(NaturalNews) Nowadays even “organic” food companies often cut corners. Many are trying to peddle conventional (toxic) products under the organic label to earn undeserved profits. Recent scandals with “organic” milk provide just one example. Corporate mergers can have the same effect, for after a company sells out to a bigger company, each and every component in their product is often cheapened while the label you came to trust remains unchanged. This often turns healthy products into unhealthy ones. As with government subsidy programs, the process tarnishes standards that have long established reputations of high quality. Words like "all natural", "kosher", and now "USDA organic" have essentially been rendered meaningless by corporate (and consumer) greed. It is especially bad for the honest companies and farmers who do everything properly as they simply can’t compete with what amounts to criminal activity and corporate welfare.
For these and other reasons it is important to buy local, to know your farmer, and to seek out products that not only meet but exceed organic standards. An example of a higher standard than organic is Biodynamic. For cows and lambs, biodynamic means the animals are fed their traditional diet of grass and that the grass is maintained without the use of pesticides. It also means crops are rotated and fertilizers are produced on the farm. A biodynamic farm is like a mini ecosystem.
One such farm is 8 O’Clock Ranch (www.eightoclockranch.com). Located in De Kalb Junction in upstate New York, 8 O’Clock Ranch is a farm that exceeds organic standards, with over 300 acres of organically fertilized, lush grasses where some of the highest quality beef, lamb and pork is produced. The animals at 8 O’Clock Ranch are raised humanely, have access to pasture and shade, and are fenced in areas without sharp corners for their safety and comfort. Raised without any hormones, these animals enjoy the slow growth that nature intended and have a stress-free environment. You can taste the difference, and the health benefits are enormous. Purchasing humanely-raised meat also helps protect the environment from toxic fertilizer run-off that contaminates water supplies.
I recently purchased some Hereford beef and Suffolk lamb from 8 O’Clock Ranch and I couldn’t be happier with the quality and service. Next, we’ll examine the three animals available at 8 O’Clock Ranch along with some of the health benefits of grass-fed meat.
* Beef (Cow) - Bos taurus (Bovidae)
While many have learned to avoid “red meat”, the truth is that the meat itself is not the issue. The problems rather are the carcinogenic preservatives used such as sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite and the hormones used such as rBGH (Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone). Even worse are the diets that these poor animals are fed and the filthy conditions in which they are raised. Cows are not supposed to eat corn and grain and they are supposed to have access to pasture. Cows are supposed to eat grass. The cheese made from grass-fed cows' milk is a much deeper yellow due to the higher vitamin A content. Meanwhile, when cows are fed grain they become ill and must be injected with dangerous antibiotics that normally end up in the meat and milk. These hormones are made even more dangerous during the high-temperature pasteurization and cooking processes.
Grass-fed beef contains the proper Omega-3 to Omega-6 ratio (the good fat to bad fat ratio). This means that grass-fed beef contains up to 20 times the amount of Omega-3 per serving when compared to grain-fed beef. Grass-fed meat cooks 40% faster so it is easily overcooked, hence the reputation of being "gamier". When cooked properly however it is mouth watering and in my opinion more flavorful than grain-fed. Grass-fed meat not only contains up to 100 fewer calories per 6 ounce portion than conventional beef, but it actually helps cure rather than promote cancer. This is because it contains one of the most potent anti-cancer compounds known: CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid). Beef also contains Protein, Iron, Zinc and lots of B vitamins.
* Lamb (Sheep) - Ovis aries (Bovidae)
Even commercially raised lamb (sheep that are less than one year old) tend to be raised more humanely than beef, so while it’s a better choice at the grocer or restaurant, big business will still cut corners on lamb if possible. The lamb that I purchased from 8 O’Clock Ranch was of the quality you’d expect from New Zealand lamb, if not better. Though lamb is high in saturated fat, the gravy can easily be de-fatted by putting it in the freezer until the fat layer hardens on top where it can be removed (about 10-15 minutes). Lamb contains Tryptophan, Protein, Zinc, Iron and B-vitamins. Grass-fed lamb also contains CLA and high levels of Omega-3.
NOTE: by 'sheep' we are referring to the animal, not the people who get their news from the Mainstream Media.
* Pork (Pig) - Sus scrofa scrofa (Suidae)
I once heard a butcher joke that people often requested “free range” pork. He said “Trust me, you do not want free-range pork -- pigs will eat anything in sight”! However there are certainly more humane treatments available than the typical corporate hog experiences. Currently their pigs are fed organic grain but grass-fed pigs are also being raised and will be available soon. Factory raised pork is reared in such poor conditions that the workers themselves are now becoming very ill. The pigs are raised at 8 O’Clock Ranch as nature intended. Though I did not feel that a pork review was appropriate for Natural News (pigs are the only animals besides humans to get atherosclerosis), it’s safe to say that some of healthiest pork is available at 8 O’Clock Ranch, and if their beef and lamb is any indication, I’d venture to say their pork is among the best tasting as well. Pork does have many health benefits as it is one of the best sources of B-Vitamins and contains lots of minerals like Zinc, Magnesium, Iron and Phosphorous.
