Organic vs. Conventional: What's Best for Your Little Ones

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January 13, 2024

At Triple E Farm, we believe in providing quality over labels.

We're not certified organic, but does that mean we compromise on the quality of our products? Absolutely not! In fact, we believe the term 'organic' has been greenwashed and bought out, often used as a marketing gimmick rather than a guarantee of quality.

Side note rant on “organic food:”

Let's break away from the cliché image of the "affluent parent purchasing solely organic items" - that's a false narrative. We all deserve "organic" food, or whatever that implies; it's our inherent right. Allow me to provide some context. Throughout human history, our diet was "organic" until the advent of the industrial revolution, which brought about significant changes in the human diet and lifestyle.

Consuming GMO food treated with chemical sprays, is actually a recent development in the grand scheme of evolution. Our bodies inherently crave and thrive on nutrient-rich, natural foods - the kind that nature provides and our ancestors have been consuming for ages.

Our farm aims to produce exactly those kinds of foods. We follow regenerative practices, focusing on improving soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience. This goes far beyond typical organic farming standards.

Why is this important for parents and their children?

Because the food we consume is directly connected to the health of our bodies and the environment. Our nutrient-dense products ensure that you are nourishing your children with the best nature has to offer. By choosing our products, you're not only investing in your child's health but also leaving a better world for them. After all, healthier soil leads to healthier plants and animals, and ultimately, healthier people. It’s all interconnected, and at Triple E Farm, we understand and respect these connections

Grass-fed Beef and Dairy: The Healthier Choice

Have you tried introducing grass-fed beef and dairy into your kiddo's diet yet? Trust me, it's a game-changer. They are both packed with all the good stuff like Omega-3s, Vitamin E, and CLA - that help our little ones grow strong, boost their immunity, and even support their brain development!

And the best part? It's not just healthier but also yummier. You can whip up some delicious meals that your kids will love. How about a juicy grass-fed beef burger for dinner or a creamy mac 'n' cheese made with grass-fed dairy? Or even some homemade beef tacos or a hearty beef stew for those chilly nights. And let's not forget the classic: a glass of grass-fed milk before bedtime. Trust me, it's not just about making meals healthier, it's about making them tastier too!

Pasture Raised Chicken and Eggs: A Nutrient Powerhouse

Ever considered giving pasture-raised chicken or eggs from your local farmer a try? They're not just tastier but also packed with all the good stuff our kids need. Compared to the conventionally raised chicken, pasture raised chickens have more Omega-3s and Vitamin E. And it doesn't stop there. Even the eggs from pasture raised chickens are nutrition powerhouses, with higher amounts of Vitamins A, D, and E, and lesser cholesterol and saturated fat than eggs from conventionally raised hens.

Imagine all the fabulous meals you can create! Scrambled eggs for breakfast, chicken wraps for lunch, or maybe a chicken stir-fry for dinner. And let's not forget the good old-fashioned boiled egg as a quick snack. It's all about making meals healthier and fun for our little ones.

Woodland Raised Pork: Savor the Difference

Woodland raised pork is an excellent and tasty choice to add to your child's diet? These pigs are raised in their natural habitat, which results in meat that is not only leaner and healthier but also richer in flavor.

But let's dive a bit deeper into the nutrition aspect, especially when it comes to our kids' development. Pork is a great source of high-quality protein, which is crucial for their growth and muscle development. It's also rich in vitamins and minerals like B-vitamins, which support brain development, and iron, which is essential for their energy levels and cognitive development.

Imagine the delicious meals you could whip up - pulled pork sandwiches, grilled pork chops, or a hearty pork stew. All these dishes would not only be a hit at the dinner table but also nourish your family too!

Organic Labels vs. Real Nutrition

While shopping at the food store, it's easy to be swayed by 'organic' labels. However, an organic label doesn't automatically make a food item healthy. For example, organic junk food is still junk food, and unfortunately many of the organic junk food products on the shelves are marketed to children as “healthy” and they simply are not.

At Triple E Farm, we believe in transparency and quality. We're proud to offer products that are not only delicious but are nutrient dense and nourish your family.

Thank you for choosing Triple E Farm, where we prioritize health, taste, and sustainability over labels.

How to succeed with a natural farm direct bird. Tips for thawing and cooking.

