Thanks comes sometimes when most needed

At Wallace Springs Farm we aim to appreciate and value our customers.  Receiving this note a few days ago reminds us that customers appreciate us as well.  Thank you Steve and Family for the appreciation.   

The moment I step onto the Wallace Springs property I feel a calm and peaceful presence envelop me.  When you meet Ivan and Karen (the owners) and see the animals they raise on their farm you will understand why. They have an uncompromising passion for the ethical  raising of animals destined for the dinner plate.  As an individual obsessed with organic, local food I feel truly lucky to have discovered Wallace Springs, as after many weeks of research and farm visits I am sad to say that this is the only place I can trust getting my meats from.

The animals are raised together with others of their kind in clean and comfortable quarters and freedom to be outdoors as they wish.  The food they eat is all grown free of toxic chemicals on the Wallace Springs property and does not include corn, soy or other foods typically fed to animals to make them fat or to save money on feed, rather than to make them healthy.  Genetically modified organisms are also forbidden here.  The result of this much effort?  Animals that are happy, healthy and absolute models of their kind.  I purchased one of the Berkshire/Tamworth cross pigs and was in awe of the physical perfection and vibrance of the animal.  Fit, muscular, gorgeous coat, full of energy - it simply radiated health and happiness.  When it does come to "harvest" time, the animals are not shipped off to some factory slaughterhouse in a freezing container truck.  Ivan works with small, local abattoirs that he has visited himself and that meet his high standards.  The final product is something to be tasted to believe.  The flavour and texture are beyond compare.  

If you want to maintain access to (and control over) your own healthy and ethically raised meats, you have a duty to support farms like Ivan and Karen's before they are gone. Spending your dollars on factory farmed meats may be less impactful to your bottom line, but you are supporting a system that is wiping out these small independent farmers.  What are your principles and health worth?  Which system do you choose to support? Every individual makes a difference in this respect.

Steve

Happy Trails Misty



Rest in Peace Misty May 2000 - September 8, 2012 

"I have sometimes thought of the final cause of dogs having such short lives and I am quite satisfied it is in compassion to the human race; for if we suffer so much in losing a dog after an acquaintance of ten or twelve years, what would it be if they were to live double that time?"

(Sir Walter Scott)



Have a quarter cow, man

A fantastic blog post by Kevin Thom, a repeat customer of Wallace Springs Farm, on his blog kevinthom.com

In the last couple of years, I’ve been on a quest to be more conscious of the food I eat. To me, this meant adopting the paleo lifestyle, and eating local, organic food as much as budget and availability allows. I have also tried as best I can to sort fact from fiction when it comes to nutrition. It hasn’t always been easy, but in the process, I’ve lost a lot of weight, gained lots of energy, and leveled out my moods. I also feel healthier and look much younger than I did before I started this.

My latest adjustment was to investigate grass-fed beef. From what I can gather from the Internet, grass-fed beef is healthier and more humanely-raised than the traditional grain-fed stuff.



My hunt for locally-raised grass-fed beef led me to Ivan McIlroy and his Wallace Springs Cattle Company. A while ago, I arranged with Ivan to buy a quarter cow of his grass-fed beef. Today, the day finally came when I could pick up my order. I hopped in the car and headed to the farm in North Perth, Ontario to meet the meat, so to speak.

Ivan was great. He gave me a tour of the farm, introducing me to his animals and showing me how they live and what they eat. It clearly takes a lot of work and costs lot of money to raise cattle this way. The price I paid for my quarter cow was extremely reasonable. In fact, as Ivan explained to me, it’s not a sustainable price when compared to what it costs to raise the animals. I believe that many people would pay more, especially if they’re given the opportunity to see the farm and learn about how their food is grown.

After spending about an hour with Ivan and his cows, I headed to the meat packer’s to pick up my order. There was an astounding amount of beef. The order included about 70 lbs. of ground beef, four short rib roasts, two shoulder roasts, nine blade steaks, fifteen rib steaks, and a brisket. There was also a big box of beef bones to be used in soup. I’ll be sharing this order with my dad, but still, it’s a lot!
I really enjoyed my trip out to the country today. I’m naturally a city boy, so it always seems a bit exotic to visit a farm. Have a look at my gallery of snapshots with captions below.  More pics at Kevin's blog

This two month-old calf was bright-eyed and attentive.

