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About
SkyLines Farm
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Happy heritage breed pigs raised on pasture
for your family
using time-tested
organic & sustainable methods
UPDATE: After 21 wonderful years I've retired from the sheep portion of my business
& expanded my Grassfed Beef & Pastured Pig operations! Scroll down for PIG details.
To reserve the same wonderful grassfed lamb that I grew for so many years, contact the folks who
purchased the SkyLines Farm sheep flock at
www.ramsteadranch.com.
SkyLines happy healthy pastured pigs line up for ear scratches.
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SKYLINES PIGS LIVE THE GOOD LIFE . . .
What's the difference?
The vast majority of pigs raised in this country never get to see sunshine, green grass...or even feel the cool earth under their feet. Why?
because they spend their entire lives in confinement animal feeding operations (CAFO's). These are huge buildings that house many hundreds (often thousands) of pigs,
living in pens with concrete or slatted metal
floors,
under artificial lighting, in a completely
controlled environment. They're fed a high-calorie grain-based diet that often consists of GMO corn and soy laced with antibiotics and other drugs to combat the diseases
that occur in this unnatural environment.
What kind of life is this? How can we support an industry that supports such values?
How can we feed our families food that's been grown this way?
SkyLines Farm has a different idea about how animals should live. Since 1992 we've been raising animals using time-tested
organic and sustainable methods that
respect both the animals and the land we share.
Just like our beef cattle (and the lambs we raised for 20+ years), SkyLines pigs truly do live a great life. They were born on pasture at their home farm
and spend the summer grazing the SkyLines Farm lush green pastures. The pigs never receive antibiotics,
hormones,
chemical wormers, or any chemicals or drugs at all. Healthy animals living on a healthy farm don't need them. (If one should fall ill it's treated of course, and sold through conventional channels.)
SkyLines pigs are in "hog heaven" on our lush green pastures.
Our heritage breed pigs live in large outdoor spaces and thrive on the natural foods
that used to make pigs such an indispensable part of a family farm. They absolutely love grazing and rooting in our green pastures, they adore the extra veggies from
the organic garden and the extra eggs from the chickens, devour the farm's bounty of cherries, plums, apples & crabapples, and happily excavate and eat shrubs and
small trees that I want cleared from the pastures. For extra protein and calories, the pigs also get a daily ration of locally-grown, non-GMO grains (barley and peas).
This healthful varied diet, along with the fresh air and exercise the SkyLines pigs enjoy every day,
produces a vibrantly happy healthy animal and also vastly superior meat. Compared to the typical white, mushy, tasteless grocery-store pork, SkyLines Farm pork
has real-mmm-flavor and real
texture!
SkyLines Farm customers think so too...they
tell me again and again that SkyLines pork is incredibly tender and delicious.
Since we added pigs to the farm several years ago, everyone who's ordered has raved about the flavor and reserved again! (see below for more than
20 years of customer comments on our pork, beef, and lamb.)
Are SkyLines Farm pigs certified organic?
As with my beef (and lamb for 21 years), the quality of SkyLines Farm pigs is certified only by my long list of happy customers who come back year after year.
The families who buy from me understand the true value of eating healthy, well-grown food, and they've also made a conscious
choice to be part of the solution.
Let's face it - America's corporate food system has problems. By purchasing from SkyLines Farm you're choosing
to support sustainable agricultural practices and America's small farmers. And you're also supporting your local economy by keeping some of
your food dollars right here!
SkyLines pigs enjoy goodies from the organic vegetable garden all summer.
When are SkyLines pigs available?
In the fall of each year. Reservations with deposits are accepted
all year, and reserved animals are processed and delivered
during October and November. We sell out every year. Most years, all of the years's animals are
reserved months in advance, so
please get your reservation in early to avoid disappointment.
Do you ship?
Sorry, shipping is not available. SkyLines pigs and beef are only sold locally. See the delivery locations listed below.
Do you know your farmer?
