-
We don’t pay well…
…but the fringe benefit for managing Thistle Hill Farm is that you’re required to sample all the meat before it’s released to customers! Church takes that responsibility very seriously. We’re pleased to report that the first of our pork is back from the butchers and Church says the bacon is “very good”…which is a rave coming from him. Here’s his breakfast: We were particularly interested in this first batch. It’s from Mulefoot hogs…a Spanish heritage pig. Until now we’ve used English breeds but had an opportunity to try these. They’re easier to handle and now we know the meat holds its own with the best we’ve produced over the past…
-
The three little pigs…
…who went to market the other day averaged 230 pounds hanging weight. Exactly what we were aiming for! And Church reports the spread was only five pounds…227, 230, 232. Can’t wait for our share! There is no matching fresh farm-raised pork. It’s akin to corn or tomatoes right out of the garden. And Thistle Hill pigs have the advantage of browsing for acorns…producing pork like the Spaniards do (and charge so much for!). By coincidence, my daughters and their mother are in Spain right now…where raising pork is an art form. Every region has its own special taste…and pigs raised on truffles can bring as much as $300 a pound.…
-
Spoken for…
…the three larger pigs anyway. If you want all or part of the remaining two, contact us now. They should be ready by the holidays but we won’t rush them. It takes time not only to fatten properly but to cure and smoke. You choose the curing you want along with the size of the hams and pork chops…and of course the kind of sausage you want. We guarantee not only a healthy product but the most delicious pork you’ve ever tasted! (Unless you’ve ordered from us before) Contact Church atchurchhh@gmail.com(214) 802-1283 David
-
This little piggy…
…went to the freezer. Two of the pigs we’ll be harvesting between now and the holidays. They’ve passed 250 pounds and the closer they are to 300, the better we like them. These are mulefoot pigs…descendants of pigs brought here by the early Spanish explorers. Their diet now should be adding some acorns from trees in this pasture. And that’s the combination that made the flavor of Spanish ham famous worldwide….at $60/pound the imported price today! I’ve already ordered my holiday pig! Have you? Spanish pork at American prices. Call Church at (214) 802-1283 or churchhh@gmail.com David
-
It’s not too late…
…to purchase Thistle Hill burger for summer grilling. Our family gets great satisfaction in reading notes like this one from Bill E. It’s almost like we’re at the Outer Banks, too! We have the whole family at the beach in North Carolina for the week. We brought down 7 lbs of our most recent thistle hill ground beef. Our son made hamburgers for everyone. Of course they were spectacular and got added kudos when I told the family that this was local grass fed beef from my neighbor. Bill E. Thistle Hill Farm complete price list. Or call or write Church at (214) 802-1283 or info@thistlehill.net David
-
Perfect for summer grilling…
…just in time for your family cookout: Thistle Hill steaks, ribs and burgers. For the first time we’re offering individual packages…no longer only bulk sales! You owe it to your family to try delicious, healthful grass fed Devon beef. Our animals are raised and finished without supplements, pesticides, herbicides or antibiotics. Hamburger is wrapped in individual one-pound packages for just $7.50/pound. Steaks start at $15/pound. Yes, and there are bulk discounts! Farm pickup weekends and by appointment. Email ahead and your order will be waiting but we urge you to allow some time to look around. Fun for the kids and you’ll learn why Thistle Hill meat is simply better.…
-
I see bacon in our future…
It was a moment of celebration…the day pigs made their renewed appearance on Thistle Hill pastures. Nothing tops the flavor of fresh, naturally raised pork. I put it right up there with fresh off the vine tomatoes and off the stalk corn! Meat from these pigs will be available in the fall but you can reserve a half or a whole right now. More on our new residents is on our home page. Incidentally, try fresh corn sometime. Do what my wife’s farm family did years ago and carry a kettle of boiling water into the field…plop the ears right in…and have a feast. Fifteen minutes from stalk to stomach!…
-
Happy New Year!!!
The Big Boys might call this a “line extension”. Son Curt was recently invited to a special Chinese New Year’s dinner featuring Thistle Hill Farms beef tongue, pigs feet and jelly fish. Truth in blogging: the jelly fish is not from our pond. Nor are the chicken feet. Curt reports the tongue was excellent. Less enthusiasm for the feet. Warning: You may not want to try this at home. Meantime, we’ll stick to beef. But tongue is available by special order. If you’re not on our mailing list to receive our monthly newsletter just write: info@thistlehill.net. David
-
The Radical Homemaker…
…is the pen name for Shannon Hayes. She was born and raised on a grass fed Milking Devon farm in upstate New York. Back in the day Shannon’s father was an inspiration to many of us getting started in this grass fed business. Shannon and her husband and children have long since joined her parents on the farm and expanded their operation into a store and cafe and market other farm products. Meanwhile Shannon has become an author with several books to her credit including “The Grassfed Gourmet Cookbook”. All this is by way of recommending one of her recent blogs on the “mis-steaks” of cooking grass fed beef. David
-
Meat alert…
Here’s just a sample of what you’ve been missing if you’ve been waiting to try Thistle Hill beef. This roast was slow cooked in Baltimore and our customer said he didn’t even have to use a knife. Note the interior, tasty fat in the meat. More than half our regulars order a quarter….that’s close to 100 pounds and is priced at $7.50 actual package weight! Others order a half at $7.25. With preference given to the largest orders we seldom have individual cuts for sale; but we urge you to ask. If we get enough requests we can set aside a portion of the next animals. Needless to say (but…