This summer we raised a pig for meat. Actually, we co-raised three pigs with our neighbors, housing the pigs at their farm, and sharing in the cost and labor. Raised on pasture in the sunshine and fed with 100% non-GMO feed and lots of organic food scraps and whey from Creme Brûlée, they became the most amazingly delicious pork chops and sausages. But the real excitement of raising pigs has been homestead meat curing: Making our own bacon, jowls, salami, lardo, and prosciutto with traditional meat preservation methods. When we lived in Oregon we raised pigs two years in a row, keeping one pig for ourselves, and selling the others to friends. With our share of the meat, we … [Read more...]