Winterberry Farm

21 Teawaddle Hill Rd./ PO Box 701

Leverett MA 01054

413-548-3940

jill@winterberryfarm.org                                                                                  3 November 2008

 

Dear people interested in buying lamb, poultry and/or pork,

 

It’s been a lovely and healthy year for the stock.  Returning to mixing our own feed from local bulk grains has worked very well- not organic, but it’s great to be buying from fellow farmers again.  Grazing has been good- lots of rain.  Hay will be expensive and harder to come by this winter, again because of all of the rain.

 

This is our annual letter with factual detail.  In other words, what will be available when.  The order form is always an estimate. For new customers- the poultry and meat looks just like when you buy it at the store- all cut & wrapped and labeled.

 

Adams Farm slaughterhouse is open again- great news for valley large animals farmers.  No more driving to Groton!  Poultry slaughtering unfortunately has gotten even more difficult.  We’ve done birds this year ourselves (very hard on Jill’s hands), taken some to Vermont and some to Maine.  Not cost-effective at all!  We’ve not decided what will be possible for next year- but there are birds available now.

 

Lamb- 9 lambs are still available.  Pick-up dates will be just before Thanksgiving for the first group and around December 10 for the second.  We have a range of sizes available and will have them cut to your specifications.  Remember that lambs are small- typically 30-45 pounds.  Nothing like a cow or pig.  We raised only our own this year- nothing bought in spring.  So they’ve been super healthy- but most are on the small side (slow growing Romneys!).

 

Lamb sausage- we still have some of last year’s available- now being sold for 4.50 lb.  We’ll have a new batch of links from Adams Farm sometime in mid December for $5.00 lb. These are large- about 4 per pound.  We’ll have tastes available this Saturday (11/8) at our Fall Shearing Day if you’re interested.

 

Pork- we weren’t going to raise pigs this year- but then changed our minds.  So we’re experimenting with winter pigs- so we’ll have fresh and smoked available in March.  We’ve had some meat reserved already so it’s OK to order now.  We still have a lovely 20 lb fresh ham from this past year- an order that was cancelled.  And a little bulk pork sausage and ground pork.

 

Geese - Just one left.  Ready now.

 

Ducks - Several pekins and a few smaller birds available (now).

 

Cornish Cross Roasting Chickens – Ready now- about 12 still available. 

 

Old Fashioned roasters-  About 25 still available (these are our favorites!).  Ready 11/7.  Pick-up (if arranged by 11/6) during the 11/8 Open Farm Day- or after 4:00 pm on 11/10.  Or by other arrangement.

 

Turkeys- 4 left.  Smaller this year- heritage breeds (regal reds & harvest golds).  Ready for pick-up (fresh, not frozen) 11/25 &11/26.

 

Stewing hens will be available sometime in December…after the young hens start laying well!

 

Feel free to call with orders or with questions!

 

Jill (Horton-Lyons)

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