WTF News- January 27, 2012

Wild Turkey Farms News- Jan 27

Just a short newsletter this week before I run out to play in the mud. Thanks to everyone that has been supporting us through the winter by coming out to the winter market at DFM, eating at the restaurants that support us, and stopping by the farm. If this winter has been any indication, it's shaping up to be a good and busy year.

We have lots of things underway at the farm now. We have plans to expand our egg laying operation significantly and, increase numbers of pigs & chickens we raise. We are going to offer a spring/summer vegetable CSA again this year (details coming soon), we're also working with Chef Charles Catering to host a couple more Charcuterie classes in Feb & Mar, we are planning a couple farm tours, another farm dinner, and we have a new website that will launch soon. We've just expanded our grain handling capacity to accommodate this increase in pork and chickens so I guess you could say we're committed at this point. So to say we've been busy and getting busier may be an understatement.

We have a fresh batch of our WTF T-shirts in XXL, XL, L, & M for those of you that have been waiting patiently since last fall!!!

Davidson Farmers Market (9am-noon)- The egg situation is getting much better as the days keep getting longer but eggs are still in limited supply this weekend so come early to load up.

Don't forget to check out our Wild Turkey Farms Facebook page and "like" us to get the most up to date info.


We hope that you'll support some of the chefs & businesses that support us & other local farmers.
Customshop Restaurant- Charlotte
Chef Charles Catering - Charlotte/ DFM
300 East Restaurant- Charlotte
Whiskey Warehouse- Charlotte
Carpe Diem Restaurant- Charlotte
Black Mountain Farmers Market- Black Mountain
Know Your Farms Buying Club- Davidson/Charlotte
The Sweetest Thing- Salisbury
Salisbury Wine Shop- Salisbury
Bread Riot Coop- Salisbury



Thanks for your support, have a great weekend, and we'll see you at the market.

Lee, Domisty, Rosty, & Charlie
Wild Turkey Farms LLC
China Grove, NC

Coming Soon......

It is hard to believe that January is almost over. We have been busy at the farm and have REALLY enjoyed not having to get up early for the Markets every Saturday. Although, by the time spring rolls around I'm ready to hit the Markets and see my customers again.

We hope by February the new & improved WTF website will be up & running. More details about that soon......

We have also restocked in WTF t-shirts & hats and we still have the ever popular WTF stickers.

WTF News- January 13, 2012

Wild Turkey Farms News- Jan 13

Happy New Year and Happy Friday the 13th!!!! Stay clear of guys with machetes and hockey masks but come see us at Davidson Sat Morning!!!

First Market of the Year Specials-
Hotdogs only $6/pack while they last!!!!
Polish Sausages - Buy 2 get 1 free while they last!!!

Davidson Farmers Market (9am-noon)- we will be in the lower parking lot near our friends at Chef Charles Catering.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but eggs are in extremely short supply this weekend so come early to load up.


We hope that you'll support some of the chefs & businesses that support us & other local farmers.
Customshop Restaurant- Charlotte
Chef Charles Catering - Charlotte/ DFM
300 East Restaurant- Charlotte
Whiskey Warehouse- Charlotte
Carpe Diem Restaurant- Charlotte
Black Mountain Farmers Market- Black Mountain
Know Your Farms Buying Club- Davidson/Charlotte
The Sweetest Thing- Salisbury
Salisbury Wine Shop- Salisbury
Bread Riot Coop- Salisbury



Thanks for your support, have a great weekend, and we'll see you at the market.

Lee, Domisty, Rosty, & Charlie
Wild Turkey Farms LLC
China Grove, NC

Health & Wellness Newsletter- Salisbury Pediatric

January 9, 2012

From Dr. Weil's Newsletter. I wanted to pass this information along.

The HFCS debate rages on:

""High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a cheap sweetener chemically derived from corn. This ubiquitous ingredient of junk food has been in the news lately, in part due to a proposed name change by the Corn Refiners Association - the group wants to rename it "corn sugar."

