Why Eat Grassfed Meat?
The reasons to eat meat from animals raised on pasture far out weighs the only benefit of factory farm meat which is that it
is cheap (at least on the sutface).  The meat from animals raised in confinement and in stockyards, known as CAFOs (Confined Animal
Feeding Operations) is bad for our health, stressful to the animals and destructive to the environment.

Nutrition- Grassfed meat has been proven to be lower in total fats, saturated fat, calories and cholesterol.  Meat from grassfed animals
is higher in Vitamin E, betacarotenes, Omega 3 fatty acids and cancer fighting CLAs(conjugated linoleic acids).  CLAs have been shown to
slow the growth of tumors including those caused by skin, breast, colon and prosrate cancers. 

Safety-Animals raised on grass are never fed commercial feed mixes which could contain animal by-products-the leading cause of BSE (mad cow)
in cattle.  Animals on pasture are clean and healthy and there is considerably less chance of meat being infected with E-Coli from a filthy, manure covered,
feed lot raised carcass.  Antibiotic residues in the meat of stockyard beef and other animals raised in confinement is decreasing the
effectiveness of these medications in humanes.  Synthetic hormones used to promote quick gain in animals are causing early onset
of puberty in young girls.

The Animals- Animals raised on pasture are allowed to live, play, breed and interact the way nature intended them to.  They can run,
graze,  sleep in the sun, scratch in the dust and wallow in the mud.  They grow at a natural rate because they are not being fed grain to
accelrate their growth and they are less stressed bacause they live naturally.  They do not need medications and antibiotics so that they
can survive day to day.  They are never given hormones so that they will grow faster. 

The Environment- CAFOs pollute our water, air and soil on a daily basis.  Excess nitrogen and pesticide run-off from factory farms has
caused a dead spot in the Gulf of Mexico which is the size of the state of Rhode Island.  Manure lagoons pollute our air and drive down 
real estate values.  Our farmers never use chemical fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides on their farms, animals or pastures.

The Farmers- We all farm naturally and sustainably.  We are grass farmers first.  Managing the grass, rotating pastures and building
pastures is a fine art and one that we are still learning.  We strive to let the animals do all of the work of fertilizing, seeding and maintaining
our pastures.  Most of the animal waste is spread over the fields and waste from barns is used in compost for our gardens.  Our animals
are all born right here in Ashe County. We know where they came from, how they were raised and handled and what they have eaten their 
entire lives.  We have worked on each others farms and we help each other when an extra hand is needed.  We love what we do and are
proud of what we produce.  We value the circle of life and take ownership in our choices to eat  and use animal products. We send out emails by location when the ordering dates are open for that delivery location.       
Please send us an email at highcountrygrassfed@yahoo.com and let us know where you would like to pick up your order before signing up for the Buying Club.

        -Please see the "CALENDAR" page for delivery dates in your area.
        -Orders are placed in our ONLINE STORE and you are able to purchase from the farmer of your choice.
           -The ONLINE STORE will only be available during each order cycle/week.  Current prices and products can be viewed on the PRODUCTS and
            PRICING  page.
            -Customers sign up for the buying club and indicate the delivery location where they would like to pick up their order.   
             Currently delivery is available in the following areas:
                        Boone                                 Durham
                        Charlotte                             Raleigh
                        Greensboro                        Winston-Salem
                        Hickory                                 West Jefferson


         -There are no fees to sign up and no minimum order.  You only pay for the items that you order  
          and receive. 
         -There is a .25 cents a pound delivery charge for orders delivered outside of Ashe and Watauga counties.           
           -Check the calendar for dates to place and pick up your order. We will also send out reminder emails by
            delivery  location to remind everyone when it  is time to place their orders. Dates will be listed by location. 
            Orders MUST be in by the cut off date and time or  they will be cancelled.  We usually allow one week to place ordersand then a week for
            us to pull everything together.
           -Place an order through our online shopping cart.  We will send you an email verifying your order total and delivery charge if any.
           -Meet us at the designated pick up point and time.  Bring a cooler to transport your food home in.  Pay for your order and be on your way!

Ordering & Pick Up Protocol-      
        -Bring a cooler or thermal bag to carry your food home in.
        -Hostesses provide a pick up point for our customers but they do not provide restrooms facilities.  All pick ups will be outside under a tent.
        -High Country Grassfed only accepts cash (we are looking into allowing orders to be prepaid through PayPal-stay tuned!).
        -All meat prices are PER POUND.  Eggs are per dozen.  Soaps and lotions are by the bar or bottle.  Your invoice will not reflect the true dollar amount   
         of your order.  We will send you an email to let you know what your order and delivery total are after we have pulled the orders and get the exact 
         weights of the pakages of meat ordered. 
        -Arrive on time-we will only be at each drop for a short time.
        -If you order, please show up to pick up your order.  If orders are placed and not picked up twice then we will cancel your membership in
         the Buying Club