Author: Kelly

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Kelly’s Midweek Update #55

Here’s a midweek update from Kelly with Watson Farms, keeping you connected with your farm.

Hey Watson Farms Family,

Yesterday was a big hay day around here, and it took a full team effort to get it done!

We had three generations out in the field working together from 12:30 PM until 7:15 PM, finishing up just as the dark storm clouds began rolling in. Talk about beating the clock! It was a long, full afternoon, but seeing everyone pitch in made it special. Abby was out there raking, Gary and Noah were running the baler, and Matthew was busy hauling and wrapping every single bale.

By the time the rain started, we had 56 beautiful bales safely put up!

What makes these bales so special isn’t just the hard work that went into harvesting them—it’s the way this pasture was built over the last few months.

If you visited the farm between April and July, you might have seen three of our mobile chicken shelters out in that exact field. Every single day, those houses get moved about 50 feet (the length of the coop) onto a fresh patch of grass. This gives the chickens daily access to fresh forage and bugs, while they leave behind rich, natural fertilizer.

When you combine that daily chicken rotation with our cattle grazing the same pasture, the soil gets an incredible boost of natural nutrients. After giving the field a well-deserved rest, all that natural fertility produced the thick, nutrient-dense grass we harvested yesterday. It’s amazing to watch how each group of animals plays a part in building healthy soil!

Honest Harvest Chicken Sale!


Speaking of our pasture-raised chickens and the wonderful work they do for our farm ecosystem, this is a great time to stock up!

Our Honest Harvest Chicken Sale is happening right now. If you’ve been looking to fill your freezer with clean, nutrient-dense chicken raised on fresh grass every single day, now is the perfect time to order.

Head over to the website or stop by the farm store to grab yours while the sale lasts!

Shop the Honest Harvest Chicken Sale
We hope to see you soon!
(A quick reminder: If you’re local, stop by the Farm Store to pick out your cuts in person, or place your online order by Sunday night to ensure it’s in the shipping queue for next week!)
Kelly WatsonThe Farmer’s Wife
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Pasture Posts #187

Here’s the weekly roundup from Watson Farms and your direct connection to your farmer. Enjoy the latest edition of Pasture Posts!

Fall Farm Day is Approaching!

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We are getting super excited for our Fall Farm Day on October 12th! It will be from 10am-2pm. There will lots of things for the whole family! Over the next few weeks leading up to the event we will be highlighting some of the vendors that we will have.

We will offer our wagon hayrides to show you the animals and talk about how we raise them. There will be kids activities (bounce house, corn tub, games, and more!), food vendors, artisans/crafters and more!

hayride tour rig

Vendor Spotlight:

  • MLB Farm – goat milk soaps and home decor
  • Carmichael Corner Creations – soaps, bath products and body products
  • Sweet Southern Farms – pure extracts and cleaning products
  • Ten Acres Ranch – beeswax soap and lip balms
Continue reading Pasture Posts #187
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Pasture Posts #182

Here’s the weekly roundup from Watson Farms and your direct connection to your farmer. Enjoy the latest edition of Pasture Posts!

Lets talk FAQs!

From time to time we like to address some common questions that we get from customers. By answering some of these we hope to make your shopping experience with Watson Farms as smooth as possible!

You can access a whole library of additional questions and answers using the Help Widget that pops up on the bottom right of your screen anytime you’re on our website. Just search your question and relevant articles will show up.

How do I make changes to my Pasture Picks Box?

Log into your account on the website. At the bottom go to My Account. Once there you will see on the left hand side of the screen “Subscriptions”. Click on it and then it will give you the option to make changes. From that screen you can put your box on hold (suspend), reactivate your box, change the size, change the eggs, change the frequency and even hit Renew Now and get it sooner. If you choose Renew Now, the system will simply move your next renewal to the present time, and then it will continue on the normal plan. 

How do I add items to my order?

If you have already placed the order then you will just go in and place a new order with the items you want to add. As long as you have an order that has been placed and has NOT been delivered you can bypass the $75 minimum and also the second delivery fee. 

If you are adding to a Pasture Picks Box,  you will need to WAIT until your box renews. Once it has renewed you can go in and place the order to bypass the $75 minimum and second delivery fee. 

Our website will automatically recognize that you have an order that is going to be delivered soon and will waive the additional delivery fee and minimum order requirement.

All add-ons still have to be placed before the deadlines. If we receive it after the deadline then we can’t guarantee it will be delivered at the same time. 

What if I need to make a change to my delivery?

Any information about your delivery (location, time, gate codes or special instructions) need to be given when you place the order. Just make notes in the “order notes” section before placing the order. 

