Background & Certifications at Mint Creek, discussing Humane Treatment to Animals
As the farmers selling direct to our customers, we share our practices with confidence, knowing exactly how the livestock and poultry we raise are cared for. The whole reason the Carr family started Mint Creek was to be an alternative to conventional farms. We focus on animal and human well-being. (And to us, this also means having an ecological focus, because we are all a part of environmental ecosystems.) We have a deep connection to the animals we raise for meat and eggs, and even keep a few of them as pets. Our farm has grown from a few sheep and chickens in the early 1990s to the size that it is now (still small but big enough to supply a few farmers' markets and about 100 CSA members). During this growth from a hobby to a small, farm business, humane treatment and animal-welfare have been chief among our focus in decisions of farming practices. We take time for individualized animal care. We have a vet tech, Rejeana, in our farm crew who manages the treatment and care of any critter that breaks a leg, has issues caring for its young, or has any other ailments it needs care for. We personally drive our animals to small, family-run butchers within a 2.5hr radius so the process of going to slaughter is less than a day. The trip to the butcher is run by us directly with care and attention to making it as comfortable as possible for our animals.
We are regularly 3rd party organic inspected by the OCIA, and organics do affect animals’ quality of life. Despite some unfortunate examples of corruption of the organic principles in our news (products from the U.S. and abroad), our farm has not given up on the organic principles. The organic movement has been a grassroots movement; we have not given up on that foundation. Our holistic interpretation of organic principles is centered around animal health, well-being, and the inextricable, ecological connection of animals with soil health on the land. We believe in a regenerative interpretation of organics.
Practically speaking, the workload, payment, and paperwork that goes along with OCIA organic certification is overwhelming enough at this time, such that we have not yet prioritized getting any additional certifications. If you consider our farm events (tours and farm dinners) generally done in warm weather season, onsite, that is something of a regular customer inspection, too. We would love to have you out to one of these events.
Details of Mint Creek Organic Certification & Labelling
We have high standards where it counts; we don't compromise. Our animals graze using regenerative pasture management (called rotational-grazing) on certified organic pastures. And our pigs and poultry get organically certified feed supplements to their pasture forage. These are expensive, values-driven choices to make on a small farm like ours. We do this for the health of the animals and the meat we pass on to our customers.
However, not all the meat packages have the OCIA organic seal. Not all of our butchers offer this organic stamp service, and it is something that the butcher rather than the farmer applies to packaging. We are also bogged down by the paperwork of getting each individual species labelled with the seal - it is a lot. Most consistently, our 100% grassfed beef can be OCIA labelled on the meat packages in addition to being organic-fed because we have gone through the additional labeling paperwork and that butcher offers the organic beef seal to represent the validity of OCIA certification we have achieved. We should have the OCIA organic seals on pork and eggs soon, as well, as we have put a lot of hours into that paperwork over the last 2-3 years. Eventually we hope to have organic seals on all packages, but our priority is doing the right thing first, and getting recognition for what we do will eventually follow.
We also raise all of our lambs in Illinois on our certified organic farm and they are 100% grass-fed & finished, too. Our goats are 100% organic fed but also get organic, whole grain supplements to their grass and pasture forages (goats are browsers, and do better with a roughage supplement to their leafy greens). Our hogs and poultry are raised on our certified organic pastures with organic grain supplements that we source and mix in small batches onsite.