{"id":145275,"date":"2010-01-06T12:51:09","date_gmt":"2010-01-06T17:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marksdailyapple.com\/?p=10056"},"modified":"2010-01-06T12:51:09","modified_gmt":"2010-01-06T17:51:09","slug":"how-to-find-a-cowpooling-source","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/145275","title":{"rendered":"How to Find a Cowpooling Source"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"HappyCowsI was going back over the MDA archives<\/a> this week, thinking about what went right and what went wrong with past posts. There are always going to be regrets when looking at past work, whatever its nature. That\u2019s just how these things work.<\/p>\n

But this is the internets, not print, and I can quickly hop in and make changes to the past with just a few keystrokes. Or, I can write an honest appraisal of my previous transgressions and come up with a post of restitution. This is that post of restitution. Today, I\u2019m admitting that my last post on cowpooling<\/a> was a bit lean. It\u2019s not that I trimmed the fat; it\u2019s that the fat was never even there in the first place (hmm, old Cordain might agree). Consider this post a dollop of grass fed butter in the pan that is MDA\u2019s cowpooling content, perhaps even after deglazing all the tasty bits with a hearty Zinfandel. Today, I\u2019m going to tell you how to find a cowpooling source so you can buy grass fed beef in bulk directly from the supplier.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Cowpooling, in case you aren\u2019t aware, describes the practice of banding together with other likeminded, carnivorous individuals to purchase an entire cow that is then slaughtered, butchered, and frozen for delivery or pickup. The cowpool-able cows are frequently grass-fed, local, and organic, and if you\u2019ve got the freezer space, cowpooling is a great way to get quality meat for a fraction of what it\u2019d cost in a place like Whole Foods. There\u2019s really nothing quite like having a freezer full of hearts, organs, steaks, chops, roasts, shanks, bones, and tongues in your home. Whenever my freezer is stocked, I giggle uncontrollably whenever it\u2019s time to pick a cut for dinner. It really is exciting.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, for most people, there aren\u2019t any easy solutions to the cowpool source question. It\u2019s becoming more and more widespread, but it remains a niche market, a small but vocal trend. <\/strong>There are a few concrete, well-run online communities that promote and organize cowpools between members, but they tend to serve distinct areas of the country. From what I can tell, the Bay Area Meat CSA<\/a> (a Ning community) is the most active, and it isn\u2019t even all that robust or vibrant. Still, if you happen to live in the California Bay Area, sign up<\/a> and peruse your Group’s page<\/a> to set up cowpools with other nearby members. Usually, an official liaison is selected, who then is tasked with sourcing an animal, contacting the ranch, and relaying information back to the other members. How well – or how often – this actually works remains a mystery. I happened upon the BAMCSA’s sister network<\/a>, based in Southern California, and it was essentially a barren wasteland. There were a few half-hearted cowpooling prospects proposed, but no one seemed to commit to anything. I suppose it’s possible there were backroom dealings occurring via email.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also Slow Food USA<\/a>, an organization devoted to appreciating good, usually local food, including meat. Again, you run into the same problem as with the CSA Ning groups \u2013 there are just too many chapters with not enough active members. The link above directs you to find a chapter in your area, but I wouldn\u2019t get your hopes up.<\/p>\n

The only surefire way to find a good cowpooling source is through honest legwork<\/strong>. As always, Eat Wild<\/a> remains the best directory for US pasture-based farms. Since you\u2019re busy people, I\u2019ve scouted ahead and made a quick list of some farms that seem to support bulk purchasing. There are plenty more, but this is a decent start. All you\u2019ve got to do is get a group of people willing to buy in. Try family, friends, or even ask around on the MDA forums<\/a> for help.<\/p>\n

Alabama<\/strong><\/a>: Narrow Gap Farm<\/a> of Brewton, AL only sells by the 1\/2 or full cow, but you\u2019ll have to call for pricing, as it varies by market. Native American Natural Grass-Fed Beef (no website or email \u2013 talk about old school), located in Delta, sells only entire cows. Try Dr. Robert E. Steele at (256)488-5661 if you can handle that much beef. At R&R Katahdin Ranch, you can buy whole lambs priced at $1.60 per pound of live weight; email Ron at florida.katahdinhairsheep@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Alaska<\/strong><\/a>: Marilyn runs Faith Farms, located in Kodiak, and she only sells her whole lambs to the person who\u2019s going to be eating it. Email her at faithfarmsmlg@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Arizona<\/strong><\/a>: Dudleyville\u2019s Double Check Ranch<\/a> offers shares of beef (minimum 10 lbs) to customers. The M Triangle<\/a> and Black Ranches sell range fed pork by the live animal, and Southern Arizona Grass Fed Beef<\/a> sells cows in quarters or wholes.<\/p>\n