Whatever you call it, HFCS is a marker for low-quality food and has no place in a healthy diet. But unfortunately, it is widely used: HFCS is found as a primary ingredient in soft drinks and often hidden in processed foods including salad dressings and ketchup, jams, jellies, ice cream, bread and crackers. It is one of the biggest sources of calories in the American diet.

The most widely used kind of HFCS may have disruptive effects on metabolism, as the body doesn't utilize fructose well. In fact, regular consumption of HFCS may contribute to obesity, which in turn is a risk factor for several types of cancer and diabetes. In my opinion, HCFS is definitely bad for you and should be avoided - read food labels carefully and minimize your consumption of items that list HFCS as an ingredient.""


I would concur that an unnatural processed product like HFCS is likely to be unhealthy for us. We can sustain life on intravenous glucose (sugar) but prolonged IV fructose causes liver dysfunction and failure. Fructose occurs naturally in fruit and honey, but the volume of ingestion has skyrocketed with the use of HFCS. Why would they need to hide the name if the safety was without doubt???


My take home point today: Nature provides fructose - use this form in moderation. Avoid HFCS until safety data is unequivocal.

Hedging my bets,

Dr. Magryta


Carbohydrates
Episode 3 - the carbohydrate dilemma - when, how much and why?

Next Step: Now this is a beauty of nature. During the race or once you start exercising, your body releases chemicals called catecholamines which change the physiology of your metabolism to reduce insulin use and increase sugar availability.

In other words, your body is shifting away from storing sugar as fat and giving it to the muscles to do work. This is very useful when running away from a bull or whatever wants to chase you!!! Therefore, it is an ok idea to consume high GI* foods during a race or exercise. You will not have an insulin response and you will avoid a sugar trough. Pay attention to the types of carbs that you eat and you are beginning the process of attaining peak performance.

Here is your chance to eat chocolate and not suffer the consequences of weight gain!

Preferably - Dark Chocolate

Dr. M

********
Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load

Glycemic Index

In the past, carbohydrates were classified as simple or complex based on the number of simple sugars in the molecule. Carbohydrates composed of one or two simple sugars like fructose or sucrose (table sugar; a disaccharide composed of one molecule of glucose and one molecule of fructose) were labeled simple, while starchy foods were labeled complex because starch is composed of long chains of the simple sugar, glucose. Advice to eat less simple and more complex carbohydrates (i.e., polysaccharides) was based on the assumption that consuming starchy foods would lead to smaller increases in blood glucose than sugary foods

(1). This assumption turned out to be too simplistic since the blood glucose (glycemic) response to "complex" carbohydrates has been found to vary considerably. A more accurate indicator of the relative glycemic response to dietary carbohydrates should be glycemic load, which incorporates the relative quality and quantity of carbohydrates in the diet.

Measuring the Glycemic Index of Foods

To determine the glycemic index of a food, volunteers are typically given a test food that provides 50 grams of carbohydrate and a control food (white bread or pure glucose) that provides the same amount of carbohydrate on different days(2). Blood samples for the determination of glucose are taken prior to eating and at regular intervals after eating over the next several hours. The changes in blood glucose over time are plotted as a curve. The glycemic index is calculated as the area under the glucose curve after the test food is eaten, divided by the corresponding area after the control food is eaten. The value is multiplied by 100 to represent a percentage of the control food. For example, a baked potato has a glycemic index of 76 relative to glucose and 108 relative to white bread, which means that the blood glucose response to the carbohydrate in a baked potato is 76% of the blood glucose response to the same amount of carbohydrate in pure glucose and 108% of the blood glucose response to the same amount of carbohydrate in white bread (3). In contrast, cooked brown rice has a glycemic index of 55 relative to glucose and 79 relative to white bread (4). In the traditional system of classifying carbohydrates, both brown rice and potato would be classified as complex carbohydrates despite the difference in their effects on blood glucose levels.

