Greetings from Hammerstead Farms!
Well, we skipped the December newsletter, and here it is January in a brand new year! December was a very busy month around here - we had our portable petting zoo up at Dull's Tree Farm and the goats actually pulled their own weight for a change: they hauled trees back from the field for customers. It was hoot, but also a lot of work, and pretty time consuming.
By the way, our petting zoo is available in whole or part for any events you might have in the planning stages: we have a Highland steer, a llama, a donkey, three sheep and the "Goat Babies" (Donner and Blitzen) who'd be happy to show up at your company picnic, kids birthday party or just to nibble your backyard down to a finely trimmed green, with fertilizer included at no extra charge!
But the other reason that I didn't send out a December newsletter is more prosaic: I've got some unpleasant news. Not that it's going to be a surprise to any of you, because if you've not noticed the dramatic increase in energy costs sine last September, you've been living under a rock and probably don't get fresh milk and eggs.
I've absorbed several price increases from the dairy since I started this, in the hopes that volume would make up for the few cents on each increase. We're still delivering eggs and milk at the same prices we started with last January. But my simple strategy hasn't worked: in fact, volume has gone down, as many of you are facing the same energy demands that we are.
We use a lot of energy out here: the hens have to be kept warm in order to lay eggs throughout the winter, and while they're not exactly sweltering (I try to keep it between 30 and 40 in the henhouse) it does take some electricity. As does heating the water tanks. Last years electric bill averaged about $150 in the winter: I got my first bill over $200 last week.
Our house is heated with propane, as are the limited areas we heat outside. Last years propane bill was a bit under $1000 for the entire season - I've already spent that this year, and we're not even into the really cold months yet.
Consequently, I'm forced to raise prices. It has to be done if I'm to continue delivering. Starting the week of January 15th, our prices will be as follows:
| Farm Fresh Eggs | $2.50/doz. |
| Creamline Milk | $3.25/qt. |
| Chocolate Milk | $5.00/qt. |
| All Yogurts | $5.00/qt. |
| Soft Cheeses | $5.00/8 oz. |
| Ice Creams | $5.00/pint. |
I did manage to hold the line on ice cream and cheeses simply because the dairy has not increase my price on those items. Having surveyed area stores that sell Trader's Point dairy products (and brown eggs) I don't think the new prices are that much out of line: marsh charges $3.09 for regular whole milk and $4.89 for the yogurts. And free range eggs are $3/doz most places.
Beef Availability
We will have beef available once again near the end of January. This particular cow is an interesting mix of breeds: 1/4 Red Angus, 1/4 Highland and 1/2 Maine Anjou. She looks very good, and should dress out at about 600 lbs., which would be around 125 lbs per quarter. She has been grained minimally, but has not been stuffed with antibiotic laced feed or force fed until she can't stand - in other words, she's been treated right and raised naturally. But the grain will give her steaks a bit more fat than a pure grass based animal - we've actually found that this improves the taste quite a bit, but still without the gross rolls of fat that you'd find in commercial beef.
We're asking $5/lb., delivered in Indiana, Illinois or Ohio. Delivery outside those states is available for a small fee (i.e. gas money and travel expenses).
Let us know as soon as possible if you're interested: these quarters go fast.
Chickens
We have a few stewing hens left in the freezer, and I found a couple of broilers that had been buried under some of them. These may be the last Hammerstead chickens: our regular USDA processing plant has been closed, and we are trying to find another one, but aren't having much luck. I'll keep you posted in the newsletter - I know how many of you love our meat birds (and we do, too) but I was so disappointed with the last independent (State inspected) facility that we used that I won't take any birds back there, so it's find a new plant or no chickens.
Pork Possibilities
Another small farmer down the road a piece from us (he lives in Shannondale, for those familiar with the area) has a few pastured pigs he wants to sell. I told him that I'd put the word out and see if there's any interest: they'd be the same price as the beef ($5/lb) and I'd like to try and sell them by the half (about 75 lbs of meat). Let us know if you're interested.
Thanks again for your interest in (and patronage of) Hammerstead - we're really excited about our farm, and hope to continue serving you in the future.
Be well,
Dave Haxton