FAQs
Can I visit the farm?
Yes! They are your food source and of course you can come see them. Just let Beth know to set a time.
How do you care for your pastures?
All our pastures are organically fertilized, never any pesticides and almost never any herbicides. We hand pick and cut hundreds of weeds every year. The only time that we might use a herbicide is to hand spray a very harmful weed like Poison Hemlock. Less than 1/10,000 of our pastures are sprayed.
How do you raise your animals?
All of our animals are raised with love and respect. The meat animals all have names, just like the dairy cows. We specifically raise docile animals and give them daily scratches and attention. Animal welfare and respect for animal life are of highest importance. What they eat, the attention that they get, their genetic traits, the health of the soils of their pastures, keeping any runoff from waterways are just a few of the important things we work on. It is why we only sell our beef by shares of the whole animal and not by the cut. We refuse to take our animals to a USDA processor and have them endure the stress of travel, as well being in an unfamiliar place, loud sounds and being with other stressed animals. We only use a custom mobile butcher who travels to our farm. Our animals live the best life possible and we honor them by using all parts of their carcass.
What is the farm address?
15204 SW Muddy Valley Rd, McMinnville OR 97128
Forage-fed Beef
We have a few options for grass-fed and finished beef. All animals are raised by us and have not been given any growth hormones ever or antibiotics (unless specifically stated - always disclosed). The beef cost for 2022 is $7/lb hanging weight and includes butcher costs. We are very transparent with you knowing what you are buying.
Butcher Costs - We include the butcher costs in the $7/lb for your convenience. You can choose to pay your butcher costs directly to the butcher if you let me know. Very roughly, it's about $1.25/lb hanging weight. The beef cost to us is about $5.75/lb hanging weight.
Shipping - If you live in a west coast state, we are able to ship directly to your door for a very nominal cost.
Angus Premium - Primarily we focus on Angus. We carefully breed for naturally very well-marbled beef to be perfect on forage at 18 to 23 months of age. 1/4 will weigh generally 160 to 210 lbs.
Jersey-cross - Sometimes we will have a Jersey crossed with Angus available. Under 24 months. The meat will be leaner and steak/roast sizes will be smaller. 1/4 will weigh generally 120 to 160 lbs.
Angus Cow - Also known as vaca vieja, this is a more flavorful meat that does better with slow cooking methods. Makes fantastic ground beef, stew meat, premium steaks and slow-cooked roasts. Angus will have more fat cover and marbling. 1/4 will weigh generally 170 to 280 lbs.
Jersey Cow - Similar to above and also known as vaca vieja, this is a more flavorful meat that does better with slow cooking methods. Makes fantastic ground beef and stew meat. Jersey will have less fat cover and smaller portion sizes. 1/4 will weigh generally 105 to 140 lbs.
1/8 & 1/16 Option: If you are interested in just a sampling of steaks, roast, ground beef and stew meat we should be able match you with someone else. Works great with the larger cows.
Ground Beef & Primal Ground Beef Option: Sometimes we will have availability to provide Whole Cow Ground Beef where all cuts of meat are ground together, in
How do I reserve beef?
Email or call for a current list of available and upcoming beef. Deposits are $100/sixteenth, $200/eighth, $400/quarter, $800/half.
Raw Milk Herdshares
What kind of cows do we milk?
Jersey cows
How does the herdshare work?
With a herdshare we charge a 1 time cost per share you buy. Then we have a monthly fee for each share you own.
If you want 1 half gallon jar each week we would charge $12.50 for the 1 time purchase fee, then $40 each month. If you want more milk than 1 share, you simply multiply those numbers for how many jars you want weekly. The milk is provided 52 weeks per year.
What does 1 herdshare get me?
1 share gets you 1/40 of a cow in our Jersey milking herd and ½ gallon of her milk each week.
What does the milk "cost" me?
Though we don’t sell milk, the value comes out to $40 x 12 ÷ 52 = $9.23/half gallon.
How often is milk delivered?
Milk is delivered to the pick up location every week, 52 weeks per year.
When and where are the pick up locations?
