Blog - Jake's Country Meats

Chicken Tractors

A couple weeks ago we dealt with some freezing temperatures on the farm, and were concerned of frost damage on our fruit blossoms. We are happy to report minimal damage on our trees as of today and are looking forward to stocking the farm market with our own fruit in the future.We are also prepping our pastures for the first round of chickens to forage the ground this year. Our new chicken tractors are built to keep our animals shaded and protected during inclement weather conditions, as well as provide a level of comfort for us as their caretakers. Last year, our chicken set-up required us to crawl underneath the structure in order to complete our chores. With a decent height built into our chicken tractors, it will eliminate the need to crawl around, allowing us to stand upright while completing our tasks. This will encourage us to do our very best at caring for our flock. The new tractors are also portable and will be moved to fresh pasture daily. Each tractor should supply enough shade, food, water, and comfort for around 300 chicks. Why do we spend so much time figuring different ways to raise birds outdoors? Giving our chickens the ability to act as naturally as possible foraging for fresh bugs and grass during their lives is better for the chick, for us, and the land. The chickens really do enjoy the fresh grass and are curious animals if given the ability to roam. We enjoy caring for animals while working outdoors; the great outdoors eliminates any need for ventilation systems for strong odors, and gives us the ability to soak up our vitamin D for the day. The land also benefits from the chicken manure, as it provides an excellent fertilizer for our grasslands, encouraging healthy soil beneath the surface.

Spring Break

Spring break...when you hear these two words what comes to your mind?

Great Lakes Fish

We were happy to see our fishing partners from the North featured in a recent Michigan Country Lines magazine, and couldn't wait to share it with you all. We have been working with Massey Fish Company for many years, and believe their approach to preserving the fish directly after catch, is the best in the business. The fish we receive from the Massey family always looks, smells, and tastes fresh. What makes the difference? According to BJ Massey (one of the sixth generation sons) "We sell what's fresh and plentiful. And we only sell what we'd be willing to eat," said BJ. " And I can tell you this - we're picky." This crew has been fishing the Great Lakes for, that's right, six generations. That aligns almost exactly with our family and how long we have been farming. We are proud to have Massey Fish Company as one of our partners, bringing you another source of quality food to your table. You can read the full article through this link: Tackling Commercial Fishing With Massey Fish Co.Our social media has also been chatting about Great Lakes fish which prompted an excellent question from one of our customers:"I love fish but wonder about our Great Lakes pollution levels, and how safe it is to eat the fish. Can you share the what you know about this subject?"Measuring the benefits vs. risks of eating any food can be very challenging for a consumer. What we understand, is that there are things you can do to lower your intake of contaminants based on choosing the right species, preparing it properly, and staying informed. The overall consensus of many safe eating studies is that people should stay away from eating large quantities of shark, tile fish, swordfish, and tuna, which are large predatory fish that accumulate contaminants in large quantities. On the other hand, species like whitefish, herring and perch are lower in contaminants and high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which add a great benefit to your body by eating them.In the Great Lakes, walleye, trout, and catfish are going to be higher in contaminants than whitefish, herring, and perch. Herring are very high in Omega-3 fatty acids per gram of fish than any other species. Remember that our entire food chain is contaminated; from plants to humans. Everything we eat will have contaminants in them, just in varying levels of concentration. There is a benefit to eating some species of fish because the health effects from Omega-3 fatty acids counter-act the effects of contaminants.Also, fish will carry contaminants other than mercury within their fat. You can lower the amount you absorb by trimming your fish, or broiling/grilling. This technique allows the fat to melt away during cooking, as opposed to frying the fish. Also, due to the Clean Air Act and efforts to reduce pollution, contaminants within the Great Lakes have decreased overtime.

Planning Season

Our team has been in planning mode these past couple months. When the winter settles in, and the snow covers the land, we all take moments to reflect and forecast. After an unsettling 2020, when everyone’s plans shattered overnight, it made this year’s planning meeting more fluid and open-minded. It’s great to have goals, and even better to have steps to take in order to accomplish them; however, it’s also a success when you can maneuver naturally along with what life brings us all. Everything changed in terms of food, job, health, and social security. So much so, that we all are still learning about the implications of the pandemic. I recently met with a friend of mine who works within the Foster care system, and learned more about the struggles the pandemic has brought to children, home placement strategies, and adoptions. It was surprising how much impact shutdowns affected family structures, and children’s livelihoods. Many times we can get wrapped up into our own lives so much that we don’t even realize different circumstances people are facing throughout the world. Despite feelings of insecurity and even sadness at times, the most overwhelming emotion that we’ve experienced as a farming family is gratitude. We are thankful you hung in there with us through an uneasy year, and fueled our ability to sustain into the next. You are integral in creating a better, more resilient food chain which is going to be imperative moving forward in this world. This year, 2021, we have set some big goals. We want to focus on creating easier access to local food that heals the land, encourage farming families to attain a living wage, invite more families to our farm, share our story in unique and thoughtful ways, create a consistent and valuable work environment, all while producing the best tasting food in the area. However, if all of our plans become derailed, we pray for security in knowing people like you care about the food you eat, and the story connecting the process between farm to food. We plan to keep moving forward with you and look forward to green grass and the beginnings of Spring! 2021 is looking good.

