Each new farm year begins with mixed emotions.  There’s a comforting sense of familiarity as I make preparations for the months ahead.   And yet I wonder:  What challenging surprises are in store?  What unexpected twists in the path lie ahead?

Will there be torrential rains like 2 years ago or a drought like last year?  Will the livestock be healthy or will I need to fight to save their lives?  Am I planning enough meat birds for our customers?  Have I ordered too many piglets?  Will the mama goats have does or bucks?

One purpose of my blog posts is to give you a look at the real life of a small farm.  This year, I promise to continue that theme.  I’ll certainly tuck in a recipe or product information here and there, but I’ll also share some behind-the-scene stories of our life on the farm.  Perhaps a refreshing break from the heaviness of our world’s current events is something we all could use, if only for a moment.

Welcome to 2021, Farm Friends and Family!   Let’s continue our walk together, down a familiar path at Love Led Farm.

Warmly,

The other day, David asked me why we had waited so long to add ducks to the farm.  And other than the lack of a good place for them to sleep at night (seemed like a good reason), I couldn’t come up with an answer.  Whether they are playing in their pool or marching around the farm, ducks are pure entertainment.  Their aid in pest and weed control is unequaled and most appreciated, but the biggest payoff for us is eggs.

Like chickens, breeds of ducks are chosen for different purposes.   White Pekin ducks are traditionally raised for their meat.  We have several in our freezer.  Our Golden Layers are egg ducks and they actually outlay most chickens.

But why on earth would someone choose duck eggs over chicken eggs? Don’t they taste “funny?”

In answer to this question, I am sharing a link to an article that Mother Earth News posted.  Check this out for a great comparison:  https://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/the-proscons-of-eating-duck-eggs-vs-chicken-eggs-zbcz1705

Having cooked with, baked with, and eaten our own duck eggs, I can honestly say that there is not much difference in the taste.  That is probably because our ducks eat the same gmo-free feed as the hens.  Duck eggs, being higher in protein, do fill me up more quickly and sustain my appetite longer.

I am still experimenting with recipe conversions…how many duck eggs to use in place of chicken eggs…and will report my findings at a later time.

In the meantime, here’s photo of side-by-side fried eggs that I prepared the other day.

The double yokker on the left is the duck egg; the chicken egg is on the right.  As you can see, the duck egg has less white and the yoke(s) rise higher.  Some people think this makes duck eggs a bit tougher when fried and choose to steam their eggs with a bit of water and a pan lid.  When the eggs are scrambled, we taste no appreciable difference and even my grandchildren can’t tell.  We have successfully used them in french toast and egg casseroles.  They would also make an excellent fritata.

Duck eggs are higher in cholesterol than chicken eggs.  If this concerns you, be sure to do some research and discuss it with your health care provider.

Our duck eggs are sold by the dozen and are stored in the farm fridge.  Contact me if you are interested and I’ll make sure there are some available for you.  If you aren’t quite sure, just ask and I’ll gladly give you a couple of eggs to experiment with.

Gmo-free duck eggs, chicken eggs, and pasture-raised chicken.  Love Led Farm has just what you need to provide nutritious, deliciously pure foods for your family.  Hope to see you soon!

Warmly,

I will be the first to admit that this blog has been rather silent lately.  Like yours, my world has shifted in awkward ways far from what I had expected.  This does not mean, however, that I have been sitting still–far from it!

As I write this, dozens of egg-laying hens are running around the yard.  A few of our sixteen ducks are sneaking out from under their fence to eat weeds while others splash in their pool. Seven lambs are lying lazily under the trees in the pasture. Five pigs are rolling in their muddy wallows.  Almost 100 meat birds are snacking on grain and grass (another 100 arrive next week).  Four goats are probably asking to come back into the barn.

Meanwhile, in the new garden, vegetable and herb seedlings are popping up everywhere while the plum trees are settling comfortably into their new soil.  And the bees–don’t forget the bees.  They are buzzing happily around the farm while the honey they are producing begins to sweetly scent the air around their hives.

Just like your other favorite small businesses, Love Led Farm is ready to reopen and we are eager for your return.

Check the website for Chicken Pick-up Days, beginning on June 23rd.  We have 2 varieties of meat birds this year.

Order our American grass fed lamb by the half or whole and our hand fed pork by the whole, half, or quarter.

Currently, we also have chicken eggs and honey.  By mid-summer we will be able to add duck eggs and vegetables to our growing list of farm products.  And just to top it off, this fall I will re-introduce our delicious, made from scratch, mouthwatering breads.

Yes, Love Led Farm is open and waiting for you.  Welcome back, Farm Friends!  We’ve been missing you!

Warmly,

 

 

 

My blog has been silent for a few weeks.

January started with a brief planning period.  Then, there were two long weeks of jury duty followed by preparations for our much awaited (and much needed) vacation.  Next week, we will wave goodbye to Michigan and head South for a bit of warmer air.  Rumor has it that there is sunshine in Florida and we’d like to see if it’s true.

All this being said, I have not forgotten about you…not for a single minute.  So before we leave for Sun and Shore, let me dangle a few of our 2020 plans before you because when we return, Love Led Farm will be gearing up for another very busy year.

First, the Chickens

I am in the middle of updating the website for 2020.  By the end of February, I will have posted the new dates for this year’s Meat Chickens  so you will be able to preorder.  You will find two choices this year:  Cornish Cross Meat Birds (quick growing with lots of white meat) and Free-Range, Slow-Growth Meat Birds (known for their succulent dark meat).   As always, our meat birds are fed a non-gmo diet from start to finish.

 

 

Lambs

Imagine coming home to the warm scent and flavor of Mediterranean Roasted Lamb or Guinness Lamb Stew in the winter.  Heavenly!  I have already updated this year’s information about how you can put American Grass Fed Lamb in your freezer this fall.  Our Katadin lambs arrive in March and we only raise what has been ordered, so you will want to contact me soon.

 

Pork

Our hog-raising team of Papa and Oliver are also ready to receive your orders for delicious pork.  We use Byron Center Meats as our processor and have been exceptionally pleased with their customer-friendly service as well as with their sausages and bacon.  You will want to have plenty for your freezer.  David and Oliver sell their hogs as whole, halves, and quarters.  Their piglets will arrive in March–can they raise some meat for you?

 

Eggs

Last year was rough!  But production is increasing and by Spring, we should be able to accommodate almost everyone.  This year we will be adding Duck Eggs to our line of products.  Watch for future posts as these become available…free-range, raised on gmo-free feed just like our chickens, of course!

 

 

Honey

I walked out to look at the hives last week and found them to be quite alive and active.  What a blessing for all of us!  But you don’t  need to wait until Honey Harvest Season to enjoy nature’s sweet nectar.  We still have plenty of honey in 16- and 24-ounce jars.  Let us know if you could use some.

 

Call Ahead Bread

Although the holiday season has passed, you can still choose from a growing variety of  breads baked with the same purity and integrity that we put into every other product that we offer.  Presently, I bake to order just for you so that your bread will be deliciously fresh.  Contact me if you would like to place an order and watch for a future information page full of choices. Then prepare to tantalize your taste buds and tummies.

 

You can see that this will be an excitingly busy year for us.  We would love to know that you will be a part of it.  Let us know how we can best serve you and your family.  We’ll see you soon…on Love Led Farm.

Warmly,