Many of my customers enjoy making personal
connections with the farmers who grow their food. They've come to SkyLines Farm to meet me and meet the animals, and seen for themselves how their
food is raised. Visitors are always amazed and delighted to see how calm, relaxed, and clearly happy the SkyLines Farm animals are. (Everyone around here enjoys
the good life, including the farmer, and it shows!) You too are encouraged to schedule a farm visit - write or call to set up your visit today.
Contact me today to confirm availability & reserve your fall
pig
Melissa
Lines, Owner/Farmer,
SkyLines Farm, Harvard ID
208/875-8747
melissa@skylinesfarm.com
Need more info? Read on...
ORDERING
SKYLINES FARM PIGS . . . THE DETAILS
Here's how it works: You purchase a live
pig from me, and as a free service to my customers I
make the processing arrangements for you.
If an entire pig is more meat than you need, purchase a half-pig and I will coordinate your order with other customers'
orders so you can share the purchase of an entire animal.
HOW IS THE PRICE CALCULATED?
Like most small farmers I don't have a certified scale on my farm
to weigh your live animal for you, so the common practice is to calculate your purchase price based on
the processor's "hanging weight" of the animal. This is the weight of the useable portions of the slaughtered animal before
cutting and wrapping. In addition, you pay the processing fee for custom cutting, wrapping, and freezing.
2015 PRICE
Half Pig or Whole Pig
$4.25/lb hanging weight
+ processing average $100/half pig, $200/whole pig
*Since you are purchasing an individual animal, actual price will depend on the actual weight. Weights may vary
up to 10% from the typical weight.*
*Hanging weights range from 85-100 lbs/half pig, 175-200 lbs/whole pig. Feel free to specify if
you'd prefer a smaller or larger animal.
*Processing cost is approximately $100/half pig, $200/whole pig.
DEPOSIT & PAYMENT
A nonrefundable deposit is required to reserve an animal ($150/half-pig, $300/whole pig.) Make your payment via PayPal or check.
Payment of the balance is due at delivery,
once I know the exact weight of your animal.
Please contact me
to confirm availability before making
payment for a reservation. Write me at melissa@skylinesfarm.com or call 208/875-8747.
YOUR CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS
In early fall I will contact you to confirm your
cutting instructions and to discuss a tentative date & location for delivery.
PROCESSING
Every fall I arrange to have each of the SkyLines reserved pigs
professionally and humanely slaughtered, either right here on the farm or at one of my two favorite
local, family-owned, custom meat processors in the Moscow,
ID area (C&L Locker or Potlatch Pack).
Your pig
is then carefully cut to your specifications, double-wrapped with plastic film and
heavy-duty freezer paper, labeled with the type
of cut and placed in a commercial freezer until it's ready to go into your own home freezer.
After cutting, the cured meats you have ordered (bacon, ham, sausage) will be prepared to your specifications. Once
the cured meats are ready, your entire order will be ready.
GETTING YOUR ORDER HOME
When your order is nearly ready, I'll contact you to
finalize arrangements for delivery. I'll be happy to
personally deliver your order at no
charge.
>>Free Delivery
Free
delivery is currently available to Lewiston, Moscow-Pullman,
Spokane, Coeur d'Alene, Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry, and
points between. To conserve fuel I consolidate multiple
deliveries in each area to a centralized meeting place. If
you live in a community not listed here, contact me and we'll try to work out delivery arrangements.
SHIPPING NOT AVAILABLE
Sorry, SkyLines pigs are only sold locally. See the delivery locations listed above.
WHAT CUTS SHOULD I ORDER?
Pork Cutting List
Here's what you can get with a half-pig, double the amounts for a whole pig
Loin chops
Loin roast
Country style chops (1-1/4" thick, cut lengthwise)
Shoulder steak
Shoulder roast
Spare ribs
Ham (average 18 lbs per half-pig)
Ham hocks
OR Ham plus ham slices (standard cut 5-6 slices, leaving smaller ham-about 10 lbs)
OR Fresh uncured leg
OR Add to sausage see below
Bacon (average 6 lbs per half-pig)
Bacon thickness (specify thin, medium, thick)
OR Side uncured pork (also called pork belly)
OR Add to sausage see below
Sausage (average 10-12 lbs per half-pig)
Pick 1 or 2 seasoning types AND
Specify 1 lb bulk pkgs or links
- Breakfast sausage (sage seasoning)
- Italian sausage
- Bratwurst (links available smoked OR fresh)
OR
Ground pork in bulk pkgs, no seasoning
Leaf lard for rendering, in bulk (average 4-5 lbs per half-pig), available at hanging weight price.
