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Free Range Organic hog or lamb roast
The free range livestock we roast in our hog roast
machines is organically reared locally to our head office in Hampshire, with
380 acres of fields to roam.
The organic beef cattle feed on grass and non-gmo
soya meal to boost protein levels.
The organic pigs feed on grass and ground organic
corn, while the organic lamb feed on grass.
For those of you that wish to order free range
pig, lamb or beef will get a certificate to prove that you are paying for the
real thing.
Organic Farming Since 1984 :
Our suppliers farm is a 380 acre farm in
Hampshire that grow free range organic pigs, lambs and beef cattle. Martin and
Louise came to the farm in 1984. There was hardly a fence on the place and,
apart from the river meadows, it was a sea of barley from one boundary to the
next. The land had grown nothing but barley on a conventional system for 10
years, and was thin and dry.
The conversion to an organic system has taken
about 10 years. The farm is divided into nine blocks and converted one block
each year, keeping the remainder in barley farmed conventionally.
The conversion process started with planting a
grass/clover mix and grazing it with cattle for three years. This built up the
fertility with the leguminous clover fixing the nitrogen into the soil, and the
beef cattle also helped by producing their own form of fertilizer. After three
years, the grass was ploughed up and the field planted with wheat. This was
then registered with the Soil Association as a certified Organic Crop.
The conversion process started with planting a
grass/clover mix and grazing it with beef cattle for three years. This built up
the fertility with the leguminous clover fixing the nitrogen into the soil, and
the cattle also helped by producing their own form of fertilizer. After three
years, the grass was ploughed up and the field planted with wheat. This was
then registered with the Soil Association as a certified Organic Crop.
They have now built up their beef cattle numbers
to 50 suckler cows with all their calves taken through to finishing at two
years old. They have 12 sows producing 240 pigs a year and 150 ewes producing
250 lambs. All the feed is grown on the farm, supplemented with non-GMO soya
meal to boost the protein levels.
They have noticed many changes since the
conversion. There has been a dramatic increase in bird numbers on the farm. In
our first few years here, there were virtually no birds. But now, at a time
when a nationwide decline of many small birds is a concern, we are surrounded
by sparrows, linnits, skylarks, plovers, owls, martens and swifts. They have
also noticed an improvement in the soil structure. It is darker and has a
higher humus content.
Their decision to convert the land came from a
lifetime interest in organic methods. Louise's first hurdle was to convert her
husband. Once that was done, the rest followed. 16 years and 4 daughters on,
they are just as committed to this system. Their shop now completes the chain
from the grain to the animal to the meat to the consumer, all contained within
the farm.
Customers are always welcome to visit the farm and
we are happy to answer questions or point you towards newborn animals or other
areas of interest!
Organically farmed lamb, pig and beef cattle
means:
- The highest levels of animal
welfare - n
- No routine drugs or growth
promoters given to animals - at
- At least 70% of animal feed
must be grown to organic standards (our animal feed is 100%
organic)
- No artificial fertilisers or
pesticides used on feed crops or grass
Because animals come in different shapes and sizes
there may be a slight variation in weight. We will adjust the cooking time in
relation to the weight when we receive the meat. |
