Rettland Farm

Rettland Farm

Monday, June 13, 2016

Thanksgiving Turkey Time, 2016

Yep, you read that title correctly.  It's already time to start thinking about Thanksgiving turkeys!

We are going to be growing our own this year again, after a few years of sourcing them from our interns and team members.  

Some details:

  • We will have Broad Breasted Bronze or Broad Breasted White turkeys, depending on what's available when we order the poults.  Both breeds will give you a turkey that is super meaty and juicy, and proportionally larger in the breast.  As always, we will raise them on pasture, and they will be fed a diet free from GMO ingredients and antibiotics.  The birds will be processed the week before Thanksgiving in our on-farm, USDA inspected processing plant, and will be sold fresh, never frozen.  Turkeys will be picked up at our retail store located at 2776 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, during regular hours or by appointment.

  • My current estimate is that the turkeys will weigh about 20 lbs, but we may see a difference of up to 5 lbs either way.  Please understand that we don't have the ability to promise a turkey of an exact size, due to the small number that we produce, and everyone's desire to have fresh, not frozen, turkeys.  If you think that 20 lbs is too big, plan for leftovers!  Or, maybe consider ordering 2 if you're feeding a big crowd on Thanksgiving.

  • The price for turkeys will be $3.50/lb, or $70 total for a turkey of the size we are expecting.  Again, be prepared for the possibility of some additional pounds in case the birds grow faster than expected.  

  • A deposit of $40 will be required to secure your order.
  • Turkeys will be sold on a first come, preorder basis!  We can't guarantee a turkey for you unless you order it now!
Please let me know if you have any additional questions.  When you are ready to order, you can place your order by email to rettlandfarm@gmail.com.  Don't delay, supplies will be limited!

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Rettland Farm-To-You


We know how it is.

You love our farm and products, but it's just too difficult to get to our retail store on a regular basis.

We love getting our products to you, but the traditional farmer's market in your neighborhood doesn't seem to be a good fit for us, for a bunch of reasons.

Good news!  We have found the perfect solution for all!

Rettland Farm-To-You

We are thrilled to announce the beginning of our new retail operation, Rettland Farm-To-You!

Rettland Farm-To-You is a monthly service that allows our loyal customers, those who live a bit too far away to regularly visit our on-farm retail shop, to pre-order any of our retail meats or other available products, and then have them delivered to a central location close to their homes!


How Does it Work??

Easy.
  • Every month, we will post a full listing of all meat cuts and other products that are available for that month.  We'll make you aware of the listing by email and social media.
  • You send us an email order by the deadline, and we fill them on a first come basis.
  • After the order is filled, we collect payment (either by credit card or check).
  • We deliver to you!  Delivery is made to a convenient, central location, on a given day at a specific time.  You simply pick up your order, and you are on your way in minutes!
What's Available?

We will feature a full line of retail pork cuts and chickens, all made from our own antibiotic free, GMO free, seasonally pastured animals here at Rettland Farm.  

To supplement our product lines, we will also partner with other farms to provide other proteins like beef and lamb to supplement our products.  We ALWAYS label the origin of meats produced by other farms, and they ALWAYS meet the same high standards we set for our own products.

All cuts will be processed under USDA inspection, packaged in cryovac packaging, and frozen.  Availability of specific cuts may vary, so check the listing each month for items available that month.

Where Are the Drop Locations?

The following locations have agreed to be drop locations for Rettland Farm-To-You.  Please thank them for their willingness to both support our farm and also to get wholesome, local food into their communities!
We will continue to add new locations in the coming months.  Have an idea for a drop location in your town or neighborhood?  Let us know by email to rettlandfarm@gmail.com. 

Join The Group!

To be sure you don't miss this great opportunity, drop us an email at rettlandfarm@gmail.com and ask to be put on the Farm-To-You mailing list.  That way we can be sure to let you know when product lists are put up, as well as order deadlines and delivery days.  

Hope to see you soon, in YOUR neighborhood!

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Rettland Farm Share 2016

It's February.

Groundhogs.

Presidents.

Valentine's.

And the new Rettland Farm Share roll out!

