"It comes as no surprise to learn that eggs from unhappy hens are not as healthy as those from hens who have room to roam. Mother Earth News (www.motherearthnews.com) conducted an experiment in 2007 which revealed that eggs from pastured hens are a heck of a lot better for us than those from their caged counterparts. Eggs were sampled from free-ranging hens across the country, and the results were undeniable. Compared to the USDA nutrient data for commercial eggs, free-range eggs had about half the cholesterol and twice as many omega-3 fatty acids which benefit circulation, heart health, and hormonal balance. Plus, they had significantly higher levels of vitamins A and E. But , again buyer beware: free-range claims on supermarket egg cartons aren't always all they're cracked up to be. "Allowed access to the outside" is the USDA's definition of free-range, even though many chickens that roam free in giant factory sheds never actually find their way outdoors, and bare dirt pens often pass as "pasture" according to government standards.
Truly fresh, free-range eggs come from hens that get to forage outdoors for bugs and greens, and the only way you can be sure you're getting bona fide free-range is to know exactly where your eggs come from."
With this in mind, I'm going to share with you some photos that help tell our farm story over the next few weeks. Funny, how simple things like "local beef" or "free range chickens" need defining... Local, to us, means you can see the cows grazing out of the window. Free range means watch where you're walking :)
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