Hello from Peaceful Pastures where it is HOT & DRY. This month's newsletter has good news--and some not-so-good news....

Last week the pigs and their gander companion, Fred, invaded the yard looking for some green grass.



They stayed a couple of hours and then left to explore other options.

Sunday our interns made a "float" for the Lancaster 4th of July Parade. Here is a picture of the interns, plus our beloved Miss Tina and her husband and son.

We shear sheep Monday of next week, so the farm will be closed that day.  The sheep will be VERY happy to again be naked!

We are in severe drought conditions--critically so. Please pray for rain for our parched soil. At this point, 72% of this country is in a drought. We are very concerned about hay for winter. If we do not get rain, we cannot grow hay. As soon as we shear sheep, we will start processing lamb and goat in earnest to get the animals off of the fields. The good news ifs that we will have more lamb and goat sooner for markets and CSAs--the bad news is that we cannot extend the supply into winter and early spring as we normally try to do. If you want a whole lamb/goat cut to your specification or retail cuts, you need to buy ASAP. 

Quick Dill Pickles

OK, so this has nothing to do with meat, but these pickles were SO GOOD, I had to share. Sugar free too! You don't have to cook 'em or can 'em and they are ready to eat in hours. From Cuisine at Home:

Sprinkle kosher or pickling salt over

6 small to medium cucumbers, sliced into 1/4" slices, lengthwise

Place in colander and set aside to drain for 20-30 minutes. Rinse salt off and pack tightly into jars or glass bowl with

8 springs fresh dill or 2tsp. dried dill weed

and

1 jalapeno, sliced

Mix in a medium saucepan:

2 cups water

1 cup distilled vinegar

1/2 cup slivered onion

6 cloves garlic

4 tsp. kosher salt

1 T dill seeds

2 tsp. black peppercorns

2 tsp. mustard seeds

Bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes. Then pour over cucumbers, cool to room temp, then chill until cold. Then they are ready to eat! Keep in refrigerator for up to one month. Very crunchy and good! 

ON SALE!!

Bone in, skin on Chicken Breasts: Great for the grill! Weight ~1 pound each. Regular price $8.99; SALE price of $7.99/pound.