Farm-to-Fork: Grass-Fed Meat Delivery from The Log Cabin Ranch
Food that’s better for you starts with food that’s better for the planet. Learn more about regenerative farming and how to get grass-fed meat delivery in the United States.
This article was sponsored by The Log Cabin Ranch but all research and opinions are my own.
Farm to Fork – An Introduction
Over the years, the nutritional value of our food has changed—and not for the better. Industrial farming, soil depletion, and mass production have led to a decline in essential nutrients, making it harder to get the vitamins and minerals our bodies need from conventional food sources. But there are ways to reverse course: regenerative farming and raising grass-fed meat.
In this article, we will explore:
- How the nutrients in our food have changed over the years
- What regenerative farming is and how it benefits you & the environment
- The difference between common meat labels – grass-fed vs pasture-raised vs organic
- And how a local farm in Illinois, The Log Cabin Ranch, is making it easy to access farm-to-fork, grass-fed meat with delivery straight to your doorstep
Nutrition in Our Food Today vs The Past
For the past 70 years, the nutritional content of fruits & vegetables grown in the US have been on a decline. This means that the crops we harvest today have less vitamins & minerals than those our grandparents ate. A BBC study compared vegetables grown in 2004 to those in 1950 and found that the newer vegetables contained 38% less nutrients than the older versions. This same concept applies further down the food chain – when animals consume plants that are less nutritious, they in turn provide meat that’s less nutritious.
Why does this happen? These declines are often attributed to factors like soil depletion, changes in agricultural practices, and crop varieties that are optimized for yield rather than nutritional value. In a nutshell, it boils down to the health & nutrients of our soil.
What is Regenerative Farming?
Regenerative farming is an approach that aims to rebuild soil health, reduce carbon emissions, and promote biodiversity. A key pillar of regenerative farming is rotational grazing, which essentially mimics the natural grazing patterns of wild animals. Livestock move regularly between different sections of a pasture, allowing the area to rest & regrow vegetation before the animals move back to graze it again. This practice not only allows for variety in the animals’ diet but it optimizes soil health. And healthier soil means more nutritious foods for you.
Regenerative farming is not a term most people know about or understand, but is an important part of the solution. There are a number of other more common food labels that are important for consumers to understand.
What is the Difference between 100% Grass-Fed, Pasture-Raised and Organic Meat?
There are many labels used to help you understand how cattle were raised before making their way to your table. Keep in mind these terms are often misunderstood and may not tell the full story.
100% Grass-Fed
The term 100% grass-fed specifies what an animal may and may not eat. Grass-fed beef means that a cows’ diet consists solely of grass and forage once weaned, with no grain or grain byproducts.
Pasture-Raised
The term pasture-raised defines where the cattle spend time and also loosely what they are eating. The term requires that cattle are fed at least 120 days of the year outside, eating grass. This term is different than grass-fed, because during the remaining 245 days of the year the cows may also eat grain.
Organic
The term organic refers more to how the cattle were raised vs what they ate. Organic beef was raised without the use of any chemicals (including antibiotics & hormones) and is fed only organic grains or grass. “Organic” is a USDA-regulated term. Farmers need to complete a certification process, which can take up to three years, to use the organic label. And while this label is meant to help consumers, it doesn’t guarantee that the soil from which your cows graze is healthy, a key pillar of regenerative farming. Additionally, many small farms may not have the time or funds to go thru this process, but practice these methods regardless.
While food labels are important, they may not share the whole picture. It’s important to connect with your local farmers and understand how their practices affect the nutrient quality of the meat and also the environment.
Shown here: Cross Cut Shank from The Log Cabin Ranch.
Why Choose Grass-Fed Meat?
Grass-fed meat offers a host of benefits especially when combined with other ethical farming practices including :
- Nutritional benefits: Grass-fed meat is higher in antioxidants, omega-3s, & richer in vitamins while lower in unhealthy fats.
- Environmental benefits: Grass-fed meat is better for the land, allowing for more sustainable farming.
