True Beef

What is that horse trying to say?!

When the polar vortex drifts away...I get to see my cowboy’s smile

See you later alligator! Peek-Be-Kind Porcupine!

Frost Mask...#nocovid

Good day for a ride.

Gotta love dogs! Faithful to every working adventure that comes along

An unexpected surprise:) Oops! Guess the 'birds and the bees' and the bulls didn't get the memo that we only calve in the spring;) She's a frisky sprite, and she will be just fine!

It was a good view from the 'office' today! Cattle were pretty cooperative for the 'meeting.'

We are welcoming a new gelding today:)

The barn. Built by family and friends. #proudranch, #barnlife, #damngood

Great day to be a cowboy!Great day to be a cowboy!

A letter to our horse It is special to ride a beautiful creature; young and old agree. They are worth art and poetic acclaim. Thank you Charlotte!

The first snow angel of the winter...

Mike and Moxie (M&M!) adventure-bound to Grasslands! Their pal Mark got some great pics!

We just filled up the big freezer with beef, but it seems to sell fast these days....if you want to stock up before winter, now is the time!We just filled up the big freezer with beef, but it seems to sell fast these days....if you want to stock up before winter, now is the time!

Friends of True Beef. New supply of ground, roasts, and steaks. First come, first serve. PM or email to order.

This is our Moxie. She is mischievous and very smart! While we wait for Mike to chop a hole in the ice, she decided to play...it so you think she wants to eat my hat?

The new barn is becoming a landmark! Symmetry and strength to withstand weather and time

Spring has arrived:)

The old barn is down...R.I.P! The new one will rise (like a phoenix?) as soon as the rain stops

Calving is done, bulls have done their best 'Romeo' imitation for the cows, hay is almost rolled up...guess we have some time to build a barn!? What does Gaffer think?

Spring is the season for birth and blossoms. We become midwives at this time of year;)

True Beef salutes Salt BAY! It's in the click of the knife and the sparkle of salt!

Seriously folks. Ranchers are frozen this week! Being 'off grid' is a full-time job and our animals are huddled up in the bails to stay warm. The 'wild ones' are desolate. Coyote doesn't hibernate and food is scarce in this season. Winter is tough. Please remember us when you eat.

Here is the view of the commute from the house to work:)

Mia works with horses like we do. Understanding 'equus' is a blessing of agriculture. We use equine herd behaviour to bring trust and respect and safety.

I wish I could share the feeling of working outside for 4 hours at -30 and coming home to the smell of horses and wood fire...#comealive

Being alone at the ranch is fruit for introspection...beauty and insignificance are my teachers. Weather and four-legged friends are my companions. #neverlonely

Our hearts pay tribute to the best cattle dog ever:( Mickey: he has been with us since our first steps on the land; worth 3 cowboys in the field and in the corral. He taught many pups the 'ropes' and brought many cowboys their hats, and kept all the kitties safe and warm.

The Sandhill Cranes!!!! My phone couldn't capture the moment, so I found a link. At 1:30 is the call they make. When they fly over the ranch, I always get the giggles:)

Rock picking; time to reflect; what we carry from ancestors and biographies; what we release; Honour life

The environmental case for cattle: even Prince Charles agrees

Our yearlings are going to a new location for grazing...travel by school bus!

Mother's Day is coming...for the cattle! True Beef welcomes our heifers into the motherhood club!

The crocuses are waking up and showing their fuzzy purple crowns! Even the horses want to tip-toe as we go;)

For Sugar...a wish of freedom, peace and joy

Our dear horse, Sugar, succumbed to age and nature today. Earth day, 2018 is bittersweet. We mourn our loss and honour her life.Our dear horse, Sugar, succumbed to age and nature today. Earth day, 2018 is bittersweet. We mourn our loss and honour her life.

Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud! ....and then some;)

If you are curious: since we started grazing the land with our big, hoofed bovines, our wetlands have become spongy and lush. Places that were dry have become 'swimable'. Our land needs hoofed creatures and their multiple stomachs to keep it healthy and abundant. Please support your farmers to be stewards of the land!

https://www.facebook.com/trevor.herriot/posts/10211751174191152

With the sunshine getting brighter and stronger everyday, my belly is rumbling for fresh foods. Here is a very green recipe for fresh roll with steak. True Beef tastes awesome with peanut sauce! https://thehungrychronicles.com/spring-rolls-recipe/

April is bringing more warmth, which means we will be restocking the deep freeze:) What cuts of True Beef would you like to have in abundance?

Daylight is stretching out. Birds are singing again. You can almost feel the stirring of new life. Spring is on the way!

Saddle up! This weekend will be special at the ranch; It's weaning time! We keep cows and calves together for a whole year (a natural cycle) to optimize their health. Before spring comes, we help the mommas wean so that they can restore the energy they give to nursing and get refreshed before birthing and breeding season;)

Same geography. Two different management styles. Dramatic results. The need for change is urgent. Support land stewards.

Holistic Managers like Leonard Pigott use their knowledge to restore landscapes from the brink of desertification. Everyone has a part in this work. How do you support land stewardship?

Leonard is our chief rancher, and a charismatic facilitator of Holistic Resource Management. HRM is a model for becoming accountable for the decisions we all make about land and food and community. If you are interested in participating in an overview (possibly in April), send me an email!

