Our Story
We are Sandra and Amanda, two sisters who grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta, Ga. When we started down the path of seeking out the most nutritious foods possible for our growing families, we found out that good eggs and meat are hard to find. We came to the conclusion that if we wanted free-range, soy-free, GMO-free eggs and chicken, we would have to raise it ourselves.
After a few years of keeping backyard chickens within the city limits and volunteering at other people's farms, we decided it was time to move to the country and get our own farm. Amanda and her husband now have 3 acres of beautiful land in Ball Ground, Ga with plenty of space to grow our own food. But why stop there? We want to share our passion for healthy food with the rest of our family and friends.
Location
Free Home Farm
2221 Yellow Creek Rd
Ball Ground, Ga 30107
Our Vision
When you contribute to this campaign, you will be granted exclusive access to our high-quality foods, classes, and other farm products. All 'perk' levels include a free farm membership. We do not plan on selling our products at farmers' markets or wholesale. The only way to buy from us is if you are a farm member. We are intentionally limiting the number of memberships so that we can build a meaningful relationship with each and every one of you. We want you to have an opportunity to see how your food is raised and to truly appreciate what it takes to raise good food.
The Money Raised By This Campaign
Will Be Used For:
- Renovating a portion of our barn into a chicken coop.
- Day old chicks from a local hatchery.
- Soy-free, GMO-free feed.
- Egg cartons, as needed.
(we prefer to reuse old egg cartons but sometimes we run out)
The Details
Hens don't start laying eggs until they’re around 4 to 6 months old, so it takes a bit of an investment to get a new flock started. We have to build their coop, buy chicks, and feed them for at least 4 months before we will see our first egg. That is why we are asking for your help. By contributing to this campaign and choosing one of the egg perks, you are essentially pre-ordering your eggs. The more eggs you pre-order, the more money you save per dozen. We get the money up front, when we need it most, and you get a steady supply of fresh eggs once the hens start laying. This type of arrangement is often called Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA.
We plan to have the chicks delivered at the end of March 2015 and expect to see our first eggs in August. Once their egg production is steady, around mid to late September 2015, we will notify you that you can begin picking up your eggs. All eggs must be picked up at the farm in Ball Ground or, with notice, we can make arrangements for you to pick up from Sandra's house in Roswell, Ga.
Other perks include classes on how to dress a chicken, how to cook a chicken, and general homesteading. We love what we do and love to share our knowledge and experience with like-minded folks. Each of these classes will be a private two hour session at the farm with Sandra and Amanda. You are welcome to bring anyone with you that you would like to share the class with.
Why Our Eggs Are Different
Just
about every grocery store now has organic, cage-free, or at least
"natural" eggs. Some even say free-range on the label.
While all of that sounds nice, they are not telling you the whole
story. Most of those chickens will never see sunshine or a blade of
grass in their lifetime. You can get truly free-range eggs at the
farmers' market, but what type of grain are they supplementing with?
GMO corn and soy?
All of our laying hens and meat chickens will be raised on pasture with
24/7 access to grass and bugs - a chicken’s natural diet. We will
supplement with grain but only soy-free, certified non-GMO grains,
and organic when possible. You will see the difference in their
yolks. Eggs from free ranging chickens have dark orange yolks
indicating high levels of Vitamin A and Omega-3s.
To keep things interesting we have chosen to raise a breed of chickens
that lay colored eggs. Eggs come in more colors than just white and
brown. They can be blue, green, or even pink. It is exciting to open
a carton of eggs and see a whole rainbow of colors!
Risks & Challenges
Of course, with any type of farming there are always risks involved. Predators, illness, and extreme weather are common concerns. We take great care to protect all of our animals to the best of our ability. We have an electric fence and a livestock guardian dog around to scare off predators and alert us of any disturbances. Well nourished birds with plenty of space to wander generally don't have many health concerns, and we will quarantine any new animals for an appropriate amount of time to prevent the introduction of illness. There is not much we can do about the weather. Fortunately, heritage breed chickens are pretty well adapted for cold weather, and their coop will be well insulated.
Other Ways You Can Help
So maybe you don't live anywhere near Ball Ground, Ga. You can still make a difference by contributing a dollar or two to help us reach our goal. Please share this campaign with everyone you know and give us a 'like' on
Facebook.