- Ethical benefits: Grass-fed meat provides for natural grazing practices & better animal welfare.
The Log Cabin Ranch – Grass-Fed Meat Delivery
The Log Cabin Ranch is a small family farm in southern Illinois with over 1,400 acres of land which they use to raise 100% grass-fed beef, pastured pork and chicken. They use regenerative farming techniques to deliver nutrient-dense food that’s good for you and for the planet. The Log Cabin Ranch offers convenient delivery & pick up options of their grass-fed meat to the continental United States.
How Does Regenerative Farming Work At Log Cabin Ranch?
Healthy soil is the foundation of The Log Cabin Ranch, which has been in business since 1979. David Brubaker, a third generation farmer at The Log Cabin Ranch, explains the farm’s philosophy, “We have a passion for healing the soil and giving people food they can eat with confidence.” Since implementing regenerative farming techniques and transitioning to all grass-fed meat David’s noticed “an abundance of life return to their property, including healthier animals & plants and healed soil & land”.
The Log Cabin Ranch rotates their cattle to a new pasture at least several times a week, sometimes even several times a day. The pastures are made up of grasses, legumes, and forbs, which are mineral rich. They are never sprayed with roundup, pesticides, or fungicides and consist of only non-GMO plants.
David further explains the regenerative farming technique, “Before moving to new pasture, the cattle eat the best part of each plant, trample part of it, which helps it build organic matter and store carbon, and then the remaining part of the plant can grow back. When you focus on what animals & plants need for health – sunshine, natural environment, diverse pastures to graze – the need for antibiotic goes away”.
The Log Cabin Ranch’s simple approach creates healthy environments which in turn creates healthier meat.
Farm to Fork Sustainable Meat from Log Cabin Ranch
When you purchase meats from The Log Cabin Ranch rest assured your meats are:
- 100% Grass-Fed
- Pasture-Raised
- Antibiotic Free
- Non-GMO
- Regenerative
While The Log Cabin Ranch is not certified organic, they use many of the same practices and in some cases go above and beyond by regenerating the land to produce healthy food for you and your family.
What Cuts of Meat Can You Order From The Log Cabin Ranch?
- 100% Grass-Fed Meat – enjoy a large selection of steaks, brats, ground meat, roasts and more
- Pasture-Raised Pork – feast on St. Louis style ribs, pork chops, ground pork, bacon, & more
- Pasture-Raised Chicken – take home a whole bird or only the parts you want including chicken liver, chicken feet, drumsticks, pastured eggs & more
- Wild Salmon – caught fresh then frozen & shipped directly from Alaska.
For a full list of available meats, check their online store. Need recipe inspiration? The Log Cabin Ranch now has a recipe book available for a free download!
Delivery & Pickup Options from The Log Cabin Ranch
The Log Cabin Ranch makes it easy for busy families & professionals to eat 100% grass-fed, pasture-raised meat with delivery straight to your doorstep!
Delivery Options:
Delivery is FREE with orders of $150 or more. Otherwise, pay a flat $15 fee per delivery.
- Shipping via UPS to the 48 states in available. Orders ship every Wednesday.
- St Louis Area & Southern Illinois – Have your food delivered to your doorstep via local distributor. Local pick up options are coming soon too!
In Person Options:
- Shop in person at The Log Cabin Ranch Farm Store – 1384 N Log Cabin Ln, Ina, IL 62846. Hours are Monday -Friday 8:30-5:30pm and Saturday 9-3pm.
- Pick up at Carbondale Farmer’s Market (seasonally) – 2001 W Main Street, Carbondale, IL 62901
- Pick up at Triple C Meats 5565 IL -146 Anna, IL 62906 (bulk orders only)
Final Thoughts
The Log Cabin Ranch makes farm-to-fork dining easy with delivery of their 100% grass-fed meat, pastured pork and chicken to all over the US. The regenerative farming techniques The Log Cabin Ranch and other farms are implementing can help reverse the nutritional deficits in our food while also restoring the soil & environment for future generations.
Visit The Log Cabin Ranch on the Web
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