Frequently Asked Questions

If you've never ordered from us, this is a good place to start.

We're now taking orders for the next pick-up (see Schedule for dates and the process).

To order, click here and follow the instructions.

Our locations are described here.

1. What are the animals fed with?
2. Do animals get any hormones to stimulate their growth, or antibiotics, or anything else that is used in massive meat production?
3. Is there any veterinarian control either before or after slaughtering to check if animals are safe for human consumption?
4. Where are the farms located?
5. Why does the label on the chickens say "roaster"? I don't want a male adult chicken.
6. When is the meat I order butchered and processed?

1. What are the animals fed with?
   Our farmers feed the animals with grains and forages that they grow on their own land; or if they buy feed, it's locally grown by their neighbours. They don't buy commercial feed that has chemicals, processed filler, and other questionable ingredients.
2. Do animals get any hormones to stimulate their growth, or antibiotics, or anything else that is used in massive meat production?
   No! Our farms are not factories, but rather small family farmers who use no hormones, drugs, or chemicals in feeding and growing the meat.
3. Is there any veterinarian control either before or after slaughtering to check if animals are safe for human consumption?
   Yes! All slaughtering is done at government inspected plants, and an inspector is present during the process. All animals are inspected and must be approved.
4. Where are the farms located?
   Poultry, pork, and eggs come from farms around the Floradale area (west of Elmira). Beef comes from a farm near Crosshill, as does the maple syrup. Lamb comes from a farm south of Wellesley, and the cheese, butter, and honey come from Millbank. The fruit products come from Wellesley. These are all villages 30 -- 60 kilometres north and west of Kitchener-Waterloo. Our farmers are Old Order Mennonites or Amish.
5. Why does the label on the chickens say "roaster"? I don't want a male adult chicken.
   "Roaster" is often confused with "rooster"; they are not the same. "Rooster" is the adult, male chicken, used for breeding; we do not sell roosters. "Roaster" comes from the word "roast" which is to bake in the oven, and it is the official classification for chickens larger than 4 pounds. The little chickens that are sold in the supermarkets are classified "fryer" which comes of course from the word "fry". Our chickens are "roasters" which are considered the nicest and tastiest for eating. And of course they've been fed no hormones or drugs.
6. When is the meat I order butchered and processed?
   The poultry is butchered on the Wednesday before pick up. The beef is butchered 10 days previously and aged (as all top quality beef must be), and then cut and packaged on Thursday. The same for the lamb (except less time for aging). Pork is butchered on Tuesday, then processed on Wednesday and Thursday. Then, a refrigerated truck picks everything up Thursday late afternoon, it arrives in Toronto overnight, and then to our pick up location late Friday morning.