Oh boy, it has been something of a crazy few weeks, so our schedule has been off a bit.  Have no fear, we are still here and still dedicated to our 52 weeks of Green.   The challenge for last week was to find an organic source of chickens.  Surprisingly, it was a very difficult task to complete, but I have been able to accomplish this week’s green challenge!  I have Amish chickens in my freezer.

I searched high and low for a place to find organic chickens and it seemed like it was going to end with failure, but happened to notice a story on the news about a local food co-op that somebody was trying to form.  The news story mentioned a Facebook Group, which I joined.  In the Facebook Group, I asked if anybody knew where I could find organic chickens.  One person responded and led me to a different Facebook group named Ancient Roots.  This is what I have been looking for.

The individuals that run this group do much of their shopping at a local organic farm.  They take orders via Facebook and pick the products for the orders.  Then, once a week, customers can stop by and pick up the goods.  They offer many products, but exactly what I was looking for with the chickens.  Today, I picked up two chickens.  Mission accomplished, but now I need to find a good recipe or two.

So, I have found a source to purchase organic chickens and will update everybody on how they taste.  In the meantime, please let me know your story about organic chickens.  Also, I have an announcement to make for this week’s task… there is no task.  In light of all the chaos that has been happening in our world the past few weeks, this is a week with no green challenge.   We will continue posting, but it will be about whatever sparks our fancy.  So, stay tuned for some interesting posts this week!

This week’s green challenge is to find a local poultry source and switch over from our store bought chickens. Little did I know how difficult it would be to find organic chickens in an area that is primarily known for its agriculture and a Coen Brother’s movie.  I have been looking all week for a local farm that sells organic chicken and have fell short.  Do you have any ideas for me?

My first thought was to do a quick search of Google and it did not really give me much information.  I found some listings for local health food stores like Swanson’s, GNC and Tochi, but I have been in these stores before and do not remember if they have these items.  Even if they do, I guess I would prefer to buy them straight from the source rather than from the store.  Now that I think of it though, I should check again at Tochi because they are a local store and even if they do not carry poultry, they may know where I can.

Then, I posted the question on my Facebook account and did find some good information.  Somebody sent me the site www.localharvest.org, but all I could find within driving range was a place that USED to sell chickens, so I had no luck there.  Numerous individuals mentioned the Hutterites (similar to Amish, but they have some modern conveniences) and how great they are, but nobody seems to have a contact.  They have a colony somewhere in the area and I have heard they sell chickens and turkeys, but no such luck… YET.

Finally, I thought I would try the phonebook.  Possibly I did not need to do all this searching because there was something listed in the Yellow Pages.  Possibly I was also wrong.  I could not find the Hutterites in the phone book, nor could I find anything in the yellow pages. 

So, I am still on the prowl for organic chickens.  If you happen to know of any in the Fargo area, please let me know in the comment area below.  In the meantime, I am going to follow up with Tochi health foods and also try and follow up with the Facebook friends that indicated some knowledge of a Hutterite contact.  Stay tuned to see if I can even complete my chicken challenge!

This certainly gave me something to think about in regards to my current poultry purchasing habits.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpbtBgLfl90

Some interesting facts that I found shocking about industrial chicken farming and why I want to try and find an alternative.

1. According to this, 8,395,000,000 chickens are processed each year for consumption.  That is approximately 28 for every person in the US.
2. Many chickens are shackled upside down, paralyzed by electrified water and dragged over mechanical throat-cutting blades … all while conscious. Millions of birds each year miss the blades and drown in tanks of scalding water.
3. ChickenIndustry.com reports that “in the 1950s, it took 84 days to raise a five-pound chicken. Due to selective breeding and growth-promoting drugs, it now takes only 45 days.”  These animals are so genetically engineered and monstrosities of nature, that they cannot barely even walk.
4. In egg producing farms, the current amount of space recommended for a chicken is about 9 by 9 inches.
5. Closeness of chickens often results in cannibalism and to help prevent this, farmers de-beak chickens (a practice where the chicken’s beaks are trimmed).
6. According to this article,   your local factory chicken farmers often are under contract and controlled by the corporations.  It seems that these companies create very shady arrangements with folks just trying to make a living.  71% of growers earn below poverty level wages according to Grist.
7. In one McDonald county Missouri, there are 13 million chickens and several hundred thousand turkeys and this has an impacton the invironment.  According to this, there is a correlation between farming practices and the health of rivers and streams.  The waters of McDonald County don’t support aquatic life due to “excessive nutrients from animal agriculture”. Imagine what this kind of farming can do for your community.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner…. But how can I do this in an eco-friendly way?  Ashley has assigned me a new green challenge for the week and she wants us to find local poultry sources that raise chickens in a friendlier manner – both environmentally and ethically.  Join me on my local journey to find greener ways to consume poultry.

I had mentioned this a few times last week in my task to find green companies, but decided to save this for a future task.  Well, the future is now.  I hopefully will be able to find some good information on corporate chicken/turkey farming as well as some local alternatives that will allow us to reduce our impact.

If you have any information or good places to find local poultry sources, please let me know in the comment area below.