Farm Profile: Chopping Block Farm
Chopping Block Farm in De Soto, Missouri (an hour South of St. Louis) offers pasture-raised meats and free-range eggs. In their words, "Everything tastes better on grass."
We agree! And I'm delighted to share their farm with you (plus I have a girl crush on Farmer Connie who is also a Forensic Investigator and Professional Tattoo Artist). There is nothing that makes me happier than seeing strong women take life by the...well you know. Farmer Connie and Farmer Eric are in love (like make you smile from ear to ear kind of love) and have made a home for themselves on 25 acres as they pour their heart and soul into making Chopping Block Farm a force to be reckoned with. I hope you enjoy their Farm Profile as much as I do!
What do you sell?
We lovingly grow, responsibly raise, humanely process and transparently sell: strictly hormone, steroid and antibiotic free, grass-fed and pasture raised quail, chickens, ducks, geese, turkey and rabbits. 100% free ranged eggs to the corresponding animal, raw grass fed milk, heirloom variety herbs, fruits and vegetables and handmade up-cycled goods, health and beauty products and crafts are also available.
How do customers purchase your product?
We try to make it as convenient for everyone as possible. With us both working full time so far from the house,we seem to always be on the road and that makes it easier to find meet up/drop off locations to customers. For restaurants we mainly deliver and some items can be shipped. Certain items (raw items excluding eggs) always have to be picked up on farm.
How do customers get in contact with you?
Look into the mirror at night and say our name three times. We'll be breathing heavily behind you before you know it. Don't mind the pitch fork.
For everyone else, we have Facebook, a website, twitter and Instagram.
Why did you start farming?
Selfishly, we started to give ourselves better choices of what to eat. Once we realized how good they made us feel, both satisfaction of raising/growing it and the new healthy glow we had, we couldn't keep a secret any longer and wanted to find a way to inspire those who can't purchase our products to grow and raise their own!
What’s the most valuable piece of advice you’ve ever received?
That you miss 100% of the chances you don't take. Had we not jumped on this opportunity we'd still be straw bed gardening in a backyard of a subdivision house with rogue rabbits and miniature crowing cocks.
What would you tell someone who is interested in a farming lifestyle?
If you intend to grow or raise anything that doesn't start as a seed, be prepared for death. No matter how prepared you think you are, things will die, and when they do- you have to know what to do, how to do it and why. At some point you will have to be the one killing something and that is a big responsibility and honor you owe that animal. If you aren't as comfortable with blood under your fingernails as dirt, you might need to keep your day job.
Final words of wisdom for those looking to get into the farming way of life: Do as much as you can on your own funds. Save before you spend and minimize your debt before you even consider a farm. Neither of us has credit cards and we live by the "If we can't pay cash; we can't afford it." In the world of farming there are a million cool and expensive gadgets. Along with those million gadgets are two million people willing to help you open a line of credit for them. Just be careful.
