - THANK YOU for the Charlton Orchards recommendation. I had NO IDEA that they had such a variety. I'm right in Auburn, so it's obviously very convenient for me. I've only been there years ago to do some apple picking. I'm definitely going to look into it (btw - I didn't realize there were so many of us close by to each other!)

I did find Misty Brook Farm on eatwild.com, as well as a few others in Barre. DH wasn't too keen on the idea of driving there, but it's my bday weekend, so it wouldn't be too hard to convince him.

I did just read a Life magazine article today about cow-sharing, and I'm interested in that as well. Just need to do a bit of research.

There are a few farmer's markets in my area. There's one in Worcester MWF, but it's just ok. I haven't been this year. I have gone to the Grafton Farmer's Market and that was pretty good. Silvermine Farm is there, and they do sell chickens, so that's my other option.

I just feel if you have local options for food it's better on oh so many levels.

I couldn't agree more. As the winter starts to roll in here (ugh!!!), the local foods take a nosedive <-- although, I'm more than happy to hear recommendations from the natives.

Actually, I'm very happy that I brought up this topic, because personally, it has opened my eyes to a lot of what my area can offer if I know where to look. So, thank you!

Also, I'm personally ok with cutting back on my meat consumption. I can do without for breakfast/lunch/snacks and a couple dinners each week, but in order to tame the family, I have to serve some meals containing meat.

[Jolt]

There's apparently a farmers market in Auburn on Saturdays from 9:30-2 in the library parking lot (this is from a list of Central MA farmers markets that we have on the fridge from the newspaper earlier this summer). I think I know which one in Worcester you're talking about (the one on Chandler St.?); the selection is definitely "just OK". Charlton Orchards is great and if you're in Auburn it should be fairly convenient (maybe you can ride there!).

[ccbloom]

Jolt - the "farmer's market" in Auburn on Saturdays is just one little stand in the library parking lot. It's hardly a market. I've stopped by a couple times and picked up a couple things, but it's hardly spectacular. Yes, the Chandler St. one is definitely "just OK" - great way to put it!