The next generation needs to have knowledge of the land. Their survival may depend on it!

Even ranchers get February blues and long for warmer climates...

Have you ever wondered where artificial raspberry, vanilla or strawberry flavor comes from? These are the dried perineal glands of the beaver. They contain cast...oreum a food additive usually listed as ‘natural flavoring’ in the ingredient list. Castoreum is the exudate from the castor sacs of the mature North American Beaver, it is a yellowish secretion in combination with the beaver’s urine, used during scent marking of territory. In the USA, castoreum as a food additive is considered by the FDA to be generally recognized as safe, often referenced simply as a natural flavoring in products’ lists of ingredients. While it can be used in both foods and beverages as a vanilla, raspberry and strawberry flavoring. Read More...http://www.gatheringofthevibes.com//14386-have-you-ever-w/

What's for dinner tonight? How about Brisket? https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-slow-cooker-brisket-and-on

-40 degrees...f#cking cold. Bites your ears and tails off if you're not huddled up and bundled thick. The early cowboys resorted to whiskey when the fires wouldn't light... Electricity, coffee and tea with warm pancakes makes our life seem luxurious compared to those days.... Cheers to you from my morning brew!

We memorized every book and cranny of the land like the body of a lover...

We are still accepting orders on the waiting list; drop us an email to get True Beef early this spring! [email protected]

We are what they eat... Even in the winter, True Beef cattle are grazing on wild, prairie pasture:)

Just eat real food that eats real food. https://www.healthline.com/nut/grass-fed-vs-grain-fed-beef

Support the ranchers and farmers who do the most good for animals, ecosystems, and communities. http://savory.global #RegenerativeAgriculture #HolisticManagement

Grass fed vs Corn...what's the difference? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nfm21JqcLc0

I researched the menu of the Starship Enterprise and discovered Spock's favourite side dish; Mashed Sweet Potato. It's a perfect compliment to a True Beef roast! Live long and Prosper! https://cookpad.com//recipes/360504-mr-spocks-mashed-sweet

Could Spock survive the life on the ranch?

Have you heard of John Ware? He is part of our cowboy heritage. Born into slavery in 1845 in the American south, Ware gained his freedom after the Civil War and eventually drifted west. He came to Alberta in 1882, the only black man on a massive cattle drive from the plains of Idaho.... Starting as a cowhand, he won the respect of his peers through his grit, determination and unmatched skill. John Ware, a former American slave, helped establish Alberta's beef industry.During those first few months in Alberta, Ware survived a brutal snowstorm and kept the cattle safe while other cowboys abandoned the herd. He was found alive four days after that blizzard, and that was the beginning of his reputation as a cowboy who was savvy with cattle. He is also attributed with bring the first cats to Canada!

Ever heard of John Ware? He is part of our Canadian Cowboy heritage. It's said John Ware could ride the wildest horses without being thrown from the saddle. He could tame the meanest broncos and walk across the backs of penned steers without fear.... He was strong as an ox, ate sandwiches the size of a family Bible, and is said to have discovered an Alberta oilfield by simply flicking a match. Born into slavery in 1845 in the American south, Ware gained his freedom after the Civil War and eventually drifted west. He came to Alberta in 1882, the only black man on a massive cattle drive from the plains of Idaho. Starting as a cowhand, he won the respect of his peers through his grit, determination and unmatched skill. John Ware, a former American slave, helped establish Alberta's beef industry. During those first few months in Alberta, Ware survived a brutal snowstorm and kept the cattle safe while other cowboys abandoned the herd. He was found alive four days after that blizzard, and that was the beginning of his reputation as a cowboy who was savvy with cattle, said Foggo.

I wish I was vegan/herbivore. I love the exotic flavours of bananas, mangos, avocados, pineapple and nuts. I don't like the killing part of ranching. But it's winter in Saskatchewan and I am grateful to have the nutrition of grassfed beef.... TrueBeef is local. That means that it doesn't need another country to grow it. It doesn't require trains, boats and airplanes to get healthy fat and protein in my body. Today, I am grateful to be an omnivore;) Love TrueBeef!

Oops. This morning I almost engaged in a rant about how 'my way is better'...then I remembered! "Criticism is not constructive." Even though there are vast differences in ethics and methodology within the food production industry, there is a significant common ground. Ranchers, farmers and gardeners have the difficult task of growing food from soil, sun, seed and beast. This morning, I post appreciation for the people who's livelihood provides me with all the 'fixins' for... my meals:) https://medium.com//we-should-respect-our-food-producers-5

Strange!? I went to the meat section of the grocery store planning to pick up some lamb for variety, but I couldn't do it. All the meat had an odd red colour; more like licorice than blood...has this happened to you?

Once upon a time, cattle were entirely grassfed. Then, we enlisted the aid of the 'trained nutritionist' and voila! Now we can manipulate the earth to feed our livestock a blend of grains to fatten them up quickly and as cheap as possible. Here is a CBC radio link to express how we are adapting now. http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/966628419647

Love is in the air! Call me a hopeless romantic, but since a few bulls snuck into the cow herd, Valentine's Day seems a lot closer!

The Feb, 2017 issue of Spinney Mag featured grass-fed beef...celebrate True Beef Love! http://www.spinneys-dubai.com//grass-fed-beef-all-you-nee/

We would love to hear how True Beef tastes on your table! Send a recipe or picture of your creations!