Winter On The Farm

Do you ever wonder what pasture-raised animals do when the pasture is covered in snow? Are the animals comfortable? Do they stay healthy? How do they eat and drink? How do farmers take care of them?Even in the winter months, we still raise all of our animals outdoors with access to shelters or barns. This gives them the ability to choose whether or not they'd like to forage, run around, see the sunshine, or hunker down in some deep, dry straw for a nap. The animals spend most of their days outside on the pasture wandering to the feeders, or rooting around the fields despite the cold temperatures and snow. They grow a nice winter coat to keep them warm, and their bodies regulate temperature naturally when outside in the elements. Even our laying hens still roam around the farm when it is snow covered.We pay attention to the same health cues from the animals in the winter as we do in other seasons. If they are comfortable, they will be eating regularly, drinking often, and moving around in the fields. We listen for any consistent coughing, or sneezing, or abnormal behaviors which cue illness or discomfort. The quicker we can identify a problem, the better. However, consistent management skills can prevent problems, which is the overall goal for us farmers.We as caretakers of the animals, spend most of our time outdoors as well. We grind the animal's feed, and haul it to their pastures. We transport fresh straw to each shelter when it needs to be replaced. We also keep the water tanks full of fresh water which can require an ice-chisel and brute strength. We oversee birthing and breeding schedules of the animals in the winter months as well. In contrast to the Summer months, the animals are not moving long distances during the winter to rotate pastures. We've already moved the animals out of the woodlands, and the winter pastures are closer together, yet still far enough apart to prevent any spread of diseases from family to family. Our animals practice social distancing regularly, even prior to the pandemic, to prevent illnesses from spreading. Adequate space between each group is one of the key management skills needed to properly maintain a healthy pastured livestock herd.To help regulate our own body temperatures in the cold weather while caring for the animals, we put on our winter coat instead of growing one by using Car-hart bibs, face masks, gloves, and waterproof boots. Although, Farmer Nick does grow a nice thick beard which helps shelter his face from the windchill. He also places plastic sacks over his feet before shoving them into his boots, which prevents his boots from becoming wet with sweat, or his feet from becoming wet from any leaks. When we run out of random plastic bags in the pantry, it's most likely time to spend some money on a new pair of work boots.Winter season on the farm can be as successful as any season after some decent preparation and consistent management skills. Our animals are proudly pasture-raised year-round, regardless if the pasture is frosted white, or emerald green.

Farm School - Science Class

Typically when we welcome turkeys to the farm, we know that even under the best of conditions, they can have a hard time surviving. Turkeys have never been known as the most cunning of birds. We always enjoy observing these birds, since their behavior can be surprising, and their personality is one that can lift a farmers spirits mid-way through the year. We’ve had a season spent chasing turkeys around everyday because they just wouldn’t stay put, or watched the aftermath when a predator took out an entire flock in one afternoon. We simply never know what challenges the turkeys will or will not overcome.This year, on their first day at the pasture, our overly zealous farm dog scared a couple turkeys away from the flock while he was trying to herd them together. I found one perched in a tree nearby, and another resting within some tall weeds. The next day visiting the turkeys, I noticed the entire gaggle was seemingly hiding among those tall weeds. The kids and I were going to herd them back to their water source, when we realized we did not want to stroll through these particular weeds.It was a patch of burrs and jimsonweed. Burrs are those spiny little seed pods that get stuck to your clothing like Velcro while you are hiking. If you’ve visited our farm and our farm dog Tig has greeted you, you’ve seen these tiny little burrs tucked into his fluffy hair. Tig will always have an interesting hair-cut due to his curiosity and this familiar weed. Jimsonweed, on the other hand, by sight is frightening. At first glance you think to yourself, “yikes, I better stay away from that one,” which is accurate. Jimsonweed is harmful to humans and most animals if ingested. Since most animals leave jimsonweed alone, it can be very invasive.If ingested by humans it can manifest hallucinations, which has caused humans to experiment with this weed. Most have found that it’s not one to mess with as it causes more harmful and even deadly effects to your body than you’d like to experience.Jimsonweed produces a spiked pod that holds seeds, and as the Summer fades into Autumn, the pod dries, opens and scatters the seeds. Once dried, the pods are daggers to your skin and cause pain when touched. Why are the turkeys gathering in these unpleasant surroundings? After observation I noticed the birds are the perfect height to avoid the dried seed pods, causing no harm to their bodies. However, an animal the size of our farm dog Tig can’t avoid their discomfort.Is this their natural instinct kicking in to protect themselves from lurking predators? Have they found their safe place? Time will tell, but I think it’s no coincidence that I see the gaggle of birds each morning in this same patch of weeds.Sometimes we need to sit back and observe behaviors of nature and learn from them before implementing an effective role into the ecosystem. This observation proved to us that turkeys may be more intelligent than we anticipate. Also, jimsonweed is one that we now understand has value to a turkey’s survival, yet carries a fatal risk if ingested.Should we remove all plants as we notice them? Is there a natural way to rid them from this field through healthy pasture-growth? Is their value to a turkey worth the risk?Observational science begins, yet again, on the farm.