Mondays - Eugene near LCC
Tuesdays - Salem near 12th & Commercial; West Salem near Riggs & Hwy 22
Friday - Salem near 12th & Commercial; Albany, near Hwy 20 in North Albany, Jefferson, Aumsville 1 mile south of town
On farm most anytime
How does picking up the milk work?
The milk is put into a fridge at the drop location. Herdshare families can pick up the milk within the next day or 2 from the fridge.
What kind of jars do you use?
We use ½ gallon wide-mouth canning jars with BPA-free plastic lids.
Do I return the jars?
Yes! Jars should be washed and returned with the same white plastic lid. Please try to bring them weekly.
Should I scrub the writing of the jars?
Yes please. Easiest way is with a little warm water, a drop of soap and a scrubby pad.
What does the writing on the jars mean?
The first, a number, is the day that your cow was milked and jar filled. The second letter(s) are the first letter of the cow's name from which your milk came. The last is your name.
G - Gwen; K - Kali; T - Taffy; B - Bright; A - Asia; C - Clarabelle; M - Mazie; S - Star; Bi - Bambi; P - Penny
How do I sign up?
Email Beth at wholesomefamilyfarm@gmail.com to get the contracts. Then pay for your share and the 1st month agistment.
Can I start mid-month?
Yes, the agistment can be prorated.
What do the cows eat?
Forage only; such as pasture, organic hay and alfalfa; no grains at all. Free choice of minerals.
What is the cancellation policy?
If you'd like a refund of the cost to buy the share we ask for 30 days notice so that it'll be a discount off of your final month agistment. If you don't want a refund then you can cancel/stop anytime.
What happens when I go out of town?
If you are going to be gone for an extended vacation, 1 month or more, then let Beth know and we can generally pause the agistment. If you are going on vacation for a shorter time, you can let us know and we'll not deliver and then give you extra milk before and/or after your trip, depending on availability.
Do you skim some of the cream off?
We never skim the cream off of the milk that you receive with the whole milk shares. The milk for your herdshare(s) is poured into the jars directly after being milked and filtered, before any separation has even occurred.
Do you offer cream?
Occasionally. The agistment price for the cream:
12 oz jar/wk - $50/month
16 oz jar/wk - $65/month
32 oz jar/wk - $120/month
To purchase the herdshare for the 12 oz & 16 oz cream is $12.50. To purchase the herdshare for the quart is $25.
What breaks do the cows get from milking?
The cows are not milked for 2 months before they calve. Sometimes it is longer, rarely it is slightly shorter. Because we work with each cow individually everyday, we look for signs that she is needing the energy to grow her calf and/or wants a break from being milked. If momma is anything less than fat, happy and producing the same amount of milk, we know she needs an earlier break.
What do you do with the calves?
We keep the calves on their moms and share milk for 4 to 6 months. This is subject to the calf not damaging mom's udder. If the calf needs to use a bottle, they still will be near mom. As the calves grow they are raised on pasture to become replacement cows or are raised for our beef program.
How/where is payment made?
Check made out to "Beth Kittle" and mailed to 15204 SW Muddy Valley Rd, McMinnville, OR 97128.
Venmo: @WholesomeFF
Zelle: 503-332-7792
Credit Card: https://www.convergepay.com/hosted-payments?ssl_txn_auth_token=QU6dcDhHS0OnAhdjx2eVNgAAAW7SgxtQ. Please add $1 per transaction to help cover the credit card charge.
Do you offer anything else besides the Beef, milk and cream shares?
Free-Range Eggs in a rainbow of colors from hens that roam the pasture with the livestock. The hens are fed a locally sourced and milled corn-free and soy-free feed. The cost for $6 per dozen eggs.
Pork - Half pork shares are available 2 to 3 times each year. We raise just 3 hogs at a time. Hogs do not have the digestive capabilities that cattle do and therefore need some grain. Our pigs are kept near our dairy cows and work synergistically with the cows. Our pigs eat the stemy part of the Certified Organic Alfalfa that the dairy cows choose not to eat. Then we feed them a locally grown and milled, GMO-Free grain that is fermented in extra milk and water. This allows them great nutrition and growth with ⅓ less grain then conventionally fed pork.
What if I have more questions?
Please call Beth anytime at 503-332-7792. We are very busy on the farm, however we always welcome questions. You deserve to understand your food and from where your food comes.