MADE IN HUMBOLDT
Celebrations Tamales
Jessicurl warehouses with their beaks removed, as factory-raised birds typically are. “They’re only worth it if you care about the animals you eat living a decent life.” “I wanted to be a grass-based farmer because we grow grass in Humboldt County,” says Pec-Crouse. They would be up for local grain feed for birds but it’s typically farmed for people to eat and not priced for livestock. So Pec-Crouse supplements their poultry’s diets with domestically grown organic grain. They say it would be great to only raise geese on grass feed and get lovely, large eggs three months out of the year, “But my family Shail Pec-Crouse wrangling a turkey at Tule Fog Farm. was unwilling to only eat Instagram, courtesy of Shail Pec-Crouse eggs seasonally.” Broad breasted turkeys, like your average Butterball ready on Craigslist and while Pec-Crouse or other supermarket variety, “are an regrets not being able to provide the amazing, beautiful feat of breeding,” says birds their customers have enjoyed for Pec-Crouse. A broad breasted turkey can years, they won’t be too sorry to see grow to 20 pounds in three months. Pecthe birds themselves go. It’s a matter of Crouse, however, raises heirloom turkeys personality. “They’re just little dinosaurs,” that take twice as long to mature, require they say. Once the flock surrounded more feed per pound and top out around Pec-Crouse’s 3-year-old child and one 15 pounds. Crossbreeding a few heirlooms jumped at her belly, clawing her “just like with broad breasted turkeys a few years a velociraptor. … Biologically, they’re like ago resulted in larger but fewer birds. The dinosaurs but they act like it, too.” Even upside to the heirlooms is they breed the one they raised in the house was naturally and while that means feeding a decidedly unfriendly. breeding flock all year, it eliminates the The heirloom and broad breasted need to buy factory-born chicks. turkeys yield similar tasting meat, says That extra feed has made a big Pec-Crouse, “But having them out on difference as the cost of grain has gone grass eating green things, it makes them up, despite the turkeys’ partial grass more flavorful. … It’s very different from diet. Pec-Crouse says their feed prices what you get in a factory farm.” doubled between November of 2019 and Pec-Crouse is typically in charge of the November of 2021. Some of that is due stuffing but when it comes to preparing to the general increase in grain prices, but the bird, they swear by a little salt rub also because they can no longer get a under the skin and low and slow cooking trucking company to deliver cheaper bulk — roughly an hour per pound in an oven orders direct from the mill. “I’m going to below 200 degrees. Roasting breast-down have to put my prices up this year, which eliminates the need for basting the breast makes me feel sick,” they say. Last year as the juices flow downward. “With my the birds went for $10 per pound but this birds, it’s almost a whole day of cooking” year they may need to sell for $15. “I hate to get to an internal temp of 165 degrees. raising prices.” Still, Pec-Crouse says, like the way they On top of the cost of feed, the pluckraise their birds, it’s worth it. ● er Pec-Crouse has rented in past years Jennifer Fumiko Cahill (she/her) is the isn’t available anymore, which means arts and features editor at the Journal. hand plucking with as many volunteers Reach her at 442-1400, extension 320, or as they can round up for harvest day the jennifer@northcoastjournal.com. Follow Sunday before Thanksgiving. her on Twitter @JFumikoCahill. Tule Fog Farm’s breeding flock is al-
jessicurl.com
We’re in the freezer section at the grocery store. Also, available at the farmer’s market!
Made locally, sold around the world since 2002.
Kinetic Koffee www.kinetic-koffee.com
Redwood Wishing Wells 707.362.2808 Working hand cranks, various sizes, garden or gifts. Now offering Garden Benches various sizes available.
Red, White And Blue. All day long All year long. Caffeinating Humboldt County since 2005.
Tofu Shop
www.tofushop.com Locally made, organic, artisan tofu – fresh, baked, smoked – since 1980.
Hand Crafted Made With Aloha Locally made in Humboldt since 2000 www.OhanaOrganics.com
NCJ WHAT’S GOOD
Devouring Humboldt’s best kept food secrets. northcoastjournal.com/whatsgood Have a tip? Email jennifer@northcoastjournal.com
northcoastjournal.com • Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021 • NORTH COAST JOURNAL
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