Sharing a BBQ Secret from bettycrocker.com

recipes

cooking

baking

entertaining

how-to

Community

products

Shop

From everyday meals to special occasions, Andi's motto is: Keep it simple. Keep it fun. And, above all, keep it delicious.

Get updates to this blog via RSS

I've cooked my way through life: as a toddler, a college student, a newlywed, a mom and, now, a grandma.

More About Andi

See All Betty Crocker Blogs

Sharing a BBQ Secret
by Hurricane Mike 5/22/2008 11:12:00 AM

Ok … we are back home in Charlotte after Memphis and everyone is safe and sound. Unpacking is finally done although a few odds and ends still need to be cleaned. I thought I would share one our "secrets" this year. We have a new pork supplier that is nothing short of amazing. We are now buying our meat from a farm in Denver, NC called Grateful Growers. It is a wonderful "Free Range" farm that raises Pigs, Chickens, Ducks and Mushrooms! The animals are happy and eat maybe better than we do? As a result they produce a grade of pork that is crazy good. My advice to anyone out there is go to your local farmers market and buy local produce and meats. It will be well worth your time and you might just have some fun as well.

Attached is a picture of one of Cassie and Natalie's pigs. Her name is Tammy and she has mothered many of the piglets on the farm. She is a beautiful animal and weighs out at over 500 pounds. If I could have a dozen of her in my backyard I would. The only problem would be all the piglets that my youngest child would bring in the house to play with her :)

Organic Free Range Pig

Tags: BBQ, Memphis, Organic Pork

Comments (7)

7 Comments

granna2 said:
Hi, since I don't know much about pigs, :-). What breed of pig is that? There used to be a farmer in our area that raised "raisor back pigs", but I can't find him. I'am told that all the farmers in this area raise them for meat companies and that a private person can't buy from them. I think I'am a little agravated by all this " organic" talk, but natural is better, and I like the ideal of 'free range". But in our area it seems to of "only" driven the prices "higher".

5/23/2008 7:52:11 AM

Hurricane Mike said:
Good question ... She is a Tamworth brought over from Tamworth England in the late 1800's by Thomas Bennett of Rossville, Illinois. They are not a hugely popular breed since they are not as large as most but they produce a wonderful taste especially the bacon. Don't give up on Organic. It's a little confusing but you are right "natural is better" and the price seems to be getting in line. Again, try farmers markets and go local!

5/26/2008 5:58:20 AM

tamworth said:
Mike, you have made all the farm animals proud:) And me too.. You've done some amazing homework on the Tamworth and how, over the top is it that you took 11th. I'm so excited to sell our pork to someone who gets what food is all about. Keep grilling. Pork rocks. Cassie

5/26/2008 7:37:52 PM

akaangel #1 said:
If you want to get home grown meat, call your local 4-H extension office or go to your county fair......4-H and FFA kids need support. Many have a extra animal to sell...good luck........nothing better than home grown meat...plus love

6/24/2008 10:43:04 PM

lkn said:
Mike, thanks for the info on the organic pork. My husband and I just moved to North Carolina last year. (We live in Denver... The home of Grateful Growers!) We love Carolina BBQ. But we've never heard of Grateful Growers or tried organic pork. So I can't wait to track down them down at the Lincoln Co. Farmer's Market! It's always nice to shop local and pork is one of our favorite meats. Thanks for opening our eyes to a new experience.

6/25/2008 6:57:06 AM

Fiesty Mom said:
I agree with akaangel#1 get hold of your local 4-H or FFA kids that raise their animals for fair. We have purchased many over the years and have never been disappointed. Not only do we get good meat we get to help out a kid, it is a win win situation.

6/29/2008 4:46:10 PM

granna2 said:
We are moving to the country and I keep saying that I am going to have , chickens, ducks, ginnies, a cow, horse, goat, and a mommy sow!, My husband just 'laughs", i'am a city kid, hahaha. And they ny friends ask," How many ackers did you buy?!?" well, it's only 1.2, but a person can dream! right?!? However I am going to check at our fair and see if I can find a local pig farm that I can buy from. thanks

7/14/2008 12:32:27 PM

Add a Comment