 

 

The mother cow was very curious. She was inhaling deep breaths of air, catching our scent. I put my hand out to her nose and she promptly licked it.



Here are some of Ivan’s own cattle. They are raised on grass with a little bit of grain in the winter. To me, they seem happier and healthier than the grain-fed steers in the feed lot.



Here’s the trunk of my car, overflowing with grass-fed beef. This will probably last a while.

 Kevin Thom Bio

Kevin Thom is an award-winning photographer who specializes in commercial, promotional and headshot photography for artists and business people. He is based out of his studio in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Kevin takes an art-centred approach to all of his photography. A hallmark of his style is a distinct focus on visual communication. This tendency comes from the ongoing development of his conceptual series called "Elemental." This series distills its subject matter to its most essential element, whether that be a shape, texture, color, attitude or emotion. Kevin then highlights this element using dramatic and unorthodox lighting, angles, perspective and composition.

Kevin's work has appeared in numerous magazines, on book covers, and in other publications around the world. He has exhibited his artistic and conceptual photography in Canada and the US, as well as overseas.
Kevin is heavily influenced by the dramatic cinematic lighting style used in Hollywood movies. Some of his early influences include George Hurrell, who pioneered that style of lighting, and Yousuf Karsh. Kevin also admires the work of Erwin Olaf, Platon, and Annie Liebowitz.

Contact info

Kevin Thom
73 Garfield Avenue South,
Suite 2C
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
L8M 2S3

Phone: 905-544-2600





Kevin Thom Photographer



Fresh Garlic Scapes at Wallace Springs Farm

Here it is nearly June and so soon the garlic scapes will be in season.

A true culinary delicacy

garlic scapes ready to pick

Garlic scapes are the curly shoots that spring from the tops of of the garlic plants in June.  Most growers cut the scapes in order to encourage the garlic plant to produce bigger bulbs.  If left on their own to grow, the scapes mature to form the garlic plant's flower head.  Scapes are a culinary delicacy - harvested just as they curl when they are most tender.  Scapes have a strong but delicate garlic flavour and can be eaten raw, steamed, lightly fried, barbecued or pureed into a pesto.  Scapes can also be frozen whole or diced and bagged for freezing.

Like other spring shoots such such as asparagus or fiddle heads, scapes are only available during a short period during mid/late June.  Garlic Scapes are available during this time period at Wallace Springs Farm - Come and pick them fresh, or have us pick them.  We will have a good supply from our 20,000 plus plants, book yours now. 

Garlic Scape Pesto Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chopped garlic scapes (10 – 14 scapes)
• 1/3 cup walnuts (lightly toasted optional)
• Juice of one lime
• 1/2 cup parmigiano-reggiano cheese, grated
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Coarse salt and pepper, to taste

Directions
Blend everything but the olive oil, salt and pepper in a food processor or blender.  Slowly drizzle in the oil with the motor running, and blend until smooth.  Taste and add coarse salt and pepper as needed.  Use on brushetta, pasta, eggs, foccacia, and just about anything grilled like shrimp, salmon or chicken.

Farm Tours

Alberta goatboss and willow

At Wallace Springs Farm we welcome farm visits by appointments.  We enjoy talking about what we do, and why we do it the way we do, but please realize that we also have daily chores that need tending to.  We welcome families but strictly ask that you tend to your children at all times.  Our farm is a place to learn about animals and farm life, but it is our home as well and we do have rules.

