Wild pork meat

Here's a message from Debbie at Bandera Grassland, where I buy my grass-fed beef:

I'm conducting a feasibility study to learn of interest in wild pork. I have numerous wild hogs on my ranch and should consider them a resource. As I stood watching them share alfalfa hay with my steers yesterday, it occurred to me since I'm paying to feed them, I should benefit from the sale of their meat. These are healthy animals that forage all the same plants as my cattle. The flavor of wild pork is excellent with added benefits of low fat and no added hormones, antibiotics, or chemicals. They pick up a little corn and protein pellets from our deer feeders but their primary diet is forage.

Before I go to the expense of getting a label to sell this meat, I need to know there is a market for it. The slaughter facility I use for our beef cattle is willing to process the pork under State Inspection. If you would be interested in buying sides or whole carcasses of wild caught, range-fed pork, please let me know.

Debbie Davis

Bandera Grassland

P.O. Box 122

Tarpley, TX 78883

(830) 562-3650

debwd@dwdlonghorns.com

http://www.BanderaGrassland.com

Strawberries in Fredericksburg

Are you looking for a way to enjoy beautiful weather and do something for your taste buds too? Strawberries are ready for picking in Fredericksburg. After a beautiful drive through the Hill Country, a stop at Marburger Orchard for some freshly picked fruit – picked by YOU - is incredibly fun, refreshing, and tasty. Marburger has been my favorite pick-your-own (PYO) peach orchard for years, but I quickly discovered that they grow more than peaches – their fields offer watermelons, blackberries, cantaloupes, zucchini, and many other flavorful, nutrient-packed treats. Before you head out, take a look at their website, which is updated regularly to keep customers informed about the availability of fruit and vegetables throughout the season. Plan on picking strawberries until early May, then peach season will be right around the corner!

Of course there are many more orchards in Fredericksburg and surrounding towns. A more general website provides information about 22 orchards in the Fredericksburg area – including phone numbers, opening dates, ripening dates for different varieties, recipes and tips. I have visited a few of the orchards and enjoyed them all very much. As summer approaches, stands will appear on the roadsides, selling products made from local crops along with fresh produce. Watch out for the peach ice-cream; it’s addictive!