To download a copy of this year’s Newsletter and Order Form click the link below:

PotterVilla Pastures Spring 2016 News Letter

To read on-line see below:

Dear Friends and Valued Customers,

You know it might be a mixed up mid-Michigan winter when it takes until the end of February to finally
get around to “beginning to look a lot like Christmas!” With the recent snow storms after an extremely
mild and unusual “winter,” we nearly forgot that Christmas was in fact past—and actually did slip up and
forget that January is a better time to get the annual Spring Newsletter out! Spring must be launching a
sneak attack this year—nothing like a couple of feet of snowfall after a green and brown (and very
muddy) winter to make you forget that it’s actually springtime…

It has been a busy fall and winter here on the Pastures as we’ve worked to get all the animals safely
moved and housed at the new property as that rehabilitation project continues. With much help from
family and friends, and by God’s blessing, we were able to relocate all the animals by the end of last year
and are looking forward to a lot of fencing project this spring to expand their pastures.

In some ways though, the mild winter has been welcome with spring coming early to the lambing barn—
so far we have had 6 ewes lamb and not a single one of fifteen lambs lost! We have also now had two
healthy litters of pigs and another sow is due soon. God is good!

Once again this year we are planning for three batches of Broiler Chickens for the months of June, July
and August. Prices this year remain steady at $3.25/lb, with last year’s birds averaging close to 6lbs. If
you’ve never tried our poultry before ask how you can get a free sample—we think it’s the best local
chicken you can get!

Our Premium Pork continues to get rave customer reviews too—we would love to help you experience
the best in Bacon this year! We are pleased to again offer these label defying porkers by the half and
whole; pork is available in fall and winter months to complement natural growing cycles. Prices this year
for Premium Pork will also remain the same at $2.75/lb hanging for whole pig orders, and $2.85/lb
hanging for half pig orders which includes the cost for most processing options.

Also this fall Homegrown Lamb will be available, but we will need to know soon if you would like us to
save one for you—most of our lambs are sold as feeders and we only finish out what we have orders for
ahead of time. Lamb prices will also stay the same this year at $3.95/lb, however please remember that
this price does not include processing fees.

We once again look forward to sharing the fruits of our labor with you in the coming year as God
continues to bless them.

Matthew Potter—PotterVilla Pastures

As we experience the annual January thaw and the mud leads us to think of warmer dryer days, it is the perfect time to start thinking ahead about placing your orders for PotterVilla Pastures’ Premium meat products!

The 2015 spring edition of News from the Grasslands is in the mail so if you have purchased one of our products before you should be getting print copy soon.  (If you’d like to read the online version just follow the link on the sidebar!)

In Brief:

*We are planning to continue our expanded batches of Pastured Poultry

*Pork prices are still starting at $2.75/lb hanging weight

*Our Premium Pork Packages are now 10% off for a limited time

*We have a new product survey on the sidebar

With the new year, we are looking forward to new plans and opportunities and also eagerly anticipate providing your families with Pastures’ Products you can feel good about eating!

-Matthew

With the many changes this past year there have been many new opportunities–one of which is the rehabilitation of a 8 1/2 acre farmstead to be! While it will be a long term challenge to get the placed cleaned up and returned to a useful state, with the additional room and potential to spread out our creative juices have been flowing! Which leads to a new idea….

There has been a resurgence of interest recently in one of a farm boy’s favorite olden days pastime–Rabbits. Although the lads of bygone eras were more apt to call out the hounds and fetch along shotguns to pursue the wild cottontails and hares, there now seems to be a developing market for the domesticated version of genus Leporidea. So with the renewal of interest in cuniculture we here at PotterVilla Pastures are wondering if there are any of our current customers that might be interested in Pastured Rabbit?

We’ve added a new area on the sidebar for Surveys–if you’d take a moment to click the link and fill out the survey on rabbit we’d surely appreciate it!

PotterVilla Pastures is pleased to introduce our new Premium Pork Packages!  These preselected assortments feature the best of PotterVilla’s pork in a smaller quantity for those who appreciate quality meat, but don’t need or want a whole or half hog.

Breakfast Bargain : 3lbs Bacon; 5 lbs Sausage; 2 Ham slices

Simple Sampler:    1 Ham (4-6lb)  or Fresh Roast; 4 Pork Chops; 1 lb Bacon; 3 lbs Sausage

Super Selection:    1 Ham (4-6lb); 1 Fresh Roast; 8 Pork Chops; 2lbs Bacon; 5 lbs Sausage

Dinner Deal: 1 Ham (4-6lb); 2 Ham Slices; 2 Fresh Roasts

Taste for Two: 2 Ham Slices; 2 Pork Chops; 2 lbs Sausage; 1 lb Bacon

 (For pricing information view the form using this link or the one on the sidebar)

These packages will be available starting Feb 15th until we are sold out.  Pre-order now using the link on the sidebar to reserve your favorite cuts!

Special order custom packages may be available upon request–contact us for more information. Some restrictions, exclusions or pricing changes may apply.

The days are flitting past with no regard for my to-do list, and while the weeds in the garden have been growing like, well weeds, the animals have been doing their share of growing too!  The chickens are now starting to really fill out and we are on schedule to have your chickens ready to pick on on Friday the 12th of July.

As usual please plan to bring a cooler and pick up your birds here at our homestead between one and five pm.

If you haven’t gotten your order in yet there is still time!  We have birds still available from both this month’s pick-up date and from the batch in August.

Also don’t forget that we are taking orders for Pastured Pork for this fall!  Fill your freezers now to be eating well all winter!

With the official start of Summer just around the corner there hasn’t been a better time to think about ordering some Premium Pastured products!

The chickens are well on their way to becoming some delicious dish–fried chicken and potato salad say “Summer” like nothing else.

Our first batch of chickens will be butchered in early July and the second batch the beginning of August; so there is still time to put in your order and reserve the best chicken around for your summer picnics and to fill the freezer for great meals all year!

It is also time to think about ordering pork for this fall.  We will have PotterVilla Pastured Pork available in November or December again this year.  Prices for the Fall of 2013 are as follows:

Pork prices start at $2.85 per pound hanging weight for whole hog orders. These prices include processing for standard cutting instructions. Sausage links, patties, and some other things may incur an additional charge.

Whole Hog — $2.85/lb hanging weight
Half a Hog — $2.95/lb hanging weight
Quarter Hog — $3.10/lb hanging weight

There is nothing like the feeling of having meat in the freezer!  Place your order today so you know that you’ll be able to “shop” from your freezer all winter!

With Summer right around the corner here’s a great recipe for grilled chicken

Summer Sensation Grilled Chicken:

1 fresh or completely thawed PotterVilla Pastures’ chicken, de-boned

Salt

Morton Nature’s Seasoning

Italian salad dressing

After de-boning chicken, pull the tenders off of the breast pieces and place the chicken parts in  a bowl or seal-able bag and  partially cover with Italian dressing.  Marinate for 3-4 hours or overnight. Preheat Grill to hot.  Cover grilling surface with Aluminum foil to hold marinade while grilling.  Place chicken pieces on grill and season to taste with Morton Nature’s Seasoning, and salt if desired.  Pour marinade over pieces and grill until just seared before turning.  Watch small pieces carefully as they will cook much faster than the breasts and thighs.  Cook until an instant read meat thermometer reads 160 degrees.  Enjoy!