Forest-Raised, Apple-Fed
A "Brand" New Chapter for Athol Orchards
Over the past eight years, we've enjoyed building up our farm to be a productive source of clean, ethically raised food. From our antique apples to our orchard-raised chicken and amazing raw honey. Two Summers ago, a relationship forged through the Modern Homestead Conference developed into our decision to bring in Hereford hogs, a classic American hog breed for the purpose of ethically raising up clean food for not only our family, but yours.
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We are excited to announce that Athol Orchards will be investing in our livestock and husbandry practices, bringing your family beyond healthy, clean pork, ethically raised right here at Athol Orchards. In our family's own journey, we have committed ourselves to growing a homestead that provides clean food for ourselves and our daughters. It was an easy decision to expand just a bit more to provide for others. If it's not clean enough for us, it's not clean enough for you. Absolutely no commercial feed, no soy, no gmo's or antibiotics. The grains we nourish our livestock with is locally grown, locally milled and tailored for their specific needs.
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The initial response of our heritage pork program has been astounding and we've now provided clean, local pork to over 60 very satisfied families. We are continuing our heritage pork program by also partnering with a hog breeder in St. Maries, ensuring we will continue to have a ready supply of wiener pigs to raise up here at the orchard in our preferred method. The pigs get to live the life God intended for them - resting in the forest, snacking on forage, rooting in the rich North Idaho soil for roots and other goodies. We are honored to provide local protein to our communities, knowing that it contributes to healthy families.
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If you want to cut ties with your dependence on the commercial pork industry and fill your freezer with clean heritage "forest raised, apple-fed" pork, click below for details on how to "bring home the bacon"!
Forest-Raised Mission
"Normally pigs spend much of their time foraging and rooting for food. Pigs make nests for sleeping and huddle together for warmth. Sows construct elaborate nests prior to giving birth. They frequently wallow in mud for cooling and skin care (skin parasites get rubbed off with the mud)".
-Compassion In World Farming
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"Pigs are omnivores, needing to consume ten essential amino acids. They would naturally acquire 10% of their diet from animal sources, such as worms, insects, and small vertebrates, with the rest coming from a rich variety of plant sources, including nuts, acorns, grain, grasses, roots, berries, shoots, herbs, and bark. For such flexible feeding, pigs have developed the desire to explore, dig and forage."
-I Am Countryside
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Bottom Line?
Pigs are not meant to live confined in large commercial structures surrounded by thousands of other pigs vying for food and space; where there is no opportunity for them to just be pigs - exploring, foraging, rooting in dirt and rolling in the mud. Quality of life matters when considering quality of pork. Our mission is to raise our Heritage Hereford Hogs here on our forested acreage, allowing them all the benefits a natural environment will provide. Rich forest floor, Spring sourced water, From forest to plate, there is NOTHING in comparison.