If you need to change something after you have placed the order please let us know by noon the day before the delivery. If we receive changes after that deadline we may not be able to accommodate those changes. 

Continue reading Pasture Posts #182
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Pasture Posts #175

Here’s the weekly roundup from Watson Farms and your direct connection to your farmer. Enjoy the latest edition of Pasture Posts!

Ag + Art Tour Recap

We had a great time at the Ag + Art Tour! Thank you for everyone that came out and supported our farm! You are the reason that we continue to do what we do. It was super hot but we had almost 300 people come out! We appreciate everyone that jumped in to help make this day possible!

Check out some pictures of the day!

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Independence Day Extravaganza!

This is the last week of our Independence Day Extravaganza! It will end July 4th at midnight! Get your orders placed now.

Produce is available!

We are happy and know you are too that produce boxes are available again! Please make sure you pay close attention the order deadlines for these (they are different then our normal deadlines).

Ordering Deadlines
Charleston and Columbia Home Delivery – SUNDAYS at 9pm
GSP Home Delivery and Farm Pick Up – TUESDAYS at 9pm
Local Home Delivery – THURSDAYS at 9pm

We’ve received a lot of new reviews lately! 

Check them out!

Check out this ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review:

“Watson Farms is beyond good, they are GREAT! The beef is so delicious and tender. Their pasture chicken and eggs are delectable! Professionally packaged. All meals we make with their meats are devoured immediately. I love their delivery service as well! Once a week I have brought to my door everything we need. Purchasing an additional freezer for their whole cow now! Order with full confidence – bon appetite!”

We would greatly appreciate it if you would be kind enough to leave us a review.  It helps first-time customers purchase with confidence.

Leave a Google Review!

Order Deadlines and Store Hours

Here’s a friendly reminder to get your orders in by the deadline. We have changed our workflow some to help reduce errors, so we have to begin the process of staging orders for the next day’s delivery very soon after the deadlines below. Help us serve you better by ensuring your order is placed in time!

Charleston Area: 12 noon Mondays

UPS Orders: 12 noon Mondays

Columbia Area: 12 noon on Tuesdays

GSP: 12 noon on Wednesdays

Charlotte/Fort Mill/Rock Hill Areas: 12 noon on Fridays

Farm Pickup: Please wait until you receive an email stating that your order is ready to be picked up (usually 1 business day from when you place your order). Farm pickup is done during store hours:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10am to 6pm
Saturday: 10am to 2pm
Closed Sunday and Wednesday

Tell a Friend!

It’s now easier than ever to Give $15 and Get $15 through our Referral Program. We don’t spend a lot of money of advertising, but rather we focus on producing products that people love and are willing to tell others about. So we depend on word of mouth to find new customers and ultimately to heal more land.

So in an effort to streamline this process we have made it easier to tell others (via email, Facebook, or Twitter) about Watson Farms. And it’s all automated on the backend, so you don’t have to rely on us to issue the store credits manually. Just head over to our Referrals Page and start sharing!

Start Sharing!

Thanks again for being partners in this endeavor of local, pasture-raised proteins that has truly transformed our farm.  We look forward to continuing this transition while serving you long into the future.

Sincerely,
The Watsons

Pasture Posts is written by Matt Watson.

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Pasture Posts #167

Here’s the weekly roundup from Watson Farms and your direct connection to your farmer. Enjoy the latest edition of Pasture Posts!

Mother’s Day and Memorial Day Bundles

Mother’s Day is right around the corner! Mom’s do so much in our families so lets show that special someone just how special they are! This week we want to highlight some of our favorite bundles that we think Mom will love!

Here are some options for our Home Delivery areas! These are some of our most popular bundles!

We don’t want to leave out our UPS Customers so here are some options for you as well!

Memorial Day is also right around the corner so we have put together a Memorial Day Bundle for you! There is also a version available to our UPS customers! It is packed with all your grilling needs for your cookouts at a great price!

    Produce is back in stock!

    We are happy and know you are too that produce boxes are available again! Please make sure you pay close attention the order deadlines for these (they are different then our normal deadlines).

    Ordering Deadlines
    Charleston and Columbia Home Delivery – SUNDAYS at 9pm
    GSP Home Delivery and Farm Pick Up – TUESDAYS at 9pm
    Local Home Delivery – THURSDAYS at 9pm

    • The cattle have been marching through high quality ryegrass paddocks this week!
    • Abby and Noah have done a lot of “cicada hunting” lately!
    • 2 days or so after each round of chicken processing, we box all the cuts. On processing day we pack the cuts in chill trays that allow them to freeze fast which preserves quality. Matt, Abby, and Noah have been the boxing crew lately!