Physiological Responses to High- versus Low-Glycemic Index Foods

By definition, the consumption of high-glycemic index foods results in higher and more rapid increases in blood glucose levels than the consumption of low-glycemic index foods. Rapid increases in blood glucose are potent signals to the beta-cells of the pancreas to increase insulin secretion (2). Over the next few hours, the high insulin levels induced by consumption of high-glycemic index foods may cause a sharp decrease in blood glucose levels (hypoglycemia). In contrast, the consumption of low-glycemic index foods results in lower but more sustained increases in blood glucose and lower insulin demands on pancreatic beta-cells (5).

Glycemic Load

The glycemic index compares the potential of foods containing the same amount of carbohydrate to raise blood glucose. However, the amount of carbohydrate consumed also affects blood glucose levels and insulin responses. The glycemic load of a food is calculated by multiplying the glycemic index by the amount of carbohydrate in grams provided by a food and dividing the total by 100 (1). Dietary glycemic load is the sum of the glycemic loads for all foods consumed in the diet. The concept of glycemic load was developed by scientists to simultaneously describe the quality (glycemic index) and quantity of carbohydrate in a meal or diet.

From the Linus Pauling Institute at: http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/foods/grains/gigl.html

Copyright © 2010-2012 Christopher J. Magryta, MD. Readers, please note: The information provided in this newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for advice and treatment provided by your physician or other healthcare professional and is not to be used to diagnose or treat a health issue.

WTF- Happy New Year

Wild Turkey Farms News- Happy New Year!!!

We'll it's hard to believe that the holidays have come and gone, the house is a mess, the kids are still out of school, and we've had a week of seemingly not getting a damn thing done around the farm but it's been fun. We've spent the last couple days, like many of you I'm sure, reflecting on 2011 and how it somehow flew by. Spring CSAs, winter markets, summer markets, new markets, old markets, summer drought, fall rains, the great goose round up, farm tours, farm dinner, thanksgiving turkeys, Christmas BBQ, and many, many customers which we consider friends and family- seems like too much to have gone through in a mere 365days. In just another 72+/- hours we'll get to start all over and do it again for 2012. Now that Christmas break is behind us it's time to dive into the seed & poultry catalogs to work on orders, and hit the spreadsheets to plan out 2012.

It's truly been a blessing to be able to do what we do and have such a great family of customers to support us so from the bottom of our hearts- THANK YOU ALL!!!


Markets-

As always, we are around the farm during the week so you are welcome to give us a call and come out. 704-202-9348

We'll be back at the Davidson Farmers Market on January 14 (9-noon)

Salisbury Farmers Market is done for the winter but we're working on some alternatives so stay tuned

Elizabeth Market is done for the winter but we'll be back in the spring. We're still making deliveries to restaurants so if you need an order shoot us an email and we'll get with you somehow.


We hope that you'll support some of the chefs & businesses that support us & other local farmers.
Customshop Restaurant- Charlotte
Chef Charles Catering - Charlotte/ DFM
300 East Restaurant- Charlotte
Whiskey Warehouse- Charlotte
Black Mountain Farmers Market- Black Mountain
Know Your Farms Buying Club- Davidson/Charlotte
The Sweetest Thing- Salisbury
Salisbury Wine Shop- Salisbury
Bread Riot - Salisbury



Thanks for your support, have a great weekend, and we'll see you at the market.

Lee, Domisty, Rosty, & Charlie
Wild Turkey Farms LLC
China Grove, NC

WTF NEws- December 16, 2011

Wild Turkey Farms News- Dec 16

Hard to believe that Christmas is only about a week away. We'd like to take this opportunity to say that we really appreciate all of the support that everyone has given us over the past year. You guys are awesome!

I think at this point most of you are familiar with Marti the goose and how he has grown up thinking that he's a pig. I've probably even mentioned how Marti has the ability of hold his own when fighting pigs to get his share of food. Well this week I witnessed just how tough that goose really is. For the past 2 weeks it's just been Marti and 2 sows in a pasture together until it came time to put the boar in with the sows. Now I've never thought much about anyone getting hurt but I could tell that as soon as the boar stepped off the trailer that all hell was about to break loose. For those that haven't been in the presence of an amorous boar, they start foaming at the mouth like a rabid dog and and start talking dirty with load guttural grunts. Now I don't know if it was the slobber, grunts, or just the fact that there was a new face in the pasture but something set Marti off. The boar was so busy trying to make new friends with the girls that I don't think he noticed the flapping, honking wad of feathers that was about to attack. As Marti blindsided the boar he bit fast on his right ear and proceeded to flail him in the head and side with his wings. Not knowing what was going on, the boar took off running across the pasture with Marti attached to the side of his head. Marti would eventually let go and return to eat with the sows. Once the boar would "shake it off" and head back to join the sows, Marti would repeat the scene. It got to the point that I almost felt sorry for the boar as he would hide in the corner of the field. Now this went on over a 2 day period but eventually the boar admitted that Marti was the boss and a truce was drawn for the time being. It's hard to believe that 15lbs of honk & feathers can terrorize a 600lb boar to that extent.


This is the last weekend your WTF Smoked Pork Shoulders for Christmas. We're teaming up with our friends that BBQed the pig at our farm dinner in October to smoke our delicious pork shoulders so you don't have to cook for Christmas (or at least don't have to cook as much). The cost is $70 each for shoulders that will run 13-15lbs each and should feed up to 20-25 people. These will be slow cooked over wood coals all morning and be ready for pick up Christmas eve afternoon. As always the supplies are limited and when we're out, we're out so get yours early.

Davidson Farmers Market (9am-noon)- we will be in the lower parking lot near our friends at Chef Charles Catering.

Elizabeth Farmers Market - The Market is closed for the season so we will be working on an email pre-order only system. Email us your order by Friday afternoon and come by the Customshop Restaurant to pick it up between 10:30-11am Saturday morning.

Salisbury Farmers Market_- (9am-noon)- Domisty will be back and as always space is limited so email us your order and she'll have it ready for you to pick up.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but eggs are in extremely short supply this weekend and may be none existent by the time we fill restaurant orders. The chickens have been on strike the past 2 weeks but they are starting to pick up again so hopefully they'll be back at full speed by next year.


We hope that you'll support some of the chefs & businesses that support us & other local farmers.
Customshop Restaurant- Charlotte
Chef Charles Catering - Charlotte/ DFM
300 East Restaurant- Charlotte
Whiskey Warehouse- Charlotte
Carpe Diem Restaurant- Charlotte
Black Mountain Farmers Market- Black Mountain
Know Your Farms Buying Club- Davidson/Charlotte
The Sweetest Thing- Salisbury
Salisbury Wine Shop- Salisbury
Bread Riot Coop- Salisbury



Thanks for your support, have a great weekend, and we'll see you at the market.

Lee, Domisty, Rosty, & Charlie
Wild Turkey Farms LLC
China Grove, NC

Birthday Meal at Customshop

If you have not tried Customshop yet you neeed too!

We went last week-end to celebrate Lee's birthday.

We started with a Charcuterie & Cheese platter- we had help from our waiter on what to select but we knew we definitely wanted the House made Chicken Liver Pate. I never thought of myself as a "chicken liver" person but this was pure bliss!

Lee opted for the Crispy Duck & I wanted to try something different then what I would usually get....I have to admit I was close to ordering WTF Pork Chop. We know those farmer's & they raise a good pig! But in the end I chose the Trigger Fish from our friends at Rock Stone Seafood.

We also had the Pumpkin Gnocchi & Roasted Brussels Sprouts.

Then finished up the evening with the Bread Pudding.