We have a (very!) limited number of pasture-raised Thanksgiving turkeys available this week.

Download an order form here.

You can hand-deliver your form and deposit to Farmer Pat at Wednesday's Pawtucket Wintertime Market or mail to PO Box 807 Saunderstown, RI 02874.

We also have Organic Vegetable Boxes from Wishing Stone Farm and Sustainably-grown table centerpieces from Robin Hollow Farm available for pre-order.

Veggie Box Order Form (PDF)

Flower Order Form (PDF)

Our Farm Store will also be open during Turkey pick-up on Nov. 22 for any additional items (beef, pork, chicken) that you would like to purchase! And we'll have warm apple cider for you to enjoy!

* * * * *

Want to help with the harvest this weekend?

We need volunteers for Turkey Processing on Saturday (11/19) and Sunday (11/20).

Get the details and sign up here.

We're partnering with our local farming friends to make it easier for you to get the locally-grown items you need for your Thanksgiving holiday all in one spot.

Pre-order now and pick-up with your Pat's Pastured Turkey on Tuesday, November 22 at our farm in Jamestown. 

(You've ordered your turkey, right? We have a limited number and they are going quickly. Don't miss out. Order now!)

Pasture-Raised Turkeys

from Pat's Pastured

Turkey Order Form (PDF)

Certified Organic Vegetable Boxes

from Wishing Stone Farm in Little Compton, RI

Veggie Box Order Form (PDF)

Sustainably Grown Table Arrangements

from Robin Hollow Farm in Saunderstown, RI

Flower Order Form (PDF)

Our Farm Store will also be open during Turkey pick-up on Nov. 22 for any additional items (beef, pork, chicken) that you would like to purchase! And we'll have warm apple cider for you to enjoy!

Happy Holidays from your friends at Pat's Pastured

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Coastal Market is closed this Saturday, Nov. 5. (The market re-opens INDOORS next Saturday, Nov. 12.)

 Pawtucket Wintertime Market is OPEN (10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hope Artiste Village).

Farm Store is OPEN 9 a.m. to noon. (At Beaverhead Farm in Jamestown.)

In addition to all your usual favorites, we will have BEEF and LAMB for sale at both locations (on farm and at Pawtucket Wintertime Market)!

* * * *

In other news...

Still need to get your Thanksgiving Turkey order in? Bring it with you on Saturday!

Thinking about ordering a Side of Beef? Just THREE sides left. Don't wait! Get your order in SOON!

Thanks to the small but willing group of volunteers who came out last Sunday for our first community work day at Boesch Farm. What an amazing job everyone did clearing out one of the greenhouses.

Our next community work day is THIS Saturday (10/29) at Beaverhead Farm in Jamestown.

Sign up here if you'd like to join us!

...Pat's Pastured is moving to East Greenwich!

Steve Whitney, Chair of the East Greenwich Land Trust, and Farmer Pat signed the lease for the Briggs-Boesch Farm in East Greenwich, RI on Thursday morning.

Many thanks to everyone who offered support throughout this process and to the East Greenwich Land Trust for their vision and support of local, sustainable agriculture.

Pat's Pastured Italian Sausage (hot and sweet) will be featured THIS Sunday (9/25) at The Village Hearth Bakery's Wood Fired Pizza Night.

The Village Hearth is located at 2 Watson Ave. in Jamestown, RI. (Next to Cumberland Farms, across from the library / playground.) The hours are 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. Both indoor and outdoor seating (weather-permitting) are available. BYOB.

It was a sea of orange shirts, hand tools and hard work on Friday afternoon as more than 60 students from Providence College's Building Bridges program came to the Briggs-Boesch Farm in East Greenwich, where Farmer Pat is currently serving as interim caretaker, to help clean up the barn, fields and trails.

Pat, who is an alumnus of Providence College, welcomed the students and shared the history of the farm as well as a brief look at his path from history major to sustainable farmer. Then it was time for the students to break into teams and get to work -- cleaning out the barn, clearing the public walking trails of hurricane debris, trimming weeds in the orchards and historic cemetery and pulling up plastic left in the fields by the farm's previous tenant.

Below are some photos of the (very productive!!) afternoon taken by Marketing Director Erin Goodman:

Many thanks to Providence College and all the 'Bridge Builders' who came out to help!