The Great Reveal

By Renee Robinson-SeelyeThe great reveal as morning comes, when you look out the window and the nightfall lifts the curtain.The rooster introduces the show with an impressive first act, song and dance atop the narrowing hay elevator.The cows pay no attention to all the chatter, as they march to the beat of their own drum. It’s too early to graze and the dew still sets atop the blades of grass surrounding.The goats never sleep and have climbed their second tree of the day, but a sour stomach slows them, as they search for the next mulberry tree in their path to sooth the aches.Piglets, hundreds of piglets have already ran up and down their mother’s backs eager to explore the earth with their great snout.Natures pure elegance shifts as a purr ignites and pierces the sound-waves.A bearded face strolls through the sandy paths atop four wheels. He kneels next to the pools and clutches a hand within the crisp cool water to stir the muck. He collects any bodies that have fell under the heavy night sky; mourns, reflects, and moves onto the next home.Food stirs a frenzy and comforts a multitude. The constant meandering continues until the curtain calls, and daylight surrenders; until the next great reveal. Share this:

Here we grow again...

This Summer has been a complete whirlwind at the farm. We started an expansion project in our barn to better serve our warehouse employees and provide a more conducive structure for storing our inventory of products. Through the expansion we have continued to work business as usual within the same barn by renting a large semi-trailer freezer. Nothing is where it should be, and everything is a bit chaotic in the barn. We’ve been graced with a really great team of people to manage through it all, and we can’t be anymore proud of their consistent work-ethic this Summer. As school begins again, we say goodbye to a few good men who have been packing orders, managing inventory, and building new walk-in coolers alongside us. Isaiah, our warehouse manager, stepped up into this position after shadowing CEO Lou at the farmers markets for around 6 years. He’s a hard worker who wanted a challenge this Summer after high-school graduation. He’s stepped out of his comfort zone by relocating from Chicago, IL to the small town of Dowagiac, MI. It’s been a pleasure to watch him take initiative and practice management tactics while running around with the “warehouse warriors.” He’s bright, ambitious, kind, has a lot to learn, yet eager to process and receive information as it comes. We are incredibly grateful for all of his effort this Summer, and are thankful he will still be behind the blue coolers slinging pork and fish while at the markets.Nolan, grandchild number 2 for Nate and Lou. We were always happy to see Nolan because of his overall laid back attitude, curiosity, and ability to do the job. He put his hands, body and mind to the test while building the new walk-in freezer walls. He enjoyed destructing the building and putting it back together, similar to his extra curricular activities of taking apart and building computers. And finally Parker, grandchild number 3, and our youngest, coolest “warehouse warrior.” Parker was one to lighten the mood while being helpful whether it was loading chickens, running orders to the office, counting product, or weed whipping around the barn. He’s still figuring out his interests, so it was a joy to see him try new things. He would always stop to shoot some hoops on the way in to the office and I’ll miss catching a glimpse of him making a couple baskets throughout the day. Thanks for all the hard work guys. At the same time of saying goodbyes, we are welcoming new faces to the Jake’s warehouse and delivery team and training them through the chaos. Luckily the timing of the new hires allowed Isaiah and our current warehouse warrior, Hunter, to designate time in their day to training through the expansion project. We look forward to learning more about and from our new coworkers, and are excited for the future of Jake’s.Our project is still not finished, as the electricians and cooling teams put finishing touches on wiring and functionality; but we all can see the light at the end of the tunnel. This type of project during our busy season has been exhausting at times. Some days my parents pondered why they take on all of this work at their age, and I always lend a good ear when this contemplation arises, because I foresee myself pondering these same questions someday. I’ve listened when there is no real answer and frustration conquers; but then there are the triumphant times when real truth shines and the answer seems to lie within service to others. Whether it is by meeting great people through sales of our food, creating opportunities for others to excel at farming unconventionally, learning new tasks, supporting a family, or stepping outside comfort zones – this farm and business is a place to serve others, whether we like it or not, and that is something we all can hang our hats on at night. Share this: