becks_r

Now I know I am inviting lots of very funny or plain weird comments, but this is actually a serious question - although I will happily read all replies

When I lived in UK, I brought all my meat either at farmers markets or direct from the farms. That way I could actually keep costs down, it is amazing but it is actually cheaper to buy the meat direct. I also could be certain of how the animals were kept - for instance I could be sure the places I brought from had free range chickens, didn't feed the animals hormones and anti-biotics or other animals, humanely kept pigs etc etc.

Now I have been buying organic from the local supermarkets, but I don't need organic and it is very expensive and the few farms I have managed to find seem to only sell whole animals at certain times of the year and I rent my house and just don't have a big enough freezer.

Any suggestions please?

GeoffM

Have you tried any farmers markets in Buffalo? A quick Google suggests there are at least half a dozen! No idea whether they're any good, of course.

kimilseung

No idea about Buffalo.....but.....

Look in to "Community-supported agriculture" or "community-shared agriculture" and see if it is available in your area and if it is a model that might suit you.

edit: A quick Google got this, I have not investigated this link.
http://www.ecovian.com/s/buffalo/csa

edit 2: never mind, just seen that you do not have much storage. You probably need a lot with CSA

becks_r

Hi - yes I have tried the markets in Buffalo and Rochester, as I am about 1/2 way between the 2. There are a couple of farmers there, but they don't seem to like the idea of me visiting their farms or they come from quite a way out!!

I was so spoilt in UK, I thought it would be as easy here!!!

Bob

Google out a local CSA, probably have a membership with a meat option...basically you pay a annual membership and you get a slice of the produce, or you can help out on the farm and get reduced rates.

All very co-op esk.

Also have the option to probably "sponsor" a cow, or a quarter of one and then on a rota, as the animals get slaughtered, you'd get your allocated cut, so if you paid for a quarter of an animal, you might get a wedge of steak one month, but a roast the next from the next cow killed until you get all the cuts you paid for. That kind of thing.

I found the local library to be pretty helpful for this kind of info, well on CSA's and also local orchards are a good place to go ask about local farms and the like that could help out.

It's definitely a bit more leg work involved though.

becks_r

Oh library - I hadn't thought of that, I will certainly look at that. And the idea of sponsoring a cow sounds great.

And you are right, more leg work!! Which I don't mind, but I tried phoning a few farms and was put off by their way of working - I am used to farms being more flexible in UK and I was certainly worried about some of them not wanting me visiting.

RICH

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/hunting.html

nethead

I'm not near Buffalo or Rochester, but in south west Vermont close to the NY border and there are a lot of farm that sell grass fed beef around here. I have a friend near Rochester I'll ask her if you'd like?

becks_r

Hi

that would be great if you could

Many thanks

Becks

nethead

Can you tell me the name of the town you live in? PM me if you'd rather.

Steve_

And here is the answer: www.englishporkpiecompany.com

becks_r

Gosh - real English bacon - I will certainly look into this, of course it will depend on where they get their meat from.........