That's right, Farmees.  It's that time of year when we open up our Farm Share for enrollment.  The Farm Share is our version of a CSA, only with more flexibility and options built in for our members!

Here's how it works:

The Buy In Phase:

Like any CSA, we have to start with the buy in, the price you pay for membership in the farm share.

Unlike most CSAs, however, you decide the price you pay for this one.

That's right, there is no set CSA fee for the Farm Share.  You pay what you can based on your budget and food needs.

What we offer you in return for your commitment to the farm for the year is a little "thank you" in the form of a bonus on top of your investment.

  • For amounts up to $499, we will add 3% to the amount of your investment.  
  • For amounts of $500 and up we will add 8% to the amount of your investment.  
  • And for amounts over $1000, we'll simultaneously be impressed and humbled by your dedication to Rettland Farm, we'll give you the 8% bonus, and we'll throw in a Rettland Farm “Taste Freedom” T-Shirt!


You can make your investment anytime between now and May 1, 2016.  However, we’ve added an early pay bonus this year as well:
  • Pay for your Farm Share before March 1, 2016 and receive an ADDITIONAL 3% bonus.
  • Pay for your Farm Share before April 1, 2016 and receive an ADDITIONAL 2% bonus.

Just remember that the Buy-In phase closes May 1, 2015, and Farm Shares will not be available after that date.

When we have received your fees, we will issue you a Share Card.  We’re actually leaping into the 21st Century this year, and the Share Cards will be plastic!  (No more savings books, which, though quaint, were a little cumbersome, we’ll be the first to admit.)

The amount on the Share Card will be equal to your dollar investment plus all of your applicable bonuses, whatever they may be.  At that point all you need to do is to wait for May 2.

Because beginning May 2, we begin the Share phase.

The Share Phase:

After May 2, and until your Share Card balance reaches $0, you are entitled to begin collecting your Farm Share, in the form of ANY of the products that we produce and have available for sale at that time.  No set quantities.  No fixed items. No mandatory pick up schedule.

What’s Available This Year?

  • Pastured Broiler Chickens: Pasture raised, antibiotic free, GMO free, whole chickens and occasionally parts and pieces.
  • Heritage Pork:  Pasture/Free Range raised, heritage breed, antibiotic free, GMO free.  We carry a wide variety of retail cuts, sold frozen in cryovac packaging.  Some cuts include pork chops, boneless loins, roasts, sausages, bacon, cured boneless hams, fresh leg steaks, spareribs, baby back ribs….plus cured, bone in “holiday hams” for the holidays by Special Order
  • Eggs:  From pastured hens, antibiotic free, GMO free.
  • We’re also making arrangements to bring in other staple items like beef and lamb from other farmers.  These products will always be clearly marked with the name of the folks that produce it—we’re going to carry them because they are awesome products that we eat ourselves, and also to broaden your selection when you visit the Larder.
  • And anything else that we can grow ourselves or source from other fantastic local growers.

In short, you can take ANY Rettland Farm product that we have available throughout the season, in ANY quantity that you'd like to have it in.  The idea here is to make your Farm Share more customized to your needs and tastes, and not try to cram everyone into the same mold.

The Point(s) of Sale:

The main point of sale, where you will be able to collect your Farm Share will be the Larder at Rettland Farm, at 2776 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, PA.  At a minimum, The Larder will be open Saturdays, and we are considering Friday evening hours as well. And access to The Larder is always available by appointment.

**For our Members in Baltimore—We finally have the beginnings of a Buyer’s Club program for you! We have been graciously offered a drop point at Waterfront Kitchen in Fells Point once per month.  We are also looking for potential drop locations in North Baltimore, and we’ll let you know as soon as we find them.  Let me know if you would like more info!

At the point of sale, you will simply select the products that you'd like to buy just like you would do at any farmers' market, and then present them to our Team member at the point of sale along with your Share Card.  The retail price of your purchases will be added up, and the total will be deducted from your remaining balance on the Share Card. 

You'll repeat this process until your balance reaches $0, at which point you are still welcome to shop with us.  You'll just use other forms of payment besides your Share Card.

