About Our Farm
Pastured Eggs
Our unique, handcrafted mobile pasture shelters
Throughout the pasturing season, our hens are moved through fresh, certified organic pasture in mobile pasture shelters. The vitamin rich forage, supplemented with a balanced mix of organic grains and minerals, creates a nutritious egg high in vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids.
During the colder months, the hens roam freely in three passive solar hoop buildings which provide both warmth, natural light, and plenty of our home-grown organic hay bedding. Unless it's very bitter, our chickens also venture outside to large south facing yards. We add organic alfalfa meal to their feed to provide a source of "dried pasture". The birds like it and the egg yolks darken a shade from the added nutrition.
* Candling is the process of shining light through the egg to identify internal abnormalities and cracks in the shell.
All our eggs are inspected three times, at collection, during candling* and finally, when they're packed into cartons. They are then stored in a 38 degree cooler and transferred to our refrigerated van for delivery to local grocery stores, food co-ops, CSA's, restaurants, work places and homes. All our eggs are delivered within 30 miles of the farm. We are committed to caring for our birds in a humane manner while producing high quality eggs delivered fresh to you. We hope that you will see and taste the difference a little grass and sunshine can make.
The Inspiration Behind our Name
An aerial view of the pasture shelters reveals part of the inspiration for the name of our brand Pasture Patterns. Pasturing also creates a pattern of life that must blend and adjust to the changes between and within each season.
Humane and Sustainable Practices
Organic, non-medicated feed
No synthetic pesticide or fertilizer
Pastured to reduce grain use
Passive solar winter housing
Chemical-free egg cleaning process
Packaged in 100% recycled paper cartons or reusable flats
Transported in reusable crates
At Prairie Bluff Farm we are working towards greater sustainability. Using a grass-based system on Southern Wisconsin's rolling landscape builds top soil, requires less fossil fuel and eliminates the need for herbicides and insecticides. Allowing the animals to share in the work of harvesting, trimming, and fertilizing the pastures improves their health and further reduces dependency on off-farm energy inputs.
The winter poultry buildings are solar heated and naturally ventilated. We collect the eggs and fill the feeders by hand and use an electric chore cart to carry the eggs and feed. A skid loader with Tier 4 anti particulate technology is used to move the pens. We are working on an electric winch system to do this task and further reduce the use of fossil fuel.
The egg washing and packing room is constructed within a 100 year old barn giving the beautiful old building modern purpose. The egg washing machine cleans the eggs using a hot water system with no added chemicals. The eggs are carefully packed into 100% recycled fiber cartons or reusable plastic flats which are then placed into reusable plastic egg crates. All Pasture Patterns eggs come from our farm. We do not buy eggs from other producers.