Why Pasture Raised?
Pastured poultry offers superior health, environmental, and animal welfare benefits compared to conventionally raised chicken. Because the birds spend their lives outdoors on fresh green pasture with direct access to sunlight, fresh air, insects, and forage, they yield meat that is significantly higher in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A and E, and beneficial antioxidants, while being lower in overall saturated fat.From an environmental perspective, rotating chickens across pasture actively regenerates the soil—their manure naturally fertilizes the ground, builds topsoil, and eliminates the need for synthetic chemical inputs. Best of all, it provides the birds with a natural, humane quality of life that honors their instincts, resulting in meat with a noticeably richer, more authentic flavor and better texture.
Why Kosher
It has been a deeply personal dream of mine to bridge the two worlds we live in and join the best of sustainable agriculture with our tradition. Kosher slaughter isn't just a technical requirement to check off a list; it is a sacred craft defined by extraordinary care, rigorous inspection, and a deep reverence for the life of the animal.
Personally, the biggest barrier to us keeping kosher at home hasn't been the dishes (we have a myriad of those) or the distance from kosher supermarkets, it has been the disconnect between the wholesomeness of the food we raise here on the farm and the yuckiness of the commodity system that supplies kosher meat. For the last 14 years I have been grappling with trying to align what we do everyday with what we eat everyday and I'm so incredibly excited to finally fix that!
Why Now?
Because of incredible serendipity. The Chabad Rabbi in Hamilton NY was hosting a zoom call with other Chabad rabbis at Small Liberal Arts Colleges and, somehow, the topic of Shechita came up and he connected us with the rabbi at the Chabad in Middlebury. A few really great conversations later and a ton of support from our local Jewish and Amish communities, here we are.
The Details
In addition to the shochet, the Chabad rabbis from Hamilton, NY and Middlebury, VT will be joining us throughout the day.