Arkansas<\/strong><\/a>: Email Joyce (joyce@heifercreek.com<\/a>) at Heifer Creek Farm if you\u2019re interested in buying a side of grass-fed beef for $3 a pound, hanging weight. Just give four weeks advance notice. Email Sam (sward@ipa.net<\/a>) at Hosanna Hills Farm if you want to buy pastured pork or beef by the half or quarter. Or if you\u2019re interested in some range-fed Texas Longhorn, email Thayne (thaynewilliams@allegiance.tv<\/a>) at Old Dallas Ranch in Mena, AR.<\/p>\n

California<\/strong><\/a>: Drake\u2019s Bay Family Farm<\/a> does quarters and halves. Holding Ranch<\/a> delivers bulk orders of lamb and beef to Walnut Creek, CA. Email Jay (jfmannino@aol.com<\/a>) at The Rockin\u2019 M Ranch if you want to buy whole cows weighed live prior to shipping.<\/p>\n

Colorado<\/strong><\/a>: B Bar S Ranch<\/a> has a minimum order of quarter cows, and Edmundson Ranch<\/a> in Walsenburg will deliver wholes and halves to the customer\u2019s processor of choice within 100 miles for free. Southwestern Colorado\u2019s Green Place Ranch<\/a> offers a \u201cconsiderable discount\u201d when customers buy by the half or whole, and they\u2019ll even match you up with other customers to share costs.<\/p>\n

Connecticut<\/strong><\/a>: Email Savage Hill Cattle Co. (RyanM01@comcast.net<\/a>) for information on whole cows ($4.50 a pound).<\/p>\n

Delaware<\/strong><\/a>: Looks like Carlton at C & J Farms may be your best bet (jojo17117@aol.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Florida<\/strong><\/a>: Email Abundant Acres (abundantacresfl@gmail.com<\/a>) for information on group buying clubs. At Ashlin Farms (ashlinfarms@gmail.com<\/a>), they sell by the split side, the side, and the whole for about $6\/pound. Cognito Farm<\/a> sells whole or half pork and beef, as well as duck and chicken eggs, raw milk, and heritage turkey. Buy a whole pig from Florida Organic Pork<\/a> for about $450; that\u2019s for 120-140 lbs of pure meat.<\/p>\n

Georgia<\/strong><\/a>: Ford Farm<\/a> sells beef by the half and whole, and they\u2019ll even deliver animals to processors near you. Order 90 pound whole lambs from Hidden Acres Natural Farm<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hawaii<\/strong><\/a>: Buy some papayas, taro, and \u2018awa along with your bulk beef from Pu\u2019u O Hoku Ranch<\/a> on Molokai.<\/p>\n

Idaho<\/strong><\/a>: A.J. Kyle\u2019s Meats (jcnauman@ida.net<\/a>), Grass Roots Meats<\/a>, and Pasture Proper<\/a> all offer whole or split animals.<\/p>\n

Illinois<\/strong><\/a>: Bauer Custom Meats<\/a> offers whole and half lamb or beef year round, and Johnson Buffalo Farm sells bulk buffalo (johnson_farms2000@yahoo.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Indiana<\/strong><\/a>: C & D Family Farms<\/a> specializes in whole or half hogs, Denny\u2019s Grass Fed Beef in split or half cows (jwdenny@wcrtc.net<\/a>), and Hoosier Grassfed Beef<\/a> offers quarter or half year round.<\/p>\n

Iowa<\/strong><\/a>: Buy live whole lamb from the Anderson Farm<\/a> at $1.30 per pound, or whole or half cows from the Galen Bontrager<\/a>, a former Joel Salatin apprentice.<\/p>\n

Kansas<\/strong><\/a>: The Jubilee Farm sells whole or half lambs (jubilee@jbntelco.com<\/a>). The Lazy Heart D sells halves or half halves of bison (LHDranch@wamego.net<\/a>). Moore Ranch<\/a> sells halves, split halves, and other assorted meats.<\/p>\n

Kentucky<\/strong><\/a>: McCrory Farms sells whole sheep for $1 per pound (rmccrory@vci.net<\/a>), and the Sanders Farm sells whole or half calves for $2.50 per pound of hanging weight (hydro_8@hotmail.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Louisiana<\/strong><\/a>: Preorder whole, half, or split half beef at Brookshire Farm<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Maine<\/strong><\/a>: Alder Brook Pig Farm (costahouse@tds.net<\/a>) sells whole or half pigs, raised happily on pasture. Meadowsweet Farm delivers whole lambs and sides and quarters of beef to the Belfast and Orono Farmer\u2019s Markets, May through December, and to Boston once each fall (meadowsweet@prexar.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Maryland<\/strong><\/a>: Holterholm Farms sells pastured whole beef carcasses, as well as halves, splits, and quarters (rwholter@aol.com<\/a>). Mountain Valley Acres does whole pastured chickens for $14 each (around 5 pounds) and whole pigs\u00a0 for $2.75 a pound (dmmyers.4@juno.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Massachusetts<\/strong><\/a>: Crescent Moon Farm<\/a> offers whole and half lambs. Fox Hill Farm (Lampman1@taconic.net<\/a>) offers 1\/2 or whole beef packages custom cut to the customer\u2019s specification.<\/p>\n

