Author: Annelise Grube-Cavers
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Fresh Valley Farms featured by BC Ministry of Agriculture & Food
Soil health sits at the heart of everything we do at Fresh Valley Farms. It guides how we raise animals. It shapes how we manage our land. It even shapes the future we want for our kids. The BC Ministry of Agriculture recently featured our farm in a soil health case study, and we are honoured to share more about that work here. Healthy soil is more than dirt. It is a living system that supports plants, animals, water, and people. Strong soil structure helps farms grow better grass, store more carbon, and handle dry and wet seasons. Our goal…
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Grilled Steak Fajitas
Who likes fajitas? WE like fajitas! A quick and easy (and nutritious… and FUN) meal for all ages.A little bit of marinade, a little bit of grilling, and a little bit of chopping and there you have it. FAJITAS! Best steak to use While you can use any of our steaks, skirt steak is one of the best choices for fajitas. It has lots of flavour and stays juicy when cooked hot and fast. Other good options are hanger steak or flank steak. Steak marinade Ingredients Fajita Ingredients Optional extra seasoning for the veggies Step 1: Marinate the steak In…
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How we use electric fencing on our farm (and how we can help you set up your own)
Good fencing makes grazing easier, safer, and more flexible. After more than ten years of rotational grazing on our farm, we have learned how much a good electric fencing system can change your daily work. It keeps animals safe. It protects pasture. It saves time. It also makes it possible to move animals often without stress. We sell Gallagher electric fencing because it has been reliable for us in every season. We use it with our chickens, pigs, and cows. If it works here in the North Okanagan, in mud season, dry season, and snow season, it tends to work…
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Annelise’s Pie Crust Recipe
This crust comes out tender and flaky every time. It works for sweet pies and savoury pies, and it is very easy to make. Ingredients Steps Add the flour and lard to a food processor. Pulse a few times until the mix looks mealy. Stop before it turns smooth to keep the crust flaky. Add about 100 ml of the ice water and pulse again. Tip the dough onto the counter. Add the rest of the water a little at a time until the dough just holds together. Split the dough into balls for your crusts. Two balls will make…
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How to Cook a Grass-Fed Steak in the Oven
Cooking perfect steak in the kitchen starts in the oven, not on the stove. Here is a clear, step-by-step way to cook a grass-fed steak in the oven so it turns out tender, juicy, and full of flavor every time. Why grass-fed steak feels “tricky” Grass-fed beef is usually leaner than grain-finished beef. That lean meat can feel chewy if it is cooked too hot or too fast. Raised well though, grass-fed beef is amazing. When cattle eat diverse pasture and good forage, the meat has Grain-finished beef tends to be fattier, but the fat is different. Grass-fed beef usually…
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Lots of eggs on the farm right now
If you have been looking for eggs, this is a good moment. The hens at Fresh Valley Farms are laying steadily, and we are producing lots of organic eggs right now. Long days make a difference. Early summer brings more daylight, warm temperatures, and abundant forage. That combination supports consistent laying and strong shell quality. Our flock is right in its stride. Our laying hens live outdoors on pasture and are moved regularly onto fresh ground. They spend their days scratching, foraging, dust bathing, and resting in shaded areas. Fresh pasture and clean housing support bird health, which shows up…
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Open Farm Day 2024! Coming up on June 15th, 2024
If you have ever reached out for a farm tour, or if you have come on a farm tour in the past and want to see what has changed, or want to bring a new friend or neighbour out – June 15th we are having an Open Farm Day so mark your calendar and meet us on the farm! We will be offering tours of the farm on the hour from 11am to 3pm, and there will be a barbecue set up where you can sample our popular sausages, or purchase a whole sausage on a bun. Tour our Farm…
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Feast days fast approach!
Organic, regeneratively grown food is nourishing to the land and to the eater both. It is one of the reasons we believe so strongly in what we do – for the benefits all up and down the supply chain, and ultimately to the people who eat the good food that we are able to provide. And in the holiday season when you are trying to find a gift for someone that they’ll love, and that will demonstrate your caring, good food is a great option. If you are like us and are just starting the search for the perfect gift,…
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Knocking coffee time snacks out of the park? A how-to-guide.
Lard. Lard. Lard. Let me say that one more time from the rooftops LARD!!!! That is what makes pie pastry, donuts, and plenty other flaky, doughy, and deep-fried treats so absolutely scrumptious. Here is the pie pastry recipe I use. You’ll never want to buy premade pastry again (you might still buy doughnuts, because when they’re steaming warm behind the counter and you’re grocery shopping hungry, against your better judgement… we don’t blame you for that)… But those sitting around your dinner table or those over for a Sunday coffee, those people will thank you for that bit of extra…
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Beef Bolognese Pasta
I’m not sure if you’ve heard…there’s ALOT of talk about organ meats lately. I know what you’re thinking, maybe you’re even screwing your nose up at the thought of just the taste! However, if you’re looking for a way to include a highly nutrient dense food to your supper…read on! I am sharing with you my absolute favorite way to cook up our Butchers Blend. This is our blend of ground beef mixed with 20% organ meats. If you happen to give it a try I’m convinced that even the pickiest of eaters will not be able to detect a…
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Calling All Aspiring Farmhands
Have an interest in regenerative agriculture, animal husbandry, and farm to table foods? Join us at Fresh Valley Farms to get hands-on experience in a variety of roles on the farm, in the butcher shop, and direct marketing meats. The Farm Fresh Valley Farms is a fourth generation regenerative organic farm in Armstrong, BC stewarding over 300 acres of pasture and forest while rotationally grazing cattle, pigs, chickens, and turkeys. We are BC Certified Organic through the North Okanagan Organic Association, and we direct market all of our meats through our online store, and through our monthly curated meat box…
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Join the butchering team at our On-Farm Poultry Abattoir
Good jobs in local food matter. This one supports farmers, skilled food workers, and families who want pasture-raised meat they can trust. Fresh Valley Farms in Armstrong, BC is hiring a Poultry Processor and Meat Cutter, and it is a great fit for someone who cares about local food and wants hands-on work in a busy, skilled environment. About the Poultry Abattoir at Fresh Valley Farms Our small licensed poultry abattoir sits at Fresh Valley Farms in Armstrong. The team processes certified organic, pasture-raised poultry for local farmers. They also prepare the pork and beef for Fresh Valley Farms. This…