So, you're getting a farm direct Thanksgiving turkey this year... Failing to cook the turkey is basically the worst thing that can happen on Thanksgiving. This is especially true when you buy a farm direct turkey. When you know the farmer, you probably care even more about that bird (I'd even say it tastes better for that reason, too). For a small regenerative farm like ours, freezing turkeys right after processing is the best way to give you the best quality turkeys (while not wasting any, too). Thawing takes a little more planning, so we're here to help you get set up for success. It's so important to plan ahead. You need to make sure: Your turkey is fully thawed before you cook it. You know how long it will take to cook, so you can serve Thanksgiving dinner on time. Keep reading so you can make your choices now. Then, you can know how much time is needed for each step. How to thaw Keep your turkey in the freezer until you're ready to thaw it. When you get a Triple E turkey, it will arrive frozen (or maybe slightly thawed). And now you have 2 choices on how to thaw it: Slow thaw in the fridge. For every 4-5 pounds of turkey, you’ll need about 24 hours of thawing time. So, for a 11-13lb bird, plan for 2-3 days of thawing in the fridge. I recommend putting your bird on a plate/platter in the fridge. This is just in case there's a small hole in the package. You don't want turkey juices on everything in your fridge!Quick thaw in cold water. For every pound of turkey, plan for 30 seconds of thawing. So, for a 11-13lb bird, plan for a 5-7 hour thaw time. Put the turkey in a sink or bowl of cold water. Check the water every 30-60 minutes. If it's warming up, change it to fresh cold water. Once thawed, it will last 1-2 days in the fridge. Always keep a turkey cold, when thawing or when storing in the fridge after thawing. This keeps it in best quality and safe for eating. How to cook This part is only about cook time. How you prep and season, to brine or not to brine, to stuff or not to stuff. Those are your choices! Standard cooking. This is likely the way your mom cooked a turkey! It's probably the most common way to cook a turkey nowadays. Here's how it's done: Preheat your oven to 425F.Cook your turkey uncovered for 30-45 minutes.Tent the pan with foil or put a lid on your roasting pan. Lower the temp to 350F.Every 45 minutes, brush or baste your turkey with the pan drippings.Continue cooking until done. This should take a total of 13 minutes for each pound of unstuffed turkey (15 minutes for every pound of stuffed turkey). Your meat thermometer should read 165F when inserted into the thickest part of the bird. Low and slow cooking. Pastured birds like ours that get a lot of exercise. Natural birds like ours that aren't injected with saline or tenderizers. They're old fashioned. So, they tend to have more bite than a modern store bought turkey. For this reason, slow cooking is a great idea. And, it's how everyone used to do it 100 years ago. Here's how you do it: Preheat your oven to 350F.Put your turkey in the oven uncovered, and turn down the heat to 250F.Every 1-2 hours, brush or baste your turkey with the pan drippings. While you do this, watch to see if the skin is getting too dark. If it is, tent with foil or put a lid on the pan.Continue cooking until done. This should take a total of 15-17 minutes for each pound of unstuffed turkey (17-19 minutes for every pound of stuffed turkey). Your meat thermometer should read 165F when inserted into the thickest part of the bird. Leave time for extra cooking or resting. In case your turkey needs a little more time to cook, make sure to leave some wiggle room. Also make sure to leave at least 30 minutes for your turkey to rest before serving. This makes sure it's nice and moist and juicy.

Regenerative can mean something different to every farm. Here are our 5 principles.

