The Peanut Trap and "The One Bad Day" - Lessons from the Farm

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October 21, 2025

Back in the days when I loaded my truck with coolers of orders and made deliveries myself, one of our customers gave me a children’s book, The Peanut Trap. I remember reading it to our oldest daughter when she was just one or two years old. It has been in our bedtime story rotation here and there, but as she's grown older, it's been set aside for more “big kid” stories.

Recently, while discussing how to load our latest batch of pigs onto the trailer for their “one bad day,” our oldest daughter enthusiastically suggested we use peanuts. At first, I did not catch on to why she said that until Rebecca pointed out that she was remembering The Peanut Trap.

The Story Behind The Peanut Trap

In the story, young pigs discover free peanuts left out for them, despite Grandma Pig's warning, “Do not eat free peanuts!” The young pigs do not listen and end up trapped. It's a simple yet powerful lesson about being wary of things that seem too good to be true, especially when they are free.

From Peanuts to Pumpkins

We don't keep peanuts on the farm, but our garden, which is far too big if we're being honest, produced plenty of pumpkins and squash this year. For about a week before our pigs’ “one bad day,” we made sure they were treated to generous helpings of pumpkins and squash.

When it came time to load them onto the trailer, we scattered pieces of pumpkin inside. The “trap” was set, and with some patience (and a few laughs), all the pigs made their way in, eager for those delicious and free pumpkin treats.

The Duality of Farm Life

Loading pigs on their one bad day always reminds us of the dual nature of farming. Raising animals from tiny piglets, calves, or chicks into strong, healthy adults ready for harvest is both rewarding and deeply humbling.

At Wild Meadows Farm, our mission is to ensure every animal raised lives a happy, healthy, and natural life, and that they only ever have one bad day.

Respecting the Natural Order

It's never lost on us that the animals we care for, the ones we scratch behind the ears, feed by hand, and watch grow, eventually go on to nourish our family, team members and customers. Their contribution sustains not only us but also our employees, partner farms, and the local businesses we work with.

Some believe we can or should move away from animal protein altogether. I understand that perspective, but I have also met many who have come to us after struggling with their health from cutting out animal foods. In my humble opinion, animal protein is real nourishment, a genuine health food without the fancy marketing.

I share the concerns of those who question how most meat is produced today. That's why we choose to raise our animals differently, with respect, care, and a connection to the land. It's not just about food; it's about honouring life and maintaining the natural order of things.

As always, thank you for following along. We hope your day is a great one.

Wild Meadows Farm

Blog: On The Farm

Grey County

Durham, Ontario

The Peanut Trap

Butchering Pigs

From Pasture to Price Tag: Understanding the Rising Cost of Meat

I consider myself very fortunate that I rarely go to the grocery store (we have one in our backyard, and for the things we don’t have here, Rebecca is usually the one who goes). When I do find myself there, though, I usually linger in the meat aisle to take a look at the prices. For the record, when we set prices for our products, we do not consider prices in stores or those of competitors. We determine prices based on our costs, plus a markup that we know will keep our doors open and the business sustainable. I do, however, find observing grocery store prices interesting and telling of what the commodity meat system produces and how it is priced. Just a few years ago, I often thought to myself how amazingly inexpensive meat was at the grocery store. Products like ground beef, chicken, and many pork cuts were so cheap. More recently, prices in stores are definitely up across the board. While our prices are still higher (and justifiably so, due to the quality of life our animals experience and the quality of meat our customers receive), the difference isn’t as great as it used to be. So why have grocery store prices increased so much? 1) Inflation is affecting everyone.Inflation is affecting everyone, including farmers, butchers, transport companies, and even grocery stores. Out-of-control money printing, higher energy costs, higher taxes, and wages that don’t keep up are a recipe for higher food prices—and for the general public to feel the strain financially. 2) Supply and demand are out of whack.Several factors, such as drought in the West, an aging farmer population, and higher beef prices (which discourage farmers from maintaining breeding stock), are leading to a lower cattle “inventory” in North America. That means fewer calves and a lower overall population, reducing supply. No one really knows when beef prices will come down, but the best-case scenario appears to be early 2028, based on what I’ve heard. Traditionally, chicken and other less expensive proteins have helped replace beef as prices rise. While it’s true that more people are choosing chicken as an alternative, beef demand has remained strong despite higher prices. Additionally, increased demand for chicken, combined with population growth and Canada’s restrictive production system (supply management), is projected to raise chicken prices by 25% in 2026. 3) Demand for meat isn’t slowing down.Experts often claim that more people will turn to “alternative” proteins as prices rise, and perhaps this is true for some. But you can’t beat the real thing, and I believe most people understand this. The public outcry over news that cloned meat could enter the supply chain without labelling is a good indicator that people do not want their food tampered with. So while I believe our products exist on a different playing field than their commodity and mass-produced counterparts, it’s interesting to observe how markets are changing and to track how these shifts may impact our customers and our business. Thanks for following along, and I hope you find my insights into our food system useful.

The Peanut Trap and "The One Bad Day" - Lessons from the Farm

The Story Behind The Peanut Trap

From Peanuts to Pumpkins

The Duality of Farm Life

Respecting the Natural Order

More from the blog

From Pasture to Price Tag: Understanding the Rising Cost of Meat

Food Debates Are Getting Wild – Here’s Why It's A Good Thing

Cloned Meat? Never on Our Farm!

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Wild Meadows Farm Ltd.