• Animals are used to us….and can get frightened easily, children, and their parents, need to know to be gentle, not to chase animals, and use to "their inside voices". 
• Please do not bring "treats" for the animals - we generally have something that children can feed the animals
• We ask that you not involve your pets in the tour.
• Please do not come here straight from another farm without a clothing and footwear change. Our animals have good immune systems but we still like to be careful.
• Finally, as we do need to have a known schedule meal times are important here, we ask that you plan your farm tour to not overrun mealtimes.  
• Enjoy

"What people do not understand, they do not value, what they do not value, they will not protect, and what they do not protect, they will lose. "-- Charles Jordan

Farm Fresh Eggs and Poultry Products



Eggs ------ Wallace Springs Farm is pleased to be able to offer you ethically produced farm fresh brown eggs from our New Hampshire, Barred Rock cross hens.  Our happy hens are free run in the winter and free range run in the summer and managed according to our Wallace Springs Guiding Principles.  Eggs are available only farm gate at $4.50/dozen ungraded (good size eggs).  Supply is limited at this time, but please contact us as most times we may have a few spare dozen.

For those of you who want a secure supply of Wallace Springs Farm fresh eggs, we recommend our Own Your Hens Program



Young Chicks at Wallace Springs Farm

Poultry ------ We are pleased to offer Heritage Chicken and Turkey meat birds via our Own Your Poultry Program, we do not raise these animals "on spec." any longer as we have found this market to be just too unpredictable. 

Finally, farm visits are encouraged, questions are welcomed, and feedback is appreciated.  Contact us

Heritage Pastured* Pork For Sale

Wallace Springs pigs are what we call BerTam, a cross between Berkshire and Tamworth both of which are Heritage breeds and while their population is rebounding from their recent historical lows more work remains to assure the breeds survival.

The Tamworth pig is reported to be the best bacon pig and the Berkshire holds the title of the best flavoured pig.  Unfortunately for both of these breeds they were not as efficient in feed conversion as the "commercial" whites that quickly became the #1 choice of Industrial Farmers pushing the Berks and Tams to near extinction.



Our BerTams snoozing in the sun

What we have noticed is the temperament of the BerTams is far superior to that of the "whites", being a less "high strung" breed makes caring for them safer and easier.  They also are better able to process a grass based diet than their white counterparts - all in all a much nicer pig.  We believe (and researchers agree) that stress in any animals' life may be the number one quality predicator of the food products from that animal. That, and our uncompromising approach to the pigs diet, environment and welfare results in pork "the way pork used to be" - great!

At Wallace Springs Eco Centre we spare no effort to produce the best possible pork that you could purchase for your family or customers.  Our time tested management and feeding program, Wallace Springs Guiding Principles, will stand up under the scrutiny of the most discriminating customer.

Book a Half or Whole Pig Ready for Your freezer

Our pork is available by the half or whole and is priced at $4.99/lb. dressed weight (average. 225 - 240 lb. dressed weight whole pig), plus the cost of shipping (a $25.00 trailering charge per animal applies).  This price includes all the costs of cutting, curing, packaging, transporting the hog, and freezing at our Government inspected abattoir.  SOLE (Sustainable, Organically principled, Local and Ethical) Food at it's finest.  We will have a limited number of pigs available for processing in the fall of 2019  We are taking bookings now **

Book Now for Fall 2020

Want to be more involved in your Food and SAVE some CASH? Buy the pig live and have it processed at your choice of abattoir

1) These are available by the half or whole and are priced at $2.99/lb. dressed weight) delivered (a $25.00 trailering charge per animal applies) to the processor (average 225 - 240 lb. dressed weight whole pig), plus processing charges (you pay these directly to the processor) which vary depending on your instructions for curing, smoking, sausage etc. but typically will be approx. $0.95/lb dressed weight.  We will have a limited number of pigs available for processing in the fall of 2019  We are taking bookings now **.

Book Now for Fall 2020

2) We also offer By pork by the side or whole fresh - For those that want to process their own meat at home. $2.99/lb. dressed weight (average. 225 - 240 lb. dressed weight whole pig), plus the cost of shipping (a $25.00 trailering charge per animal applies) and processing. If you pick it up fresh the processing cost will be approx. $20.00/half. We will have a limited number of pigs available for processing in the fall of 2019  We are taking bookings now **

Book Now for Fall 2020

* In the interest of full disclosure, obviously our pigs are not "pastured" when snow and other weather and outside factors make it impossible .  Rest assured, they are given dry hay and lots of bedding to root in during these periods.  As a visitor commented "5 Star accommodation".