Additional Perks:

In addition to the cash bonus on the Share Card, you'll also receive a few extra perks for being part of the Farm Share.

  • To give you the best selection of our available products each week, Share members will get first dibs on our inventory, no matter what.  Members will be allowed early access to the Larder each day it is open.  So if the Larder's posted hours have it opening at 12 noon for the general public, it will be open at 10 am for Share members.
  • Share members will also receive early bird tips about special products that we have available in limited quantities, such as holiday hams or Thanksgiving turkeys, before we announce their availability to the general public. You will also get first crack at our Farm Dinners held throughout the year.
  • Finally, we'll give each member one insulated reuseable tote bage that you can use to safely carry your goodies home from your visits to the Larder.


The Fine Print:

Please understand that while we're trying maximize your freedom of choice, we're still a relatively small farm, and sometimes our inventories of certain products are low. It's important to know that this is still a CSA of sorts, and by no means a mega supermarket with seemingly endless supplies of everything.

There will be days that we don't have what you want.  But we will always have something awesome for you to eat.  CSAs are meant to challenge your thinking when it comes to food, and make you step outside your comfort zone when it comes to cooking.  So if we don't have bacon on the shelf when you visit, rest assured that we'll have it next week or the week after, and these pork minute steaks will be amazing on your plate until then.

Plan to take 6-8 months to exhaust your share.  That is certainly the intention, to allow you to experience as much of the farm's seasonality as possible.  If you try to collect your full share in the blink of an eye early in the season, you're going to miss out on some great stuff later in the season. 

How to Join:

Simply send me an email.  rettlandfarm@gmail.com and put “Farm Share” in the subject line.  Let me know that you're interested and the approximate dollar amount you'd like to invest.  We'll take it from there.

Thanks to you all for your continued support.  Here’s to a great Farm Share 2016!





Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Help Wanted: Head Butcher



Want to join the Rettland Farm team?? We're hiring!

Head Butcher
Background: 

Rettland Farm is a small diversified farm in Gettysburg, PA, producing pastured poultry and livestock for direct sale to professional restaurant as well as home kitchens. Our family farm is growing, and as a result we are adding to our team.  We are seeking a motivated, dependable individual to join our team on a full time basis as a Head Butcher for our on-farm, very small, very low volume, USDA inspected poultry slaughter plant.

This position will be full time, year round beginning on or about March 15, 2016, with a set schedule of days per week and hours per day.  Current plans include (4)-10 hour days per work week, but this is subject to change.

Job Description:

The Head Butcher will be responsible for conducting daily operations of a busy, small scale, on-farm poultry slaughter plant.  At a minimum, specific required tasks will include: performing and delegating plant sanitation duties; verifying and documenting that all plant sanitation activities are done in accordance with written preoperational and operational Sanitary SOPs; leading a crew of 2 or 3 additional personnel in performing the slaughter and packaging of poultry for retail sale and wholesale distribution; perform monitoring of Critical Control Points according to plant HACCP systems and recording the results of those observations; perform plant quality assurance observations; following instructions from in-plant USDA inspection personnel; striving to make plant sanitation and food safety a top priority every day;  performing any other tasks that may arise, or are assigned by the Plant Manager (Owner).

Essential Skills: 

The successful candidate will be able to work independently and as part of a team; have exceptional leadership, communication and interpersonal skills; possess a high degree of personal hygiene; work in refrigerated temperatures; be able to lift and carry up to 70 lbs; humanely handle, kill, and eviscerate poultry using approved techniques and procedures; and understand HACCP principles and thoroughly complete HACCP monitoring records.

Minimum Qualifications:

 At a minimum, the successful candidate will:

       Possess verifiable experience in a meat processing plant, with an advantage to those candidates with supervisory experience, and/or experience in poultry slaughter.
       Possess a valid driver's license (non-CDL)
       Be willing to submit to a criminal background check
       Be available for work on a full time basis on a set schedule that will include weekdays.

Compensation:

We offer a competitive salary based upon experience, plus employee discounts on all products in our on-farm retail store. 

Contact:


For more information, please email a resume and cover letter with salary requirements to rettlandfarm@gmail.com.