Hello everyone,
Ed here - I've just started a new part-time job with Dartmoor National Park's Hill Farm Project which is an initiative trying to improve Dartmoor farm livelihoods and encourage local marketing of Dartmoor meat. I'm only in my second week but am keen to try and get a meat CSA up and running as soon as possible. Obviously Chagfood seems like a good place to start so I just want to float the idea with Members (and associates) to ask if there would be demand for local, organically-produced hill sheep meat from off the moor around Chagford?
We aleady have an established organic certified farmer raising native dartmoor whiteface sheep within a few miles of the town. If there was sufficient demand we could arrange for sheep to be killed on the farm, butchered in the town and distributed locally. In return Members would be encouraged to visit the farm during lambing, shearing and clearing days to get a picture of the people, the place and the production methods involved in producing their meat. If you are keen could you please send a response just saying "yes" just so I can get an idea of numbers - ideally by the end of next week - Friday 28th October.
Please note - this would be entirely seperate from existing Chagfood shares and is open to anyone, not just Chagfood Members, so please circulate widely. If there is enough demand then we could supply as early as Christmas. Also - in order for the scheme to run successfully you would potentially have to accept a "share" of a lamb which would include non-select cuts along with the more traditional select cuts that you expect to find in the butchers.
Any questions please feel free to give me a call on 07858 381539.
Cheers for now
Ed Hammer
