Frequently Asked Questions
Do you ship?
No we do not. We currently offer pick up in Santa Rosa or onsite ranch pick up in Petaluma during ranch tours.
When are your pick up days?
We harvest only at peak grass finishing season, which is typically end of May-June depending on the rainfall and grass growth. Pick up is between end of June and mid July. Once your order is placed we will contact you directly for specific pick up options.
Can I buy individual cuts?
We sell beef the way your grandparents used to buy it. By the eighth, quarter, half and whole animal. When you purchase beef, by the cut, at the grocery store as we all grew up doing, you pay a huge premium for that convenience. Often over 33% when you buy from the super market or local butcher. It is difficult to manage the 350+ cuts that come out of a cow individually, and you the customer pay BIG to have someone (the store) manage it. At this time we do not retail single cuts of meat, but if you would like to pay 33% more we would be more then glad to direct you to a few places you can pay retail prices. Click here to see what cuts of meat you will get in a Grounded Grassfed cow share.
Are there hidden costs?
With a Grounded Grassfed beef share you pay one price per pound of actual meat you take home, the cost is all rolled into one. Some places charge you for hanging weight before the beef is cut, and you pay for processing separately etc. We do not do that. This way you can be sure you only pay for what you take home.
How much freezer space do I need?
It depends on the size of your share. An 1/8th share takes about 2 cubic feet of space or about 80% of an average kitchen freezer. A 1/4 share fits well into an 5-cubic foot chest freezer. A 1/2 share fits well into a 10-cubic foot chest freezer. A whole animal share fits well into an 20ft - cubic foot chest freezer. The chest freezer life is the best. We personally over-size our freezer space and somehow it always gets filled with neighbor's lamb, smoothie fruit, garden extras and of course beef. If you can make it happen, we highly recommend it!
I don't have a chest freezer. What do I do?
There are a couple of ways to handle this. Buy a smaller share and split it with friends to keep in your normal freezer is one way. They way we recommend though is to take the huge savings you will be making by purchasing directly from your rancher and get a chest or standing freezer. You will be glad you did. Recently Costco had some great deals on upright freezers (they save space too!). Other places like Home Depot and Lowes have freezers as well. Here is consumer reports buying guide for freezers:
I want to split a share with friends. How do I do that?
Makes sense to us. The bigger the share the bigger the savings. For us, splitting up a cow share is time, labor and administratively intensive so we discount the larger shares due to this reality. The processing facility also charges us for splitting the shares. What folks have done before is arrive at pick up day with coolers and split each box amongst themselves. Occasionally arm wrestling over favorite cuts or bartering ensues (I'll trade you this London broil for those Korean ribs...). We are happy to take multiple checks for a share for payment.
How do I cook these cuts? Especially cuts x,y,z?
We are all creatures of habit. It feels good to go with what we know. However the first time you buy a cow share there might be some cuts of meat that you are less familiar with. It pays to become friends with them and expand your repertoire. Upon pick up we have a Grounded Grassfed Users Guide you'll go home with with cooking tips for each category of beef cut. For general guidelines on cooking Grassfed (it cooks DIFFERENT than grain fed!) dig into our Cuts Page.
How are your animals harvested?
We take the end of life of our animals seriously and with great reverence. We have spent a long time ensuring they have a very low-stress life and we carry that value through to harvest. We take the animals to a local USDA processor within 3o minutes of the ranch. Once the animals are ready for harvest we do our best to be there with them until the very end. We stay with them and look them in the eyes before they are stunned completely unconscious with a swift bolt to the head by expert hands. It's uncomfortable to talk about, but it is part of the process and we honor this and the animals by being there for this essential part of the journey.
What's the difference between fresh and frozen beef?
There is negligible difference in the palatability of fresh vs. frozen beef. Some believe that freezing beef diminishes its quality however this is not supported by scientific evidence. The concern is in the ice crystals that are formed during the freezing process impacting the cell structure of the meat. Proper freezing and proper thawing typically negate any issues here. There have been numerous taste tests and many show that freezing can result in a more deeply flavorful and tender meat! It is important to thaw the beef fully in the refrigerator or cold water before cooking. Here's the Kansas State Extension research on this topic.
How are you able to sell healthy, sustainable beef for 30% less than natural grocery stores?
Good question. When you buy directly from your farmer or rancher both you and the farmer win. The middle man is cut out and everyone shares the savings. Except the middle man. They are sad.
I want to buy your tasty beef. How does this work?
Yes, we understand. In the era of push button convenience, this process takes a few extra steps in the beginning before it becomes super simple. Click here to learn about how this all works. But short form is this: Pick a share, place a deposit, pick up your beef and pay the remainder, grill and gobble it up (and share some with friends/family).