Big Agribusiness
If people chose their spouses the way agribusiness raises their animals, we would each want to marry the fattest person we could find because it would mean a lower price per pound. Our ancestors however hunted and consumed (and married) only the healthiest, toughest and leanest animals because those were the only ones that would survive in the wild. Fortunately, small farms like 8 O’Clock Ranch continue to raise their meat in very natural conditions.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
In the old days it was understood that you should always know your butcher, otherwise you might not know who you were eating. Nowadays people seem content to allow enormous factories to torture animals, inject them with poisons, slaughter them inhumanely (producing adrenaline that further contaminates the meat), preserve them with cancer-causing substances, and leave behind toxic waste sites, all just to save a buck. This "out of sight, out of mind" mentality is justified by consumers "to put food on the table".
A much preferable way to get your meat is directly from the people that (humanely) raise it. If you have questions about the animal, how to cook a particular cut or you wish to share a recipe they welcome your call at your CSA farm. With CSA there are no middle-men, there are no misunderstood labels, there is no compromise of quality and CSA farmers won't lobby the USDA to allow toxic sewer sludge to be called "organic". CSA meat is either hand-delivered or shipped once weekly, year round. Also, CSA farms like 8 O’Clock Ranch publish a monthly newsletter.
Products and Price Structure
With food prices going through the roof, one of the best methods to save money is to buy in bulk and freeze for long-term storage. This allows you to obtain the highest quality food for a regular price. At 8 O’Clock Ranch they offer better prices the more you buy. Below we examine the rates per pound for each animal offered.
1) Hereford Beef
Why not buy the whole cow when you can’t get the milk for free? While grass-fed beef sells for as high as $19.99 per pound in many organic supermarkets, a whole cow at 8 O’Clock Ranch costs only $3.00 per pound (85% less). A half cow costs $3.25, and a quarter is $3.50 delivered. If you find some friends to split it with (and you don’t mind the various parts that will come) this is certainly the most economical way to purchase some of the highest quality meat in the world. Smaller amounts are also available at various rates based on how much you purchase. Beef is available as hind-quarter cuts (T-Bone, Sirloin, Top Round, Bottom Round, Eye, Rump, Flank, Stew, or Soup Bones) and front-quarter cuts (Prime Rib, Chuck Roast, Arm, Short, Brisket, Skirt, Stew, Liver and Tongue). There are many options for each type such as steak, cubed, boneless or ground. I used their sandwich steak (sliced paper-thin) to make the best steak and cheese sub I ever had. A deposit of $150 is required to confirm bulk beef orders. All prices include processing and shipping!
2) Suffolk Lamb
A whole lamb (65-110 pounds) costs $4.95 per pound. A half lamb (33-55 pounds) is only $5.25 per pound. Lamb is available as Leg, Loin, Ribs, Roast, Chops, Stew, Ground, and Shanks. Each is available as chops or roast (which denotes the thickness). Lamb bones (used for Scotch broth) are only 99 cents per pound. Additional parts are available on request. 8 O’Clock Ranch also sells an amazing lamb sausage, available in different flavors. A deposit of $50 is required to confirm bulk lamb orders. All prices include processing and shipping!
3) Yorkshire Pork
A whole pig (160-200 pounds) is $2.75 per pound, and a half-pig (75-90 pounds) is only $3.00 per pound. Pork is available as Ham, Loin, Shoulder, Belly, Hocks, Feet, and Trim. There are many options such as smoked, chops or ground. A deposit of $50 is required to confirm bulk pork orders. All prices include processing, smoking and shipping!
4) Rhode Island Red Chicken
Free-range chicken (eggs only) are coming soon!
Delivery and Schedule
8 O’Clock Ranch ships the meat frozen with ice packs and even though mine arrived in Central Florida on a 90 degree day in June via a truck without AC, the meat was in a multi-layered insulated shipper and was still perfectly cool and mostly frozen.
Contact and Ordering Information
You can order from 8 O’Clock Ranch online at (www.eightoclockranch.com) . If you have any questions or would prefer to order by phone you can call Kassandra directly at (315) 347-4352 or toll-free at 1-877-755-1360.
References:
Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser offers enormous insight into commercially raised meat.
(www.WHfoods.com) has lots of information about most natural products.
For uncorrupted media, listen free at (www.wtprn.com) We The People Radio Network.
Disclaimer: As with all Natural News product reviews, the author and publisher do not receive any compensation from the company being reviewed (other than perhaps a few free samples prior to the article being written). The views expressed in this article are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of 8 O’Clock Ranch or Natural News.
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About the authorNeil McLaughlin is a computer scientist specializing in 3d graphics and simulation. He can be reached at naturalnews461 (at) yahoo (dot) com.
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