Our farm is proud to be part of Iowa’s Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program (ILFPA), which aims to make local food more accessible and improve supply chain resilience by partnering with local producers and underserved communities.
A Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO), as defined by the EPA, is an agricultural operation that houses the equivalent of 700 dairy cattle, 2,500 swine, or up to 125,000 chickens. Living in Iowa, most of us are very aware of the hog confinement issue, but in this blog, we’ll focus in on the chicken confinement houses, where most of our country’s chicken, turkey, and eggs come from. What do you think of when you picture a farmer? Is it a person wearing overalls, covered in dirt, working the land? Or is it the shape of a human covered head to toe in PPE gear with a respirator? The latter is the reality for many working in industrial farming operations, where exposure to chemicals and pollutants necessitates such protection. Can you imagine 100,000 chickens in one room? Chicken CAFO are so tightly packed with birds that huge fans are necessary to blow out ammonia-laden air just so the birds (and workers) can breathe. Additionally, these operations typically have mounds of excrement, bedding, feathers, and even dead birds—stored uncovered for weeks at a time. Iowa’s poor water quality is rightly attributed to the excess in pig waste, but waste from these chicken hellscapes can also contribute. As Jonathan Safran Foer, author of We Are the Weather, has said, “99.9% of the animals that we eat in America come from factory farms, whose mission is to remove farmers, and to remove nature, from farming.” By choosing pasture-raised poultry, and other animals raised on the land, you’re making a stand against this industrial farming system that prioritizes profit over the well-being of animals and the environment. It’s also important to recognize the misconceptions around “organic” chicken in grocery stores. Despite legal requirements for organic chickens to have outdoor access, many are still raised in CAFOs without true access to the outdoors. This is a commonly overlooked issue, as highlighted by the Real Organic Project. Michael Pollan, in a public conversation with Kathleen Merrigan, aptly described the systemic problem: “We are addicted to cheap food. And the pressures to make food as cheap as possible are just fierce in this country. And that is the reason that we exploit farmworkers and that is the reason that meat animals are treated the way they are treated, and down the line….Food is not ‘cheap.’ It’s dishonestly priced because it assumes undocumented workers being exploited, and it assumes animal abuse.” By purchasing from small, pasture-based farms like ours, you’re supporting a system that values transparency, ethical treatment of animals, and environmental stewardship. Every chicken you buy from us is a vote for a type of agriculture that puts animals back on the land, allowing them to roam freely and live in conditions that promote their well-being. Thank you for choosing to make a difference with your purchases. Voting with your dollar helps support farmers who are dedicated to providing high-quality, ethically raised poultry and meat while promoting sustainable agricultural practices. There are hundreds of people working in our state alone to increase access to and convenience of sourcing local and sustainable foods, but it all starts with you and that choice that you make the next time you’re standing in the meat section at your grocery store. Thank you for being here and making thoughtful choices that support a better food system.
Have you ever wondered how the delicious pasture-raised poultry from Woodside Acres makes its way from our farm to your table? Let us take you on a journey behind the scenes, detailing every step of the process that ensures you receive the highest quality, ethically raised poultry. It all begins with our commitment to sustainable farming practices. We start by purchasing one-day-old chicks from trusted hatcheries, ensuring that they come from healthy, reputable sources. These chicks are carefully brooded for a couple of weeks in our spacious chicken coop, where they receive the warmth, care, and nourishment they need to thrive. Once the chicks are strong and resilient, they graduate to our lush, diverse pastures. Here, they roam freely in custom-built chicken tractors, which not only provide them with ample space to forage and explore but also offer protection from the many predators that share our rural landscape. Each day, we move these tractors to fresh grass, allowing our chickens access to nutrient-rich forage and ensuring they enjoy a varied diet. Of course, fresh water is essential to the health and well-being of our birds. That’s why we diligently provide them with clean, fresh water 2-3 times per day, ensuring they stay hydrated and happy throughout their time on pasture. As our chickens grow and mature, they reach the perfect size for processing, typically around 8 weeks of age. We carefully load and transport them to Martzahn’s Farm Poultry Processing in Greene, where our birds are slaughtered and prepared for consumption. Whether you prefer fresh or frozen poultry, we’ve got you covered. By choosing Woodside Acres pasture-raised poultry, you’re not just purchasing food – you’re supporting a sustainable, ethical farming operation that prioritizes the health and well-being of both animals and the environment. From our farm to your table, we’re committed to providing you with the highest quality, most delicious poultry possible. Thank you for supporting local agriculture and making a positive impact with your food choices.
The color of the bird using this method is unmatched. The meat is juicy and salty and so tasty.
Looking out the window of our family farm, you’ll see a sprawling garden, fruit trees, laying hens, pastured poultry, and a woods full of forage foods. To the trained eye, it’s not just a view, but calories and sustenance. Quite a change from the pavement and rows of crops that defined small-town life. Growing up as the oldest of four girls in Allison, packaged food and soda were the norm for me. My parents worked hard, but opportunities and food options in our small town were limited. Despite their love and efforts, we struggled to make ends meet. I specialized in both trouble-making and playing sports. While I dabbled in 4-H Club and worked at the local grocery store, I remained disconnected from the source of my food. I simply didn’t care much, as long as there was something to eat. I remember the uncertainty of school lunches, sometimes going without because our account wasn’t in good standing. I still remember that loud, embarrassing, rejection sound. So how did that hungry girl become someone who now grows much of her own food for her family? It’s a journey, and I certainly didn’t do it alone. Charles and I were friends in high school, but it was during our college years that we reconnected and began dating. Cooking together became more than just a hobby; it became a shared passion that transformed our lives—physically and mentally. Our interest in food sourcing intensified after our move to Indianapolis. With stable jobs, we finally found the peace of mind we needed, knowing exactly where our next meal would come from. As we prepared for our upcoming wedding, we embarked on a health journey—exercising, meticulously monitoring our macros and micros, and cooking everything from scratch. It was during this time that we discovered the superior taste and nutritional richness of locally grown food (these things often go hand-in-hand). Inspired, we joined a local CSA, started our own garden, and delved into literature on regenerative and sustainable food and farming practices. We had plenty of help from friends and family, too. Charles’ mom, Susan, was a botany expert and stoked our fires as we began gardening. She was our biggest fan and a wealth of knowledge. Charles’ sisters, gifted home chefs themselves, gave us a couple of cookbooks that really got into nailing down various kitchen techniques. But just when we thought we had it all figured out, we were slammed with a few really awful years. Susan, Charles’ mother, lost her battle with cancer just 8 days before our wedding. The following year, our first child arrived suffered a brain injury during birth resulting in Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy. A few years later, Charles was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and I suffered two small strokes after an accident. This series of hardships could have broken us. It almost did. Instead, we decided to fight for our lives. When we returned to Iowa, we bought a small acreage and decided to apply everything we had learned. We grew many of our own vegetables, started a layer flock, pastured our own poultry, and began to heal. We got involved in the local food scene, sourcing high-quality everything that we didn’t grow ourselves. We re-devoted ourselves to nourishment through cooking and eating. In 2020, we decided it was time to begin sharing our bounty with our local community. By supporting us, you’re enabling a mother to be present for her family’s important moments and respond to emergencies. You’re providing the flexibility to attend doctor’s appointments, trips to the library, and cherish moments with little ones. Ultimately, your support allows us to nourish and care for our family and yours with the highest quality food, fostering both physical and emotional well-being.
What we aim to raise is animals that are as healthy and happy as possible.