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The following e-mail was sent to our subscribers. If you are not on our e-mail list and would like to be, you may subscribe in the box to the right.

Dear Friends,

I am writing to update you on an important matter.

As you may have heard, last month I was selected as the new Caretaker / Tenant of the historic Briggs-Boesch Farm in East Greenwich, RI.

This is a very exciting opportunity for me as I do not own any of the land that I currently farm, which includes five non-contiguous parcels of land throughout South County.

My tenancy at Briggs-Boesch Farm will allow me to live where I farm, spending considerably less time on the road commuting between properties and more time doing what I love most – raising the finest quality grass-fed and pasture-raised meats, growing organic vegetables, mentoring new farmers and offering educational programs.

Unfortunately, we have encountered a small but vocal group of neighbors who appear to be mistaking the sustainable methods of our pasture-based farm for those of a factory livestock operation and are spreading significant misinformation (i.e. that our animals’ presence will decrease property values, pollute water systems and cause odor problems).

All of these issues are addressed in our 40+ page proposal, which is available for public review at the East Greenwich Town Hall, including an explanation of why Intensive Rotational Grazing, the livestock management system I have used successfully for years, enhances and heals the land and its systems rather than damaging and polluting it.

Nonetheless, we must endure another step in this process.

The Land Trust will be holding a Public Informational Hearing this coming Monday, August 22 at 7 p.m. at the East Greenwich Town Hall to allow for additional public comment. (See agenda below.)

For those who are local, especially those who are East Greenwich residents, we would appreciate it greatly if you would attend this meeting. It would be very helpful to have our supporters – those who have seen our farm and who know and trust me as a responsible steward of land and resources – speak briefly on my behalf.

Even if you are not comfortable speaking, having a large number of supporters in attendance is critical – so please come (and bring your family, friends and neighbors)!

Please note: If you wish to comment you must arrive early (at 6:30 p.m.) to register.

For those who cannot make it to Monday’s meeting, we appreciate your continued good thoughts and encouragement. 

I look forward to updating you shortly. 

Your Farmer and Friend,

Patrick McNiff

Background information can be found here:

http://eastgreenwich.patch.com/articles/residents-opposed-to-animal-farming-at-boesch-appeal-to-land-trust

http://www.neindependent.com/articles/2011/08/12/local/doc4e43fa5cc515b034540896.txt

http://www.neindependent.com/articles/2011/08/18/local/doc4e4d1d1db5a9d899338006.txt

http://eastgreenwich.patch.com/articles/what-a-grass-fed-animal-farm-looks-like#video-7423946

http://eastgreenwich.patch.com/articles/a-virtual-tour-of-pat-mcniffs-jamestown-farm-part-2

http://www.neindependent.com/articles/2011/08/18/opinion/doc4e4d20457d536125755008.txt

Location / Parking:

The East Greenwich Town Hall is a large yellow building located at 125 Main Street in East Greenwich. Parking is available across from the Town Hall on King Street and along Main Street. There is also a public parking lot at the Swift Gym on Pierce Street, which is about a 5 minute walk from Town Hall.

Land Trust Agenda

Town Hall

Town Council Chambers

August 22, 2011

6:30 p.m.

1. SIGN-IN FOR “Testimony/Comments” PORTION 6:30 – 7 P.M.

2. PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL HEARING – 7 P.M.

• To Hear Comments Pursuant to a Real Estate Lease for Pat’s Pastured

Meeting Open

Trustee and Staff Introductions

Background – Kevin Fetzer

Testimony/Comments

Questions for Trustees and Staff

Trustees Comment

Meeting Adjourn

RULES

Members of the public, including residents, associations, businesses, and regulatory agencies, who wish to speak will do so one at a time and only once, chosen by the Chair, with any experts testifying first. Each person shall state their name, address, and any organization affiliation, and speak clearly and with volume into the microphone at the podium. Only address the Trustees and Staff on the dais and, please, new comments only (no repetitions).

Posted: August 16, 2011

Thanks to everyone who came out this weekend for our Farm Tour. It was a beautiful afternoon and we enjoyed spending it with a great group of people.

Here are a few photos from the tour:

(More photos over on our facebook page.) 

Next tour is Saturday, September 24. Register here.