    We’ve received a lot of new reviews lately! 

    Check them out!

    Check out this ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review:

    “Watson Farms is beyond good, they are GREAT! The beef is so delicious and tender. Their pasture chicken and eggs are delectable! Professionally packaged. All meals we make with their meats are devoured immediately. I love their delivery service as well! Once a week I have brought to my door everything we need. Purchasing an additional freezer for their whole cow now! Order with full confidence – bon appetite!”

    We would greatly appreciate it if you would be kind enough to leave us a review.  It helps first-time customers purchase with confidence.

    Leave a Google Review!

    Order Deadlines and Store Hours

    Here’s a friendly reminder to get your orders in by the deadline. We have changed our workflow some to help reduce errors, so we have to begin the process of staging orders for the next day’s delivery very soon after the deadlines below. Help us serve you better by ensuring your order is placed in time!

    Charleston Area: 12 noon Mondays

    UPS Orders: 12 noon Mondays

    Columbia Area: 12 noon on Tuesdays

    GSP: 12 noon on Wednesdays

    Charlotte/Fort Mill/Rock Hill Areas: 12 noon on Fridays

    Farm Pickup: Please wait until you receive an email stating that your order is ready to be picked up (usually 1 business day from when you place your order). Farm pickup is done during store hours:

    Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10am to 6pm
    Saturday: 10am to 2pm
    Closed Sunday and Wednesday

    Tell a Friend!

    It’s now easier than ever to Give $15 and Get $15 through our Referral Program. We don’t spend a lot of money of advertising, but rather we focus on producing products that people love and are willing to tell others about. So we depend on word of mouth to find new customers and ultimately to heal more land.

    So in an effort to streamline this process we have made it easier to tell others (via email, Facebook, or Twitter) about Watson Farms. And it’s all automated on the backend, so you don’t have to rely on us to issue the store credits manually. Just head over to our Referrals Page and start sharing!

    Start Sharing!

    Thanks again for being partners in this endeavor of local, pasture-raised proteins that has truly transformed our farm.  We look forward to continuing this transition while serving you long into the future.

    Sincerely,
    The Watsons

    Pasture Posts is written by Matt Watson.

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    Weekly Home Delivery for Columbia area

    We are pleased to announce that in February we will be launching a weekly Home Delivery service for 32 zip codes in the Columbia area. Here’s some highlights of this new opportunity:

    • Home deliveries will occur each Wednesday unless otherwise announced.
    • Our current Columbia-area pickup locations (Northwest Columbia and CrossFit Soda City) will be discontinued.
    • We will be serving 32 zip codes which cover all of our current Columbia customers. If your shipping zip code matches one of these 32 zip codes as you checkout, then you will see the “COL Home Delivery (Wednesdays)” option appear. Select this option and your order will be put on the van the following Wednesday for delivery to your doorstep.
    • The Columbia-area zip codes that we service are:

    29016, 29033, 29044, 29045, 29053, 29054, 29061, 29063, 29070, 29072, 29073, 29078, 29147, 29169, 29170, 29172, 29201, 29202, 29203, 29204, 29205, 29206, 29207, 29208, 29209, 29210, 29212, 29223, 29225, 29229, 29729, 29036

    • If you are unable to be at home when we deliver, you may leave an adequate-size cooler for us to leave your order in or provide other instructions.
    • You will receive a text message the day before the delivery as a reminder that a delivery to you has been planned with an ETA. You will also receive a text message when the delivery driver is within a half hour from your address. Finally, you will receive a text message when the driver marks your delivery as complete. Please make sure that you enter your mobile number accurately as you checkout.
    • We will deliver to the shipping address you provided in your account on our website. Please keep this up to date so that your deliveries are successful.
    • If you live in a gated community please provide us with the necessary information to get to your house.
    • Home Delivery is carried out by Watson Farms in a refrigerated vehicle. Therefore, your order will not be packed in insulated containers. All orders will be left at your doorstep on the delivery day unless you have made prior arrangements. Our delivery driver cannot wait until someone comes to the door at each house due to time constraints. 
    • The deadline to order is 12 noon the day preceding the delivery day.
    • Subscription Box customers choosing Home Delivery will receive their orders on the first delivery day after their payment has occurred.
    • The home delivery fee for retail orders is $12.95 per invoice. If you place multiple orders before a certain delivery day then we will waive additional delivery fees and combine the orders.
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    10 Differences between Grocery Store Pork and Watson Farms Pastured-Raised Pork!

    This is part of a multi-part blog series comparing the benefits of pasture-raised proteins from Watson Farms with the industrial food system counterparts.

