We Have a Problem

A photo posted by Dan Wiley (@4wileyfarm) on Nov 11, 2014 at 4:36pm PST

We have a big problem around here.  It is a good problem, but none the less, a problem.  

Our freezers are full!  The upright deep freeze is full, the pop refrigerator freezer is full and the inside freezer is full.  I even had to resort to storing some of the holiday baking over at Papa's house.  I sure hope he doesn't figure out how to bake the cinnamon rolls!

We bought half of a pig off of a neighbor (3rd shelf).  The 1st shelf is garden produce and the 2nd shelf is the rest of last year's Christmas lamb.  Shoved into every other nook and cranny is Hank, our Miniature Hereford steer.  Yes, we name our steers.  

Hank was a steer that shouldn't have lived.  Thanks to a very determined vet, and Daniel's physical therapy, he survived.  Hank had a very difficult birth and didn't stand up for a week, but he had a purpose in life.  He lived a good life and now he is feeding our family.  

This year we took the steer to Turk Brother's Custom Meats in Ashland, Ohio.  Hank's live weight was 705 pounds and his hanging weight was 380 pounds.  This year we got the heart, tongue and liver.  We will use the heart for heart stew, which is a favorite.  I have no idea what we are going to do with the tongue and liver.  I tried to give the liver to my mom, but she didn't want any part of it.  

So now to the real problem... Isaac got a doe during Youth Hunt this weekend.  Where in the world are we going to put it?  We have about a week to figure it out.  

We really aren't greedy and hording food.  You can see on the bottom shelf that we only have 4 half logs of deer bologna left.  The boys pack deer bologna every day for lunch and we were getting a little nervous at our low supply.  Isaac came through for us, and he will now be rewarded by being allowed to eat for the rest of the year.  

We have 2 growing boys and one has a hollow leg.  We are hoping that this will be the bulk of our meat for the next 2 years.  

This Thanksgiving we are certainly grateful for a freezer full of meat!