Pleasant Pasture Farm sits on a sprawling 67 acres in Honey Brook, PA, bordering Lancaster County. Past the barns of dairy cows, cattle, and pigs lies a lush green field, where there are two portable chicken tows: flat beds with a canopy cover and ramps for the chickens to descend into the pasture. Since 1983, the farm has been owned and operated by the Stoltzfus family. Today Benuel Stoltzfus and his wife Hannah, along with their four children tend to the farm, caring for the grass fed cows, chickens, and pigs.
Chickens are free to roam the meadow at Pleasant Pasture Farm
The chickens are free to roam the meadow, eating grass, insects and worms and are supplemented with feed from local farms that use organic practices. “I’ll buy [feed] from an organic farmer or from a farmer in transition to become an organic farmer.” says Benuel. Buying from these transitional farms “encourages producers to start switching [to organic]”.
Sustainable and humane farming practices are held at a high standard for the Stoltzfus’s. They originally began producing organic milk in the 1980’s due to fluctuations in conventional milk prices, “But in a couple years after following the organic practices, that changed.” They began to value eating organically raised and produced foods and the impact it had on their family, “it turned into a health reason. Family health was a big concern”.
WHAT DOES PASTURE-RAISED MEAN?
Covered chicken tow on the pasture
Pasture-raised birds spend most of their life outdoors, with a fair amount of space plus access to a barn. Many are able to eat a diet of worms, insects and grass, along with feed. Learn more here.
DISCOVER LOCAL EGG PRODUCERS
We support a number of local egg producers within 100 miles of our Distribution Center. These farms prioritize the humane treatment of their animals by providing them with open space to roam and feed, sheltering them from bad weather and predators, and feeding them a diet free of GMOs. Discover other locally sourced eggs available at your local Kimberton Whole Foods, here.
