Local eggs!

For a while now we've been seeing chickens in a large grassy field on our way home from shopping.  At first there were just a few chickens, but as time went on there seemed to be more and more of them each time we went by.  There was a sign saying "farm fresh eggs," but nobody seemed to be there.  However, the other day we finally saw a car parked in the driveway and decided to check the place out.

A warm and friendly man appeared and introduced himself, saying that he kept running out of eggs by late morning so he kept ordering more and more chickens.  It was heartening to learn that there is such a demand locally for eggs from free-range chickens!  He now has 400 chickens, several different breeds, and they are such a pleasure to watch!  The owner, a doctor, showed us where the refrigerator was and explained that he used the honor system - we could help ourselves any time and leave the money in a box by the refrigerator.  Amazing!  We bought two dozen.

We make a big effort to buy locally or organically (preferably both) grown/raised food whenever possible, out of love for Mother Earth.  And it is generally accepted that true free-range chickens do produce more nutritious eggs.  One study claims their eggs have one-fourth to one-third less cholesterol; one-fourth less saturated fat; two-thirds more Vitamin A; twice the Omega-3 fatty acids; three times more Vitamin E; and five times more beta carotene.

Up until now we've been buying eggs from so-called free-range chickens at the regular grocery store, and paying more for them, too, because of our consciences.  But now I understand that "free-range" can mean "that a commercial animal has access to the outdoors for just minutes a day, with their diet regulated by their producer."  Now that's disturbing...

So, I went home ecstatic now that I can see with my own eyes the truly free-range chickens who lay the eggs we'll be eating from now on!