Q. What does “Naturally Raised” mean?
A. “Naturally Raised” means that care has been taken to raise the animals as naturally as possible. This means they are raised without the use of antibiotics, growth promotants, hormones, animal by-products. Our naturally raised beef, chevon and pork are raised outdoors year round with access to pasture, sunshine, companionship and quality, natural forages and grains.
Q. Why aren’t you certified organic?
A. Currently we are voluntarily following many of the same protocols required for certified organic. At this time certification is not something we are planning to pursue.
Q. Why don’t you have every cut of meat available all the time?
A. We are a small family farm raising the majority of our meats right here 4 miles east of Caroline. Our supply varies for several reasons:
- Season – Some of our animals are seasonal breeders and only reproduce during certain months of the year.
- Small Scale – We don’t have a large hog barn or feedlot. We do our best to plan breedings to offer a continuous supply but more often than not our supply comes in “waves” as the farm moves through its production cycle.
- Naturally Raised – We don’t rush our animals, force feed them or use growth promotants to stimulate faster growth.
- In order to offer every cut of meat, every day, we would need to resort to large scale production methods, like large scale grocery chains do. We don’t want to risk quality for quantity and feel our customers feel the same.
Q. What’s the deal with the 100 Mile Diet?
A. The 100 Mile Diet is an idea where you try to eat only foods found within 100 miles of your home. This idea supports local agriculture which in turn benefits farm families and our local economy. It also benefits the environment, as eating local cuts down on the number of miles your food travels from field to your plate, thus reducing fuel consumption. Additionally, eating locally means that you are eating the freshest food available to you, food that doesn’t require additives and preservatives to make its journey to your supper table. All in all it makes good sense. We have made every possible effort to source locally grown bison, lamb, chicken, etc. grown within 100 miles of our community.
Q. I’d like to order a cut of meat or specialty item that you don’t carry. Can you help me?
A. YES! If we don’t carry a cut or item that you would like, please leave your name and number at our store or send us an email and we will do what we can to find it for you.
Q. I see that you raise the beef, pork, rabbit and chevon on your farm. Where do the rest of the meats come from?
A. We would love to be able to raise ALL of the meat in our store but the reality is that one family can only do so much! The beef, chevon, rabbit and pork are raised on our ranch 4 miles east of Caroline. The other meats are supplied by other local area producers who have the same ideas and naturally rearing methods that we do.
Q. Do you deliver?
A. We will deliver on large orders over $200 to Calgary, Edmonton and central Alberta. Check our website for upcoming delivery dates.
Q. Can you supply the meat for my reception/family reunion/conference?
A. Yes! Please check out our Catering page or give us a call to discuss the menu and prices.
Q. I follow the same philosophy as you do on my farm. Can I sell my products through your store and how does that work?
A. Yes! We are always looking for new producers who follow the same practices as we do. The first step is to give Tamara a call at (403)722-4038 or drop us an email at ravenwoodranch@gmail.com. From there we will send you a producer sign up sheet and a contract outlining the specific management details that must be in place to be considered “Naturally Reared”. We will then set up an appointment to come out to your farm to view your animals and talk about price (we typically pay a premium of $0.10 per pound above market price). You then drop your animals off at the provincially inspected abbatoir on the agreed upon date and we take care of the rest.
Q. Do you do custom butchering? I have a steer I’ve fattened up for my family. And do you do wild game?
A. Yes, we do custom butchering right at our shop in town. We can do a variety of cuts as well as jerky, sausage, smokies, etc. We have separate coolers for wild game, farm kills and inspected meat in order to accommodate everyone’s needs. Call the shop at 403-722-2292 to book in your custom beef, pork or wild game.