FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
All the Answers to Your Questions
WHAT MAKES YOUR PORK SO SPECIAL?
When we decided to raise pigs, it was for us first. I (Jack) am sort of a food snob and I wanted high quality pork raised without antibiotics, that had lived a good happy life outdoors. After learning the ropes with a few years of raising hogs only for us and some family members, we decided to utilize our own land to raise food for others outside our circle.
We currently raise ONLY heritage breed hogs sourced from small farms and breeders within New Hampshire. We make it a point to visit the farms we purchase our pigs from. This ensures that the piglets we get are healthy before they come to our property, but also that the breeding stock is treated ethically, an important factor in raising quality pork. Happy, healthy parents means happy, healthy piglets.
HOW MUCH DOES A PORK SHARE COST AND WHAT DO I GET?
Pork shares for 2024 are priced buy "hanging weight" which is the weight of the hog after it has been prepared for butchering. Pricing is $5/lb for whole shares and $6/lb for half shares. These prices include a "basic cut" at the butcher shop. Smoked meat (bacon/ham) and sausage is priced in addition to your basic cut and added on.
A half share will weigh in at 100 to 130lbs, depending on the size of the animal. Expect to spend about $900 on a half after smoking and sausage. Final cost varies with the final weight of the pig and how you want it processed smoked/sausage. A whole share would be double the meat you see below, but not exactly double the price. If the half share outlined below was sold as a whole, the total cost, after butchering would be around $1700.
SOÂ WHAT CUTS ARE THERE?
An example of a half share might be.
10 lbs Tenderloin, Chops, and Steaks
2 lbs Spare Ribs
12 lbs Bacon or Fresh Pork Belly
15 lbs Ground Pork or Sausage
12 lbs Ham (fresh or smoked)
10 lbs Shoulder Roasts or Chops
10 lbs Stew Bones and Hocks
15 lbs Leaf Lard and Back Fat for rendering
Heart, Liver, and Kidneys if wanted
IT SEEMS EXPENSIVE...
It is definitely more money than the pork you buy from the supermarket and we understand that. CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) that confine their animals inside buildings are able to grow animals at a much higher rate than we are able to on pasture, and their costs end up being lower because of it. And that lower price is before you even factor government subsidies into the equation. The bottom line there is that they are able to provide a rock bottom price on animals that most likely lived a miserable life without ever getting to spend time outside. While they do produce a product that is edible, the pork from one of our animals will be much more flavorful, tender, and (in our opinion) ethical.
CAN'T I JUST BUY SOME RIBS AND BACON?
Unfortunately for you, the USDA mandates that individual cuts may only be sold when an animal is processed in an inspected facility, and kept in a freezer dedicated solely to meat that has been processed in those facilities. Because we don’t reserve freezer space for strictly retail sales, and because we don't use USDA inspected slaughterhouses, we aren’t able to offer individual cuts.
SO WAIT, WHERE EXACTLY IS MY ANIMAL BEING PROCESSED THEN?
We work with local butchers here in NH to process all of our animals. A local butcher shop means our animals spend less time stressed out on a trailer. Instead of spending upwards of 3-4 hours on a truck enroute to processing, our pigs are slaughtered right here on the farm, and venture off site only to be processed and packaged for you.
SO HOW DOES PAYMENT WORK?
We ask for a $100 deposit to reserve halves and $175 deposit on whole shares. This deposit is non-refundable as it is used to purchase your pig. Payment in full is due at time of pick up at the farm. If for some reason you would like to cancel your share, we will assist in finding a replacement buyer and will refund your deposit upon receipt of the replacement shareholders deposit.
Deposits are accepted via cash, check, or Venmo.
To reserve your share, simply send an email to MindfulHomestead@gmail.com with the subject line "2024 Pork Share Reservation". Include your name, phone number, and if you'd like a half or a whole share. If we have availability, we will send an invoice for the deposit. Once your invoice is paid, your spot is reserved.
Note: Your spot is not reserved until the deposit is received. As such, Venmo is the preferred way of payment for deposits.
DO YOU DO PAYMENT PLANS?
We do. If you would like to make installments on your animal, we will gladly take payments at your convenience. We can keep track on a shared Google Sheet as well. Any excess funds can be applied to processing fees or refunded. Your call.
HOW MUCH STORAGE DO I NEED FOR A HALF?
Think about 100 one pound packages of chop meat. You’ll need more than a freezer above the fridge, unless you ONLY have pork in that freezer. A chest freezer is good to have, but it doesn't need to be a big one. Double that space for a whole chare.
WHAT ABOUT CHICKENS? DO YOU SELL THOSE?
We do sell whole, frozen chickens, raised here on the homestead. Chickens sell for $5/lb whole or $7/lb parted. They are processed here on the farm. We raise exclusively meat breeds sourced from McMurray Hatchery.
I SEE YOU DO TURKEYS...
We do! Turkeys are a fun addition to our farm as they really have personalities all their own. Because of all the other farms raising turkeys in the area, we've chosen to focus on raising turkeys for customers who are looking for large birds. We can also piece out a bird for you. If you choose a parted bird, you'll receive all the meat you paid for, including the giblets and carcass for making stock or soup. These are priced at $5/lb and we typically have birds between 18 and 30lbs. Pieced out birds are priced at $7/lb
GOT ANY EGGS?
We sell those as well! $5/dozen for chicken and $8/dozen for duck. Eggs are unwashed and unsized. Email about bulk orders or drop off locations.