**A $50.00 deposit/half and $100.00 for a whole pig is required to confirm your booking

Still want to be MORE involved? Check out our "Own Your Food Program"

Pork 101 Know Your Cuts - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know and More


Finally, visits are encouraged, questions are welcomed, and feedback is appreciated.  Contact us

Ontario Pastured* Beef for Sale

We share the belief that cattle were designed to eat grass and that a diet that is primarily starch based (eg. corn) is about as unnatural as you can get, and is intensely unhealthy for the animal as well as consumers of food products from those animals.  While the preceding statement is true one should not then make the assumption that cattle should eat exclusively vegetative grass.  That, in our opinion (and the facts of history) is no more natural than "industrial corn fed beef".  Fact is that Mercola has never raised livestock in Canada.  Nor does it appear that he has studied the natural diet of ruminants.

The truth of the matter is that throughout history cattle and all ruminants have grazed on grass in the early summer and dried grasses and their seeds (yes barley,oats, rye and wheat grass seeds to name a few) during the fall, winter and spring with the key facts being that the seeds made up a small percentage of the animals diet.  We replicate this by feeding seeds (some call it grain) up to 15%  of the diet of our cattle. We will not deprive our cattle of the energy they need and enjoy any more than good parents would totally deprive their children of healthy energy components of their diet.



WSCC Grass Fed Beef is Lean, Tender, and Nutritious

When you purchase Wallace Springs Cattle Company Ethically raised beef you can be confident that the animals were fed naturally, without GMOs, hormones, steroids, or antibiotics.  Over many years of experience in the cattle business we have proven that good feed and a good life  makes for great beef.  Try it and we believe that you will agree with us.

All Wallace Springs beef is typically dry aged 21 days - no matter how anxious the customer is for their beef we will not allow aging to be less than 14 days.

We have a limited amount of Wallace Springs Cattle Company beef available in sides or whole.  Our price is $4.79/lb. dressed weight plus processing charges which you pay directly to the processor  (typically $0.55/lb.).  A $25.00 per animal trailering to processing charge applies   Contact us  for booking your order - we require a $300.00/side deposit to confirm booking.  Sorry, we do not deliver beef.

 TAKING BOOKINGS FOR March. 2022

* Full disclosure:  At Wallace Springs the beef animals are on pasture during the spring, summer, and fall with supplemental access to dry hay.  During the winter when there is no "pasture" the beef animals are given shelter and 24 hr.access to dry hay.

Finally, farm visits are encouraged, questions are welcomed, and feedback is appreciated.  Contact us

Pure Canadian Maple Syrup

Syruping at Wallace

At Wallace Springs we practice environmentally sensitive standards, which means we will not over tap our trees or use vacuum to increase sap flow.  We do not use plastic pipeline, preferring the older style tap and bucket method.  We do not tap any trees in close proximity to roadways where lead from automobile exhaust and other toxic chemicals may have built up over the years. All material coming into contact with the trees and sap/syrup is either stainless steel or food grade plastic meaning you can be assured that there is there is no lead or lead solder in any of our processes. We do not use any chemicals or acids to clean our evaporators, preferring instead to use a little bit of elbow grease.  No de-foaming agents (animal, vegetable, or chemical) are used during boiling, instead foam is skimmed off with a stainless steel, mesh strainer. 

Our syrup is made "the true old fashioned way" by boiling from sap to syrup over a virgin wood fire (no used painted or treated wood or used tires or motor oil) as opposed to most syrup today which has the sap concentrated by reverse osmosis and a minimum of boiling over "who knows what" fueled heat to produce the syrup.  We believe that boiling un-concentrated sap to syrup a with wood fire gives the product far superior flavour and depth well worth the extra effort.  Taste it, and we think you will agree with us!  We also blend all of our syrup for the year and hence we have only one grade (a medium colour) with full flavour

Wallace Springs Pure Maple Syrup is available in  500 mL glass jar $12.00 and 1 L glass jar $22.00 - Farm gate only please.