Michigan<\/strong><\/a>: Joe\u2019s Grass Fed Beef<\/a> sells by the carcass at $2 a pound.<\/p>\n

Minnesota<\/strong><\/a>: Earth-Be-Glad Farm will sell their beef in any quantity (ebgfarm@hbci.com<\/a>), and George and Mary\u2019s Best Darn Chickens \u2018Round has more than just chickens; they\u2019ve also got whole or half pigs for sale (gmseiler@loretel.net<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Mississippi<\/strong><\/a>: Amber Grassfed Beef<\/a> sells their meat by the quarter, half, or whole.<\/p>\n

Missouri<\/strong><\/a>: Cloverleaf Farm sells beeves for breeding or for eating (thekentfamily6@socket.net<\/a>), while Ezra C. Miller sells whole pork, goat, and lamb (debbie7pixie@yahoo.com<\/a>) just for eating.<\/p>\n

Montana<\/strong><\/a>: A Land of Grass raises pastured beef and lamb and sells them by the quarter, half, or whole (alandofgrass@3riversdbs.net<\/a>). Own your own cow via My Own Beef<\/a>\u2019s program.<\/p>\n

Nebraska<\/strong><\/a>: The Grain Place, Inc. offers pastured, grass-finished whole or half cows; just make sure to specify grass-finished (mrherman@hamilton.net<\/a>). L & L Jacobsen Farm<\/a> offers whole, quarter, or half beef.<\/p>\n

Nevada<\/strong><\/a>: Mills Ranch<\/a> offers shares of cows (up to a whole animal) for around $5\/lb; email them (millsranch@oasisol.com) to set-up formal cowpools.<\/p>\n

New Hampshire<\/strong><\/a>: Arbutus Hill Farm<\/a> allows families and groups to buy whole lambs, pigs, or cows, and Steve Normanton<\/a> sells his beef in bulk.<\/p>\n

New Jersey<\/strong><\/a>: Buy a half or quarter cow share from Beechtree Farm<\/a>, a half or whole lamb share from Burningheart Organic Farm (burningheartfarm@mail.com<\/a>), or a half or whole hog from Simply Grazin\u2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n

New Mexico<\/strong><\/a>: Buy whole, half, or quarter cows from Harold Koehn Grass-Fed Beef (haroldsharonkoehn@agapemail.com<\/a>). Pool together with friends and family to buy a whole cow for $5 per pound from JX Ranch<\/a>.<\/p>\n

New York<\/strong><\/a>: Arcadian Pastures welcomes orders of whole pork, beef, or lamb (arcadianpastures@hotmail.com<\/a>). Bettinger Bluff Farm<\/a> sells by the whole or half. Engelbert Farms<\/a> offers organic beef, veal and pork by the whole or the half.<\/p>\n

North Carolina<\/strong><\/a>: Pleasant Gap Farm prefers to sell by the half or the whole cow (pleasantgapfarm@gmail.com<\/a>), and Rainbow Meadow Farms<\/a> sells their lamb, chicken, and pork by whole or half carcass.<\/p>\n

North Dakota<\/strong><\/a>: Effertz EZ Natural Beef Ranch<\/a> offers steers and young bulls by the half or quarter.<\/p>\n

Ohio<\/strong><\/a>: Golden Hills Farms<\/a> sells their grass fed beef by the half carcass. Green Grass Farms<\/a> sells quarter and half beef and lamb for $4.99 and $5.50 per pound, respectively.<\/p>\n

Oklahoma<\/strong><\/a>: Beaver Creek Farms<\/a> sells beef by the half, quarter, or whole. Goose Island Farm<\/a> sells pastured sides of beef and whole lambs. Sara\u2019s Grassfed Beef sells sides and splits (jlshel494@junct.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Oregon<\/strong><\/a>: Anandaloka sells quarters, halves, and sides of cows, but reservations are recommended (bbaumann@aureliusholdings.com<\/a>). The Crooked Gate Ranch<\/a> offers the same, including wholes. Buy whole lambs from Harlow\u2019s Hills West Coast<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pennsylvania<\/strong><\/a>: Jeff sells whole lambs out of Alt Perlswalde Farm (nat@pa.net<\/a>), and Blackbird Farms sells whole or half hogs (blackbirdgeorge@gmail.com<\/a>). You can get whole or half carcasses from Coulter Farms<\/a>, and you can buy whole emus (yes, emus) from Martin\u2019s Twin Brook Farm<\/a>. Order whole lambs from Bucky (PVPPFARM@aol.com<\/a>) at Paradise Valley Organic Farm.<\/p>\n

