Grey Forest / Helotes Farmers' Market

The Grey Forest/Helotes Farmers' Market is held on the 2nd and 4th Friday of every month in the Helotes Methodist Church parking lot, right off Bandera Road. The produce is wonderful, and you can also shop for grass-fed beef, eggs, lavender products, plants, etc.

Grey Forest Farmers market

Will be open today from 3:00 to 6:00 right on Scenic Loop.

Wild pork meat

Here's a message from Debbie at Bandera Grassland, where I buy my grass-fed beef:

I'm conducting a feasibility study to learn of interest in wild pork. I have numerous wild hogs on my ranch and should consider them a resource. As I stood watching them share alfalfa hay with my steers yesterday, it occurred to me since I'm paying to feed them, I should benefit from the sale of their meat. These are healthy animals that forage all the same plants as my cattle. The flavor of wild pork is excellent with added benefits of low fat and no added hormones, antibiotics, or chemicals. They pick up a little corn and protein pellets from our deer feeders but their primary diet is forage.

Before I go to the expense of getting a label to sell this meat, I need to know there is a market for it. The slaughter facility I use for our beef cattle is willing to process the pork under State Inspection. If you would be interested in buying sides or whole carcasses of wild caught, range-fed pork, please let me know.

Debbie Davis

Bandera Grassland

P.O. Box 122

Tarpley, TX 78883

(830) 562-3650

debwd@dwdlonghorns.com

http://www.BanderaGrassland.com

Strawberries in Fredericksburg

Are you looking for a way to enjoy beautiful weather and do something for your taste buds too? Strawberries are ready for picking in Fredericksburg. After a beautiful drive through the Hill Country, a stop at Marburger Orchard for some freshly picked fruit – picked by YOU - is incredibly fun, refreshing, and tasty. Marburger has been my favorite pick-your-own (PYO) peach orchard for years, but I quickly discovered that they grow more than peaches – their fields offer watermelons, blackberries, cantaloupes, zucchini, and many other flavorful, nutrient-packed treats. Before you head out, take a look at their website, which is updated regularly to keep customers informed about the availability of fruit and vegetables throughout the season. Plan on picking strawberries until early May, then peach season will be right around the corner!

Of course there are many more orchards in Fredericksburg and surrounding towns. A more general website provides information about 22 orchards in the Fredericksburg area – including phone numbers, opening dates, ripening dates for different varieties, recipes and tips. I have visited a few of the orchards and enjoyed them all very much. As summer approaches, stands will appear on the roadsides, selling products made from local crops along with fresh produce. Watch out for the peach ice-cream; it’s addictive!

San Antonio Food Policy Forum

Here's a wonderful new blog for local foodies: San Antonio Food Policy Forum

Enjoy!

Post from Bandera Grassland

We have two more steers at the processor. The beef will be aged and ready to cut the third week of March. You may reserve a quarter or side by sending a deposit ($125 or $250). Price for a quarter is $6.50 per pound of product. A quarter weighs between 90 and 100 pounds. Price for a side is $3 per pound hanging weight, plus the cost of processing. It works out be around $5.50 per pound of product.

Carcass break-down is about 20% premium steaks, 30% other cuts (roasts, fajita meat, brisket, ribs) and 50% trim that is ground for hamburger. You may specify how thick you want your steaks, how heavy you want your roasts, what cuts you want and don't want, how many portions per package, and the weight per package of ground beef and stew meat. For more info, please visit our website.

I have a request for an eighth of a carcass. If you have limited freezer space and would like to split a quarter, I can put you in touch with someone else wanting the same.

Debbie Davis

Bandera Grassland

P.O. Box 122

Tarpley, TX 78883

(830) 562-3650

debwd@dwdlonghorns.com

http://www.BanderaGrassland.com

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Farm to Market Grass-Fed Beef

Here's a new source for sustainably raised beef near San Antonio.  Bon appetit!

www.farmtomarketbeef.com