Finally, farm visits are encouraged, questions are welcomed, and feedback is appreciated.  Contact us

Own Your Food Program ®

Own Your Food Program ® is offering our food partners the opportunity to Own Your Food.  For those consumers who want to own their food producing animals but do not have the facilities, or the time to care for them we are establishing what may best be called "a new old idea" were you have the option of owning the animals that will provide you with the very best food.

• Grass Fed Beef  -- As a food partner in our Own Your Beef Program ® you will purchase the stocker calf from us, we will feed and board your animal to "finish" - a period of 12 to 16 months.  The care and feeding of your animal will be to the same standards  as our animals.  Your purchase price for the stocker calf will be approx. $1200 - $1500.00 depending on the weight of the calf, and current market prices, etc.  We will charge a per diem of $3.25 (approx. $100.00 per month) "all inclusive" for feed, board, and care of your animal.  As a food partner the total cost of your meat will be slightly less than buying the same amount of meat from us, although you should remember that these are live animals and occasionally losses do occur. .................We currently have stocker calves available for food partnering

OR

Board Your Bovine at Wallace Springs Farm for a per diem of only $3.25/day and get our best "all inclusive" feed and care for your animal.

• Heritage Pork -- As a food partner in our Own Your Pork Program ® you will purchase the weaner pig from us, we will feed and board your animal to "finish" - a period of 4 to 5 months.  The care and feeding of your animal will be to the same standards  as our animals.  Your purchase price for the weaner pig will be approx. $125.00 depending on the pig's weight, current market prices, etc.  We will charge a per diem of $2.25 (approx. $67.00 per month) "all inclusive" for feed, board, and care of your animal.  As a food partner the total cost of your meat will be less than buying the same amount of meat from us, although you should remember that these are live animals and occasionally losses do occur.  ................ We have a limited number of weaners available for purchase - Book now.

• Eggs -- As a food partner in our Own Your Hens Program ® we offer you the opportunity once a year to purchase Heritage breed chicks to be raised for hens in "our backyard is your backyard" egg laying co-op.  Chicks are normally purchased mid June and will begin laying late fall.  Our charge is $10.00/laying hen (payable when we order the chicks) and $4.00/dozen for the eggs, "all inclusive" for feed, board, and care of your hens.

• Heritage Poultry -- As a food partner in our Own Your Poultry Program ® we offer you the opportunity once a year to purchase Heritage breed day old chicks, and ducks to be raised for meat in "our backyard is your backyard" meat bird co-op.  Day old hicks and ducks are normally purchased mid June and will be ready for processing mid October.  The purchase price of chicks will be $2.00/bird for chicks, and $3.75 for ducks.  We will charge a per diem of $0.15 for chicken, and $0.22 for ducks  "all inclusive" for feed, board, and care of your bird.  As a food partner the total cost of your meat will be less than buying the same amount of meat from us, although you should remember that these are live animals and occasionally losses do occur.

Important Info.
As a food partner you are responsible for all transporting and processing costs for your beef, pork, and poultry - we will make arrangements for the processing and transportation.  Sorry we can not deliver eggs or meat.

Finally, farm visits are encouraged, questions are welcomed, and feedback is appreciated.  Contact us

Wallace Springs Garlic

We have been continuously growing garlic on our farm since the 1990's when my mother gave us our first few bulbs to plant.  Over the years our seed stock has grown, and in 2011 we offered our first Garlic bulbs for Sale.  The feedback was consistent - "the size and quality is great, and the flavour is fantastic".  It is true that garlic is like wine, and it takes on an individual flavour from each growing area.

Our Ivan Garlic (a porcelain hardneck and undoubtedly will be the most popular Canadian variety of garlic)) has very large bulbs with lasting flavor! When eaten raw, it is a very hot-flavored garlic. However, when cooked/roasted Ivan loses its heat and offers a lasting garlic flavor with a hint of sweetness. It produces 4 to 7 large, easy to peel cloves with the classic garlic flavor that excels in any recipe.   Ivan is a good keeper and will still be solid in May if stored in a cool dry area of your home - we keep it in the garage which is heated to just above freezing.