>> When I contact you in the fall to confirm your cutting instructions I'll attach this order form, for you to complete and return to me. <<
HOW TO ORDER
Contact me today, for more information or to reserve your fall
pig
Melissa
Lines, Owner/Farmer
SkyLines Farm, Harvard ID,
208/875-8747
melissa@skylinesfarm.com
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WHAT ARE FOLKS SAYING ABOUT SKYLINES LAMB, BEEF, & PORK?
Our customers have been raving
for more than 20 years. Here's a sampling . . .
"Your pork is amazing! I had no idea it was possible that pork could taste like this. It's incredible.
You have a lifelong customer. Do you only have pork available once a year? If you'll have more this year I'd like to buy it. Thank you!"
Peter Zeischegg, MS, DC, DACNB, Sandpoint, ID
"Melissa, Just wanted to drop you a line and let you know how happy we've been with the beef! We've cooked some steaks by doing a
quick sear in garlic butter in a skillet and then putting it in the oven at 250 for 25-30 minutes, and WOW. Perfection! It's even
still a decent medium rare, and tender to boot! Thank you so much for your tips and the wonderful product."
Kara Kimball, Garfield WA
"Best bacon ever! Thank you again for raising these animals for us (pork, beef, lamb)!
Cassandra Claridge, Grangeville, ID
A longtime
SkyLines lamb customer shares a Thanksgiving
story
"...I've been eating Melissa's grassfed lamb since - oh,
at least 1995. It's wonderful. I'll just tell you
one story...
One Thanksgiving
we had planned to serve one of Melissa's legs of
lamb for a big dinner with friends. Well, more and
more people kept getting invited so we pulled out
all our lamb chops too. On the day of the dinner we
still didn't think we'd have enough, so Jimmy went
to the supermarket and bought some more lamb chops.
When it was all
over everything was gone ... except the
store-bought lamb chops! Nobody wanted them, they
were all greasy and fatty and awful looking
compared to Melissa's. I'd never seen people leave
lamb chops on the table before!"
Nancy Gerth, Sandpoint, Idaho
"Melissa - As always, thanks so much
for all that you do. I feel SO fortunate to be able to have a humane, local
source for virtually all of our meat (beef, lamb, pork). You have changed our diet for the
better, and I take every chance I get to tell others about your operation
and treatment of animals. And speaking of dogs, give your (livestock guardian) dogs
a scratch for me."
Laura Earles, Moscow, Idaho
"This was my first year purchasing beef from you and I'm delighted with it! It's the best I've tasted in years. You will
become my only choice for meat from now on. Thanks so much, Melissa, for the outstanding quality you have produced!
Rhonda Thomas, Oaksdale, WA
"Melissa - We
had your lamb chops broiled last night for
dinner. They were fantastic! We are wondering
if we can get more lamb to carry us through the
winter?"
Ronne Wegman, Moscow, Idaho
"Melissa...Had a "real" steak dinner last night. Your beef was fantastic. My whole family really enjoyed it. It was nice to meet you
in person and hope to try lamb next year. Thanks again!"
Jerry Bothmer, Spokane, WA
"Melissa, we had lamb meat loaf tonight -
mmm! Tell your customers this: For the best
gourmet lamb you could ever provide your family, I
think you should buy SkyLines Farm lamb. Melissa's
animals are treated humanely and raised carefully,
you are buying locally, the meat is processed
locally...and your stomach will thank you! Never
tried lamb? Expand your horizons from feedlot beef
and chicken and farmed fish. You won't be
disapointed."
Jeff Kline DDS, Moscow, Idaho
"Hi Melissa, Just a quick note to let you
know that, as in previous years, this year's lamb
is great!"
Regards, Peter Ice, Spokane WA
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