Tuesday was a blast as Melissa, John Alexander, and I headed down Highway 903 early in the morning through Greene County. We were headed toward Kinston to meet Genell Prigden at Rainbow Meadow Farms. In earlier posts I mentioned the wonderful meat that we bought from her in the past. Last year's free range turkey was worth every penny that we paid for it and every mile to the farm to pick it up. Today's venture was equally worthwhile. Coolers brimming with farm eggs, pork tenderloin, pork chops, ham steak, Italian sausage, Moroccan sausage, young chickens, and French chicken breasts filled the back of the car as we pulled out of the farm.
Coming home with pasture raised meat was only a minute reward gained from visiting Rainbow Meadow. Visiting the farm itself was even more delightful. After talking with Genell Pridgen, one of the farm's owners, about the
farm's history and the care with which they raise their Dorper sheep , we could better understand how true her statements (posted on the farm's website) were. Here is what she says..."Rainbow Meadow Farms is located in the Coastal Plain of North Carolina. The farm has been in our family since 1746 raising tobacco, corn, soybeans, cows, chickens, and, starting in 1996, Dorper sheep.
Very little money was being made on row crops, so we turned most of our two farms into pasture land and now utilize MIG practices. As we look out the kitchen window and see the sheep grazing in the pasture, we never regret that decision! We feel that raising Dorper and Katahdin sheep will be what helps us to keep the family farm profitable for the next generation."
We visited among the sheep, lambs, and pigs while we were there and on the way h
ome. How wonderful it must be to live in the midst of such a beautiful, pastoral setting. We learned a great deal about Dorper sheep, the need for ruminant veterinarians (They have to fly vets in from Texas and South Africa for their A.I. work...and I don't mean artificial intelligence!), and the possibility of organizing a "slow food" group here in eastern North Carolina. Right now there are active "slow foods" groups in the Triad, but none here. We are hoping to hear more from Genell about this possibility soon!
ome. How wonderful it must be to live in the midst of such a beautiful, pastoral setting. We learned a great deal about Dorper sheep, the need for ruminant veterinarians (They have to fly vets in from Texas and South Africa for their A.I. work...and I don't mean artificial intelligence!), and the possibility of organizing a "slow food" group here in eastern North Carolina. Right now there are active "slow foods" groups in the Triad, but none here. We are hoping to hear more from Genell about this possibility soon! More about "farm two" in the next post....
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