Ivan Seed garlic at Wallace Springs

Fresh Garlic Scapes - A Delicacy! In early summer, typically in June, the garlic plants produce scapes, which we remove to allow all the growth effort to be put into the bulb for larger garlic cloves. These scapes aren't a useless byproduct of the garlic...they are a sought-after delicacy, used in stir fries and pickled garlic scapes or they may be frozen for future use!  Our price is $0.50 a dozen picked fresh - sorry we cannot deliver  .......... contact us prior to June to book scapes.

Garlic Bulbs For Sale 2022 - Garlic harvest typically occurs when the combines head to the wheat fields, late July or early August.  It must then be hung to cure, a process that takes 2-3 weeks at which time it is cleaned (roots and stem removed) and ready for sale.  We are taking bookings now for new crop garlic at $2.00/bulb or $10.00/lb for large size bulbs and  We can ship this to you if you need - contact us for details

Ivan Garlic Seed Bulbs for 2022 - This year we have Ivan seed seed garlic available, grown out from bulbils 2 years and ready to plant for seed bulbs.  Absolutely disease and wilt free.  Grown organically without chemical fertilizer or pesticides/herbicides.  Will be shipping the end of Aug.    Seed seed is  smaller bulbs that need another year grow out to be seed size at $0.09/clove with a 1 penny handling charge/clove if you need the seed shipped.

Garlic Bulbils - If you are wanting to get into growing garlic and looking for lower start up costs you may want to investigate "growing out" your seed stock from "Bulbils".  Boundary Garlic Farms has an excellent reference page on growing garlic from bulbils.  We are sold out for 2022 planting but will have good supply of Ivan, bulbils in stock for spring 2024 planting.  .  $2.00/scape

 Ivan market garlic now available for 2022

Finally, farm visits are on hiatus due to Covid 19, questions are welcomed, and feedback is appreciated.  Contact us



About Wallace Springs Eco Centre

Lord Wallace circa 1801

Our 150 acre farm has been in continuous operation since the first Anglo, and European settlers arrived in Wallace Township/Perth County in the early 1850s when this area was still known as Canada West (CW).  Prior the settling it was home to Huron Indians.  Wallace Township, and the village of Wallace were named after Thomas Wallace, the 1st Baron Wallace PC of Knaresdale, a prominent British politician and chairman of Britain`s Agricultural Board in the early 1800s.  The early settlers endured many hardships and carved out of the wilderness a farmstead that we now call home.

Wallace Springs Eco Centre  got it's name from the year round cold water artesian spring located on the south west corner of our farm. Water flow was so impressive that until the mid 1900s water was pumped from the spring to the farm buildings (a distance of 1/2 mi.) using a Hydraulic Ram.  Since the spring was yet un-named when we purchased the farm in 2002, and is the highest volume free running spring in Wallace Township it was thought appropriate to call it Wallace Springs.  People who have tasted the spring water say it is fantastic - I haven't tried it as it is an open spring, and the thought of beaver and deer poo just doesn't do it for me.



In addition to the springs Wallace Springs Eco Centre  is also home to a section of the Listowel-Macton moraine, the Wallace Hill (a local favorite tobogganing spot in my younger days), the last "un-touched by the dredge" stretch of the Upper Middle Maitland river, and the headwaters of both the Maitland and Grand river watersheds.

Our goal is to be a Canadian Centre of Excellence in Sustainable and Ethical Agriculture demonstrating that a food producing organization can be profitable, practice ethical animal care, be a leading environmental steward of the land and air, and produce a stable, wholesome, and safe food supply to our local customers.