In our neck of West Virginia, we're the only farm that claims to be regenerative. Why are we the only regenerative farm in a 50 mile radius? Well, my first thought is that the life of a farmer isn't easy. My second thought is that farmers simply aren't paid like they used to be. Most people nowadays view farming as a side gig instead of a career. They want it to be easy, and trucking in outside fertilizer and spraying and overgrazing sure are easy... at least in the short term. Not me and my brother Phil. We want to take it back to the olden days when you could support your family 100% through farming. To make a living with farming, you 100% need your land and animals to be healthy and productive. Since I want to work with nature (instead of against it), this means regenerative farming. Although we're the only ones in our area, we're thankfully not alone in the movement overall. Allen Willians from Understanding Ag and the Soil Health Academy says that they're consulting on 35 million acres in the US and 55 million acres globally. Wow! There’s more and more interest and more and more land being converted every year. Wow and thank goodness!! But any movement sometimes comes with an unfortunate downside. In the natural food world, the term "regenerative" has sadly become somewhat overused (dare I say greenwashed). So, to make what Triple E does super clear for you, I'm going to outline what regenerative means to us right now. Here are Triple E's 5 principles of regenerative farming: ----- Principle #1: We practice adaptive, rotational grazing. Rotational grazing means that your animals move to fresh, new pasture often. It's kinda like it used to be when herds of bison or deer moved from area to area. After the animals are done eating down a pasture, we allow the land ample time to regrow. We let our pasture rest 40 days at minimum. When the animals move on, the new manure on top naturally fertilizes the land. The roots to spread and naturally til the soil (without mechanical tilling). The microbiology in the soil does its thing. And the plants take and fix back nutrients into the soil. We don't overgraze. We have about 20 cows to an acre. We use moveable fences to move the cows at minimum 1x per day (this also keeps the cows fuller - every time you move a cow they eat more). We practice adaptive grazing, which means we don't operate on a strict and set schedule. If grass it growing, they need less pasture. If it’s a drought, then they need a bigger space to graze. In the spring, they need less space because of the fresh growth. If the weather is in our favor, we sometimes move the cows 2-3x per day! Principle #2: We keep cows outside, even in the winter. This can be a contested issue when it comes to animal welfare. Some people think it's too cold and cows need winter jackets. But, in my experience, cows don't feel cold until it's below 20F. So why not have the cows out in the fresh air an sunshine all year? That's what we do. They typically have access to indoors, but they rarely use it. In the warmer months, they're eating lots of fresh pasture. In the colder months or drought, we give them dry pasture (AKA hay). With pigs, we do the same thing. But birds are a different story. They won't like it if it's too cold. So, we don't grow broilers in the colder months. And the laying hens are given inside space in the winter. Principle #3: We don't use sprays. No crazy chemicals here! That's right. We don't spray anything on our pastures... even certified organic ones. So no worry about chemicals on our land! We do have our soil tested every so often. If the ratios of minerals are off, we'll have a special blend mixed for where it's needed. This is far from synthetic fertilizers many farms spread everywhere every year. They're simply ground rocks spread strategically and only where it's needed. This helps us get the soil where it needs to be for better growth immediately. As the years of regenerative farming go on, less and less minerals are needed, since nature is naturally balancing itself. Principle #4: We let nature do its thing. Nature loves to be in balance. If humans were to disappear, nature would overtake everything, just like in those post-apocalyptic movies with vines growing on skyscrapers. We follow nature's lead. Nature always tries to cover bare soil. A lot of people try to tear up the land and seed specific plants in. But is that necessary? Nature will let many things grow back. We almost always keep the soil covered and rarely til, only when absolutely necessary or for a specific purpose. Nature always try to stay in balance. For example, if a field is deficient in calcium, you'll likely see more Canadian thistle growing. This is because it pulls calcium and makes it more available in the soil. Or, another example is that pigweed appears when there's a nitrogen imbalance, because it helps balance the nitrogen levels. We respect nature a lot. Principle #5: Diversity is everything to us. We focus on the farm as a whole, not on individual little problems. We encourage many plants and insects and animals to thrive in our pastures. For example, a weed is a plant that you don't want growing somewhere. To us, we don't have really any weeds. Because, as described in the previous principle, every plant has a purpose, whether for the soil or as a food or as a breeding area for beneficial insects. As another example, when a farm uses a pesticide, they’re targeting a very specific pest. But for every one of those "pesky" plants, there’s 1700 beneficial insects that thrive with and around it. And we need those insects for the health of everything else. We choose to focus on increasing beneficial insects instead of killing the handful of potentially harmful ones. We choose to focus on resilience, not destruction. ----- To sum it up, regenerative farming means that we're naturally improving everything year after year. The soil improves --> the plants get healthier and bigger --> the animals get healthier and grow better and fertilize better --> the food becomes more nutrient-dense for you. It's all an amazing natural cycle of health. When we farm naturally, we grow wellness. And want to know one more amazing fact? When you eat regeneratively-farmed, nutrient-dense food, you actually want to eat less. That's because your body is getting more nourishment from each bite when compared to conventional food. No empty calories. Wow! Thank you so so much for your support with our regenerative vision! We sure wouldn't be able to keep going without you eating the food we grow.

Coming Soon: Raw Dairy Pet Food!

Get ready to wag those tails and purr with delight because we're introducing something truly special - 100% Grass-Fed Raw Dairy Pet Food! What makes our raw dairy pet food stand out?...