Hello Everyone,

I trust you all wintered well.  We are still chugging along here in the deepfreeze.  Our first snow came just after mid-October, and has continued in insane abundance ever since.  No end is in sight as far as I can tell.  Minus 19C this morning, minus 26 for the previous three nights.  The packed snow is nearly to the top of the fenceposts in a lot of places.  It's going to be very wet and muddy one of these days!  In theory this means that early forest fires will not be a concern.  And the pastures and hayfields will have a much-needed source of early moisture, which will be a welcome change.

This is just a quick update to let you know how I am planning the remainder of 2026, despite the uncharted territory ahead of us.  The terrible situation in the Middle East makes for a whole lot of unknown variables going forward.  However, I intend to carry on as we've done for the past few years, keeping our Early Bird Pricing (2025 prices remain in effect) in place till April 30th.  

This will apply to orders confirmed by deposit to ksfarm.orders@gmail.com with delivery date planned for your preferred time of year.  Please include your phone number and order details in the memo section of the etransfer.  I can be reached at 780-864-9218 to discuss.

• Beef (halves and wholes) will be $7/lb hanging weight, including cut and wrap.  Quarters will remain at $7.35/lb hanging weight, including cut and wrap.  Deposit is $450 for a half, $850 for a whole.
• Pasture Packs will be an Eighth of a beef, approximately 85lb, $12/lb of boxed weight.  Dogbones and scrap are optional, and we won't charge for their additional weight.  Deposit is $200.
• Pork will be $5.25/lb hanging weight including cut and wrap.  Deposit will be $400.  I currently have one half of a pig available, cut and wrapped.
• Earliest available booking for beef butcher dates is mid-April, after the Easter Weekend.  We have openings available till late November, and possibly early December.  Turnaround will be 4 to 5 weeks.  Dry-aging will be 18-28 days, typically.

I've had it in my mind for a while now to do a long post about the current live cattle market prices, and how they relate to the slow, mindful way with which we have chosen to grow the lives that provide nourishment for all of us.  I've recently had several conversations with new Herdshare members that made me really think deeply and contemplate why we continue down this path.  I appreciate having to stretch and articulate thoughts and beliefs that become so deeply internalized that I don't really think about them.

I'm also going to try really hard to post more on our Facebook pages.  It kills me to share my thoughts on that platform, and the way it attempts to commercialize and monetize everything drives me batty, but it remains one of the more effective ways for us to find each other and share experiences.  And then there's the awareness that AI is mining our thoughts and expression: a small consolation is doing what's possible to empower people about food/life/value choices and accessibility to what's immutably true and real.  This past few months have been about as gritty and inescapably real as I care to experience. 

The animals are the only ones who seem to be taking the winter in stride.  The only signs of spring are shedding, and a tendency toward escaping so they can freely wander about.  And there's heat in the sun, when it actually shines.

Please stay safe, warm, and well.

Stephanie