Sweet Irony or Logical Conclusion?

Is it sweet irony or just living life to its logical conclusion when a retired cop becomes a pig farmer? As I ponder that question I find it a bit amusing that the phrase "pig pile" was a part of my vocabulary as a young policeman and has now made a reprise in my new career. Then, it referred to a number of cops piling onto a suspect that did not want to go peaceably. Now, the meaning is more literal and refers to the natural tendencies of young pigs to lie close together for warmth. It is also ironic that calling someone a pig is used so derisively as these animals are undoubtedly the cleanest (though you wouldn't know it to look at them), most intelligent and most lovable of all the barnyard animals. Not to mention the tastiest.




At any rate, we love raising pigs and this years' batch is now available to order by the half or the whole at $3.50 per pound hanging weight. A $100 deposit is required to confirm your order. Additionally, you pay the butcher $.55/lb for cutting and wrapping. They will be harvested around mid or late October and will be processed at Butcher Boys in Vancouver,WA. They cure the hams and bacon without nitrites. And of course we raise them humanely, naturally and without chemicals.

Our guests love watching the pigs frolic, wallow and root. Some even love to get in the pen and help with the feeding. One recent guest could easily be dubbed the "pig whisperer" for her ability to charm them. It took me a couple of weeks to get them to warm up to me. But then again she is prettier than me and smells better.



Have any of you ever raised pigs? Do you have some stories to share? Have you tasted pasture raised pork ? The meat is denser and more pink in color rather than being "the other white meat."

When Pigs Fly

Kitty and I can now attest first hand that pigs can fly. Recently we purchased four weaner pigs to raise and sell. Weaner pigs are so called because they have been weaned from the sow, not because they are going to become wieners, which they are, but that's another story. We took great care to prepare their new home, a hutch to house them, complete with automatic feeder and waterer. Then we surrounded it all with electric netting to contain them and protect them from predators.

We unloaded the first pig and she checked out her surroundings, touched her wet snout to the electric fence and got appropriately shocked. She went to another side of the fence and did it again. "Great," I'm thinking, "she's going to learn this quickly." And in the blink of an eye we saw all four feet leave the ground as she flew through the electric netting. We just stood there with mouths agape not believing our eyes. I don't think a sitcom has been produced that could match the comedy of two 59 year old farmer wannabes trying to catch a pig on the run. Why anybody would ever grease a pig is beyond me. They are incredibly fast and agile. Some neighbors came to help and at one point four of us were on this pig and she still managed to elude us. Two hours later, Kitty made the decisive tackle that ended this merry romp. No animals were hurt in this escapade but some humans were a little bruised and battered. We got her safely back to the truck while we worked on plan B for containing them, which turned out to be a second layer of netting with smaller holes, which has been working quite well to date. They seem to have learned a healthy respect for the netting.

Porchetta, Salumi, Prosciutto and Ham Hock

Unloading the first pig
Checking things out

Pig on the run

So do you call a crafty pig like this, CunningHam?

pigs drink 5-7 gallons of water per day

They love to wallow in the mud since they do not have sweat glands.

using the self feeder

They love to root

We all know what their ultimate fate is, but until then these pigs will have the healthiest, happiest life they can frolicking, rooting, wallowing and of course eating.

You can purchase pork by the half or the whole. A half pig yields about 80 lbs. of meat and takes up almost 4 cu. ft. of freezer space. If that sounds like too much for your family consider sharing half with another small family. Once you've had pasture raised pork you won't want factory farmed pork again. Call or email us for details. (360)795-0585 theinn@crippencreek.com