• The Ethical Treatment of all Animals is paramount to us, as such animals will not be confined in farrowing or gestation crates, cattle or sow tie stalls or cages, and will be allowed to express their natural behaviours such as herding, flocking, rooting, and dust bathing.  We will not subject our animals to unnecessary medical procedures such as piglet tooth pulling, pig tail docking, and poultry de-beaking.   Medical procedures which are absolutely required will be done in a manner, and with aids to minimize the animals pain.
• As committed Environmental Stewards of the Land and Air we make conscious decisions every day to act responsibly in conserving, protecting and enhancing the environment. We recycle wastes to the greatest extent possible, minimize or eliminate pollution at its source, conserve natural resources, and use energy efficiency to prevent harm to the environment or human health.
• We are focused on providing a Stable, Wholesome, and Safe Food source to our customers.  For those who are concerned with food security, for whatever reasons, we are offering a Own Your Food Program © .  Time has taught us that if you cannot commit the time to do it well, then don't do it.  We are not big and we will not get big.  What we are is debt-free and not young and silly - so when we say we will do something, we will do it.  Animal welfare is our number one priority because we know that healthy happy animals are the foundation of a wholesome and safe food supply.

at Wallace Springs Guiding Principles

Finally, visits are encouraged, questions are welcomed, and feedback is appreciated.  Contact us



Wallace Springs Farm Guiding Principles

FEED, CARE AND PHARMACEUTICALS

All of our animals are fed an All Natural, Non GMO, Antibiotic Free, 100% Vegetarian feed with free access to grass in the summer and good quality dry hay in the winter.

We will never use growth hormones, or other growth promotants(neither implanted or fed) period.  Need we say more?

You can rest assured that we would never feed anything containing animal byproducts, chemically processed (hexane) soybean meal, or industry byproducts (bakery, ethanol, distillery, confectionery, etc.).

We share the belief that cattle were designed to eat grass and that a diet that is primarily starch based (eg. corn) is about as unnatural as you can get, and is intensely unhealthy for the animal as well as consumers of food products from those animals.  While the preceding statement is true one should not make the assumption that cattle should eat exclusively grass.  That, in our opinion (and the facts of history) is no more natural than "industrial corn fed beef".

The truth of the matter is that throughout history cattle and all ruminants have grazed on grass in the summer and dried grasses and their seeds (yes barley,oats, rye and wheat grass to name a few) during the fall, winter and spring with the key facts being that the seeds made up a small percentage of the animals diet.  We replicate this by feeding seeds up to 15% (some call it grain) of the total diet of our cattle.  The facts are it does good, and we will not deprive our cattle of what is their natural diet

The Ethical Treatment of all Animals is paramount to us, as such animals will not be confined in farrowing or gestation crates, cattle or sow tie stalls or cages, and will be allowed to express their natural behaviours such as herding, flocking, rooting, and dust bathing.  We will not subject our animals to unnecessary medical procedures such as piglet tooth pulling, tail docking, and poultry de-beaking.   Medical procedures which are absolutely required will be done in a manner, and with aids to minimize the animals pain.

The barn space for our animals will be generously bedded with straw, or other "clean" bedding material such that the cattle can stay clean, the pigs can build nests, and the poultry can nest and "scratch". 

We will not allow sewage sludge to be spread on our land, nor will we feed our animals any feed that has been grown on land that has had sewage sludge applied to it.  The phrase "Do the Research - Ask the Questions" becomes important here.  Maybe this is where we should tell you that we will not allow Factory Farm sourced manure to be spread on our land as it also contains a host of heavy metals, hormones, antibiotics and MRSA's which we just do not need, or want.

We will not feed grains which have been "direct flame dried".  Grains dried this way may contain heavy metals as well as a host of other toxins.  So said, corn is pretty much ruled out of our animals' diets unless it has been naturally air dried ie: corn crib.

We will not allow our animals to come into contact with pressure treated wood (arsenic), or lead based paints.  Nor will we topically treat our animals or premises with formaldehyde or other aldehyde formulations.  Kinda makes sense.

Like "Organic Dairy Practices", if ........(it can happen no matter how good your care) our animals require medical treatment (antibiotics for illness, antiparasiticals for parasites) we will ensure that no food or food products from those animals goes to market before a minimum period of 3 times the "labeled" withdrawal period.

Buy from, or food partner with us and know that all the animals at Wallace Springs Farm are given the best possible feed and 24-7-365 care!

Finally, farm visits are encouraged, questions are welcomed, and feedback is appreciated.  Contact us

Thanx  ..........cowboss

"The way a society eats and the way a society produces the food that that society eats, tells you a great deal about that society," Allison Coudert