Our Story

A Tale of Two Farmers and Their Dream

WHAT IS PASTURED POULTRY?

Left to their own devices, chickens will forage on pasture and scratch for a diet of bugs, seeds, and greens. We raise our chickens on pasture in moveable pens, so that every day the birds are moved to a new patch of grass. The birds forage intensively before moving on and allowing the pasture to grow back. This ensures the best health possible for the birds and the land.

WHY SHOULD I CARE?

You are what you eat, and a chicken is too. Studies show big nutritional differences in eggs from chickens raised on pasture versus birds raised on a conventional grain-based diet. Eggs from the pastured flocks have been shown to have half as much cholesterol as conventional eggs, be twice as rich in vitamin E, have 2-6 times more beta carotene (a form of vitamin A), and average four times as many omega-3 fatty acids.

A 1999 study showed pastured meat birds have more than 20 percent less fat than conventional chicken and 30 percent less saturated fat. Two 2008 studies found that pastured birds have significantly higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids.

These differences make pastured meat a healthier choice.

Our Farm
Philosophy

We believe in regenerative agriculture the way that mother nature intended. You can almost call us "grass farmers" because our pasture is so important to the life on the farm. Instead of "free-ranging" our animals we use a practice called "rotational grazing" where we give animals a certain amount of pasture per day for chickens, and maybe a week or two for the four-legged animals. Doing this creates a lot more planning and many more hours of labor, but it is what we feel and know is the right thing to do. The chickens follow the cows like "the egret on the rhino's nose".

Our goal is to let our animals get the nutrition they need and eat the entire "salad bar" of grass species in the paddock allotted. In return, they fertilize the area and then move on to the next pieces. This gives time for the previous pasture to use the fertilizer the animal dropped for them without any interruption. We believe in all of our living members on the farm to thrive in their environment and enjoy their time here. We talk about how the animals are domesticated species and it is our responsibility to give them all the necessary tools to live their best life.

Using rotational grazing practices gives all three parts involved the best outcome. The Pasture becomes stronger and healthy each year with intense foraging and then rest, the animals are eating a balanced diet of grass species rather than in free-range they eat their favorite and can actually eliminate that species from pasture "they will eat the ice cream first and save the liver and onions for later" and lastly the consumer gets the amazing nutrient dense food available and feel good about eating and supporting a family farm that is passionate about providing top quality food to amazing people.

Seven Generations of Excellence

John Perry selling vegetables in Provincetown, 1974

Drew Locke is a 7th generation Truro farmer. His great-great-great grandmother left her 80-acre farm on Corn Hill to his grandfather John Perry, pictured here selling veggies off his truck in Provincetown in August of 1974. Drew's family still tills 7 acres for vegetable production and operates Hillside Farmstand on Route 6 in Truro.

GOT CHICKENS? MORE ON DREW…

Drew runs a mobile poultry processing unit. Farms that raise fewer than 2500 birds a year are eligible to use the unit for USDA-certified meat.

Drew has an associates degree from the Stockbridge Ag School and a BS in Sustainable Food & Farming from UMASS Amherst.

Our Commitment

Our commitment to sustainable farming practices, ethical animal husbandry, and genuine care for our land ensures that every product we offer meets the highest standards of quality and freshness.