2016 is our year of the pig! These guys and gals are heritage breeds (the animal equivalent of an heirloom vegetable), fed Certified Organic grain that is grown, mixed and milled just down the way in Rosebush, by Graham's Organics family farm. They also get veggie scraps from the field, Organic Kelp and all of the bugs, grubs, roots and plant material they can forage.
Instead of being confined to one fenced in space for their lives, our pigs are rotated around on pasture (in the fair months), in much the same way as the chickens, and for similar reasons. Rotating the pigs allows them fresh forage, clean ground on which to live and lots of sunshine and stimulation. In turn, they fertilize the pasture and help plow the top soil surface, allowing me to seed after them - improving the forage diversity and overall fertility of the field.
The combination of diverse, healthy foods, genetics and a stress-free life result in a tender, more juicy and flavorful (think marbling!) meat. Our pork can be purchased in bulk in the form of a Whole or Half Hog or by IndividualCuts, sold from the farm and at the Midland Area Farmer's Markets.