It's Been an Icy Week!

Clean up after the storm...lots of fence repair. Our pine tree out front looks like a giant stick :-(
Got our power back this morning. Today we're going to take a total trip around the perimeter of the farm to assess damages. Then of course, we'll be doing repairs and getting hay and water to the cattle.

Chickens, Turkeys and Ducks, Oh My!

We will raise several batches of chickens this year so that we have plenty with us at the farmer's markets and for those of you who stop by the farm. If you want a consistent supply or several for the freezer, pre-order what you think you may need.

Turkeys must be ordered in May or June to guarantee poult delivery in July, in order to have them ready by Thanksgiving.

Ducks available mid to late summer.

Chickens, turkeys and ducks are processed whole and are frozen.

Dear Friends,

Thank you for supporting the Hiday Farm in 2010. For us, 2010 was a very busy year. We had a good growing season for pasture and at the peak of the season we had 60 head of cattle grazing. Of course, that included mama cows, 2010 calves and steers for the fall processing season. Around 20 pigs spent time on the farm along with several hundred chickens, 50+ turkeys and even a couple flocks of ducks.

Our Fall Open House was a great success and we will have another for 2011.We want our farm and farm practices to be open to our customers. If our Fall Open House date does not work for you and you would like to visit the farm, call and make an appointment We would love to show you around.

We fell grass-finished beef is better for you and the animal but it takes longer to mature than a grain fed, hormone-implanted animal.

Using a grass based system requires the entire growing season to get our beef ready for processing. This is why we don't fill orders until October and go through December. We also use a first come, first serve basis. For example, a customer who ordered in February or March will be on the list for order fulfillment before an order placed in June. Pork works much the same way except we try to get all of those orders completed from late summer to early fall and before we start processing cattle.

We sold every pig and every steer we had ready for processing in 2010. Some late requests were put on the list for 2011. While nice to sell out, we hate turning people away. Current customers were sent an order form in the mail and are encouraged to return these as soon as possible. New customers may call us at the farm (517) 765-2268 and request an order form or place an order over the phone.

Again, thank your continued support and we look forward to seeing you in 2011. We plan on being at the Eastern Market in Detroit, Fresh-on-Q in Kalamazoo and the LUNASA market in Ann Arbor. Stop in and say hello!


http://www.detroiteasternmarket.com/
http://www.discoverkalamazoo.com/member-profile/92/294/
http://www.lunasa.us/

Winter Chores

You would think that this time of the year would mean less to do on the farm. But lately that seems to be just the opposite. The cattle reqiure more work and of course there is the year end paper-work to do. I am trying to get the newsletter finished and hope to have it out to you soon.

Eastern Market friends we plan on being up to the market on Saturday, Jan. 22nd.

Looking Back and Looking Forward

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Looking back at 2010, the Hidays have a lot to be thankful for. We are a very blessed family. As for the Farm, it was a very busy year. In some areas we pushed our production to the limit.

Looking forward to 2011, Our farm goal is to produce beyond what we thought was our limit.

News letters will be in the mail soon along with 2011 order forms. Please read, there will be a lot of new information you will need to be aware of.

Dan

Merry Christmas

This is a busy time of year for everyone. Hopefully, we will all take a moment to appreciate everything we have been blessed with and to give thanks for our loved ones.
From my family to yours. MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Dan