Rhode Island<\/strong><\/a>: Sanford Farm sells 80-90 pound quarter cows for around $4.50 per pound. Email Ted Sanford (tedsanford@verizon.net<\/a>). And The Watson Farm sells whole or half lambs (watsonfarm1796@yahoo.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

South Carolina<\/strong><\/a>: Buy whole goats from Billy\u2019s Boer Meat Goat Farm<\/a> in Westminster, or email Billy or Cameron at Open Range Grassfed Beef for a whole, half, or split half cow (suzwright55@yahoo.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

South Dakota<\/strong><\/a>: Maveric Heritage Ranch Co.<\/a> sells pork, lamb, and goat by the whole or half. Email Dwaine at Rosebud Beef Ranch for information on ordering whole grass fed cows (deumberger@gwtc.net<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Tennessee<\/strong><\/a>: Bradburn Farm sells by the whole or half cow and cuts it according to your specifications (c-bradburn@hotmail.com<\/a>). Rocky Glade Farm<\/a> will deliver whole lambs and half cows directly to your nearest processor.<\/p>\n

Texas<\/strong><\/a>: The Cross Creek Cattle Company<\/a> charges $3.50 per pound of hanging carcass weight, and delivery to the processing plant is covered, but the actual processing is not. Darby Farms<\/a> sells their cows by the whole, half or quarter.<\/p>\n

Utah<\/strong><\/a>: Bar10 Beef<\/a> does single steaks and whole cows; your choice. Pleasant Valley Beef<\/a> sells whole, half, quarter, or split quarters to groups.<\/p>\n

Vermont<\/a>: <\/strong>Buy whole lamb from the Flack Family Farm<\/a>, and they\u2019ll cut it to your specifications. Kingdom Hill Farm<\/a> accepts custom orders for quarter, half, and whole cows. Buy whole cows for $2.30 per pound (hanging weight) from Naylor Family Farm (whatup@pshift.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Virginia<\/strong><\/a>: Babes in the Wood<\/a> has a buying club; join it and get access to bulk amounts. Border Springs Farm<\/a> offers whole or half lambs, and Hollin Farms<\/a> sells wholes or sides of yearling beef.<\/p>\n

Washington<\/strong><\/a>: From Bradrick Family Farms<\/a>, order whole lambs or quarter, half, and whole cows. Eagle Perch Ranch<\/a> offers dry-aged, custom cut whole and half cows to customers, and Green Pastures Farms<\/a> sells primitive, heritage sheep descended from medieval Scottish sheepy ancestors as whole freezer lambs.<\/p>\n

West Virginia<\/strong><\/a>: Shagbark Mountain Cattle farms offer whole beef at $3\/lb, half beef at $3.24\/lb, and quarter beef at $3.75\/lb. And they cut it how you want it (pvplumbing@truevine.net<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Wisconsin<\/strong><\/a>: Anderson Farm<\/a> sells both beef and hog by halves and wholes. Babb Creek Grassfed Red Angus beef is sold for about $2.89\/lb hung, $3.46\/lb finished (mstarhof@verizon.net<\/a>). Millstone Mountain Farm<\/a> sells whole, half, and quarter cows for $3\/lb cut and wrapped; vacuum packing is an extra 25 cents per pound. Why does Wisconsin have such great prices on grass fed beef?<\/p>\n

Wyoming<\/strong><\/a>: Cameron Ranch<\/a> offers whole carcasses of cow and lamb, and they even have a first time rancher program. Prairie Monarch Ranch sells buffalo by the whole, side, or quarter (pmbison@gmail.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

As you can see, there are many options out there, and I missed far more than I included. Check out EatWild for yourself and dig up even more choices. It\u2019s still the single-best resource for pasture raised animal farms, along with maybe Local Harvest<\/a>, but you\u2019re going to have to make some calls and write some emails. Still, a little bit of effort is totally worth having a freezer full of delicious grass-fed meat for a fraction of the regular cost.<\/p>\n

Have you ever cowpooled? What has been your experience? What are your sources and do they come recommended? Share your thoughts in the comment board!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get Free Health Tips, Recipes and Workouts<\/a> Delivered to Your Inbox<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/h4>\n

Related posts:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The Problems with Conventionally Raised Beef<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Everything But the Squeal<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    I was going back over the MDA archives this week, thinking about what went right and what went wrong with past posts. There are always going to be regrets when looking at past work, whatever its nature. That\u2019s just how these things work. But this is the internets, not print, and I can quickly hop […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-145275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145275","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=145275"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145275\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=145275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=145275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=145275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}