    Today we come to you with some truths explaining what goes on with industrial pork production and grocery store pork and how it is different from Watson Farms Pasture-Raised Pork!

    This is how we believe hogs should be raised. ON GRASS. This is the life we choose for our hogs on our farm, but this is not how 90% of hogs in the U.S. are able to live.

    Hogs raised on pasture are healthier and produce a better product that consumers are seeking. 

    Here are 10 way s that our hogs live a different life than conventionally-raised hogs.

    Ours: Mother pigs live and birth naturally and are never confined to crates.
    Theirs: Mother pigs confined to crates for the entirety of adult life.

    Ours: Raised in an outdoor immune-building environment.
    Theirs: Raised in sterile environments promoting weak immune systems.

    Ours: Strong immune systems that negate the need for medications. 
    Theirs: Weak immune systems that require drugs and antibiotics for survival.

    Ours: Allowed to grow naturally and accumulate healthy body fat.
    Theirs: Fed drugs like Paylean to promote lean muscle growth.

    Ours: Enjoy the sunshine and fresh air daily.
    Theirs: Subjected to artificial lighting most of their life.

    Ours: Raised in smaller groups outdoors.
    Theirs: Raised in large building housing a few THOUSAND pigs at a time.

    Ours: Natural breeding when they are ready.
    Theirs: Planned artificial insemination in crates or gestation pens.

    Ours: Time tested hardy Heritage genetics.
    Theirs: Fragile hybridized industrial genetics.

    Ours: Regenerative mindset: Happier – Slower – Better Health
    Theirs: Industrial mindset: Fatter – Faster – Bigger – Cheaper

    Ours: 200+ square feet of rotated pasture space per pig.
    Theirs: 7.5 square feet of concrete floor space per pig.

    To see some of the differences take a look at the photos below.

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    Home Delivery Schedule Update

    We have decided that we will not be doing home deliveries on Wednesdays anymore. Today was our last one for the time being. We feel like this is the best decision for the farm right now. Our regular delivery driver (Mason) has started back to college so he is unavailable on Wednesdays now. Kelly has done several Wednesday deliveries over the last couple of months when we have had busy days on the farm but she has started back homeschooling our oldest (2nd grade) so it is hard for her to get away for a day and we don’t want to get behind in school. She is also over the office and answering calls and emails so having her away is difficult. Gary (main boss man around here…lol) has been doing them some but there are jobs around the farm that we can use him for. Matthew is better used on the farm doing chores and whatever else may come up. So as you can see we are all pulled in different directions right now.

    So what does that mean for you? If you place an order for home delivery it will be delivered that following Saturday. You are also welcome to come pick up at the farm if you need it before Saturday. Just select Farm Pickup as you checkout.

    We do appreciate all of you for supporting our farm. Without you purchasing from our farm we would not be able to do what we are called to do. We love having the opportunity to serve customers. It blesses us that you know where you meat and eggs are coming from and how they are raised.

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    Philly Cheese Steak Sliders

    1 lb ground beef

    Salt and Pepper

    1 Bell Pepper – diced

    1 Medium Onion – diced

    8 slices Provolone Cheese

    12 Hawaiian Rolls

    1 stick butter melted

     

    Brown the ground beef with salt and pepper. Dice up the bell pepper and onion and add to browned ground beef. Once the bell pepper and onion are soft take off heat.

    Half the Hawaiian rolls into tops and bottoms. Spread ground beef, onion, and bell peppers over the bottom of the buns.

    Place provolone cheese on top of ground beef mixture.

    Place tops of rolls on top of cheese. Spread melted butter on tops of rolls.

    Cover with aluminum foil and place in a preheated oven of 350. Cook for 10 minutes covered then remove foil and bake another 10 minutes.

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    Busy Week

    We hope everyone is doing well!! We are happy that we finally got some rain (the animals are too!).

    We have a busy week this week. There are lots of things going on this Saturday October 14th.

    We will be doing our Daniel Island delivery (9:30 am), Mt. Pleasant delivery (10:00 am), and Goose Creek delivery (11:00 am). If you would like to place an order please do so by Friday at noon.

    We will also be setting up at Cotton Hills Farm Fair this Saturday October 14th from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. We will have some of our meats with us so you can purchase them. If you know what you want ahead of time you can place an order and just put in the comments you want to pick up there.

    We are still offering the BBQ pigs. They are $2.50/lb on the hanging weight. They will be around 60-70 lbs. Let us know if you would like to get one!! It will be killed and cleaned and ready to cook.

    As always you can check our calendar for upcoming deliveries. You can also place orders to pick up at the farm.