On Sale This Week: Pork Sausages + Poultry Broths

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

written by

Mike Dougherty

posted on

December 6, 2025

Back in the days when I loaded up my truck with coolers full of orders and made deliveries myself, one of our customers gifted 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 has grown older, it has been set aside for more “big kid” stories.

Recently, when we were 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 warning, “Do not eat free peanuts!” The young pigs do not listen and end up trapped. It is 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 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 is 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.

There are people who 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 is why we choose to raise our animals differently, with respect, care, and a connection to the land. It is not just about food; it is 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.

More from the blog

Cloned Meat? Never on Our Farm

Cloned Meat? Never on Our Farm

Over the past week, I've received quite a few messages about Health Canada's recent announcement. They have deemed cloned meat, specifically beef and pork, as safe. This means there will be no labels identifying it as cloned and no warnings to consumers. You can read more from Health Canada here and see what Sylvain Charlebois, a food professor, has to say in a story by the Epoch Times here. How Cloned Animals Will Be Used Cloned animals will likely serve as breeding stock, not directly for your dinner table. Animals with desirable traits-such as fast growth, disease resistance, or high milk production-can be cloned. Their offspring, with those traits, will go on to produce milk and meat efficiently. However, those cloned breeding animals will eventually enter the food chain. Selecting for desirable traits has been part of farming for generations. Farmers often keep heifer calves that grow well, are docile, and have good lineage, while letting go of those that don't meet these criteria. My Reaction and Reflections Like many of you, my initial reaction was one of disgust. After looking into it more, my feelings shifted to disappointment and reflection. This situation raises questions about what we want from our food and agricultural systems versus what is actually happening. I want to be clear - I don’t like it and want no part of it. But it is not surprising. It’s one more step toward a highly efficient, bland, and centralized food system. In such a system, the food people truly want becomes less affordable, while mass-produced options are deemed “safe” by authorities. The Push for Efficiency and Sustainability Cloned animals may also be marketed as "sustainable". Perhaps they can produce less methane, or cows can produce more milk, meaning fewer animals are needed. Pigs could be cloned to grow faster. While this sounds efficient, it risks consolidation, huge farms, and fewer people on the land. Transparency is limited. The government has not widely communicated these changes, which is concerning. As Sylvain Charlebois notes: Health Canada argues that cloned animals and their offspring are indistinguishable from conventional ones, so they should be treated the same. The problem isn’t the science-it’s the silence. Canadians are not being told that the rules for a controversial technology are about to change. No press release, no public statement, just a quiet update on a government website most citizens will never read. Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food We must consider more than efficiency. Food represents health, connection, and community. Major changes to production systems deserve careful thought. While efficiency can help feed people, food is about more than just sustenance. I encourage everyone to connect with the people who grow or produce your food. It might cost a little more, but the quality is often higher. You can ask questions, learn where your food comes from, and support systems outside mass production. Thanks for following along, and we hope you have a great day!

Read more
Reuniting the Herd and Preparing for Winter in Ontario

Reuniting the Herd and Preparing for Winter in Ontario

Bringing the Herd Back Together This year, we had two groups of cows, one at our farm and another at a rental farm. This past week, the group that spent the grazing season at the rental farm finally came home. Bringing everyone back together always creates a bit of commotion as the pecking orders need to be re-established. For the first half-hour or so, the boss cows made sure everyone knew their place. Some of the calves joined in too, though they seemed more interested in playing around than asserting dominance. The main event was the bulls testing each other for supremacy. Bulls Establishing Dominance Adam, our big black bull and a purebred Black Angus, spent the afternoon getting acquainted with our red bull, a Speckle Park and Red Angus cross who does not have a name yet. The red bull did not really stand a chance because Adam is much bigger and stronger, but he did put up a good fight. The next morning, when I checked on the herd, the red bull was off in the distance, clearly exhausted, while Adam looked relaxed, grooming one of his ladies. Now that the bulls understand their hierarchy, the herd is peaceful. Adam occasionally nudges the red bull away from hay, but beyond that there is little drama. Later this week, the two bulls will be separated from the cows for the winter until it is time for them to rejoin the herd next summer. Preparing the Farm for Winter Everything on the farm and in the business is running smoothly. As we transition from fall to winter, we are busy placing hay, moving animals to their winter pastures, and ensuring all watering systems are in good working order. We are setting ourselves up for a hopefully relaxing winter, a chance to slow down and recharge for a strong 2026. We're Grateful for Your Support! Orders continue to increase steadily, and we are extremely grateful. Thank you to everyone who supports us and shares our farm with friends and family. Your support allows us to focus on running the farm and the business without worrying about advertising or extra costs. This helps us keep prices lower for you. It is a win-win, and we hope you think so too.

Read more
Our Commitment to Nose-to-Tail Eating at Wild Meadows Farm

Our Commitment to Nose-to-Tail Eating at Wild Meadows Farm

At Wild Meadows Farm, we always look for ways to make the most of every animal we raise. Our newest product, beef stock, is a perfect example. We make it with meaty soup and shank bones from our cattle. Over the years, our bone broths have grown in popularity, and we hope this new product finds a place in your kitchen too. Products like this matter because they let us use parts of the animal that people often overlook. Since we started our farm and business, we have aimed to use as much of each animal as possible for both ethical and practical reasons. Respecting the Animals We Raise We believe it’s important to respect the animals we raise by using all the nourishment they offer. A cow is more than just tender high-end steaks. A chicken is more than a boneless, skinless breast. The less popular or tougher cuts, such as shank bones, braising ribs, or chicken carcasses, often provide more nutrition than the parts many of us usually eat. These cuts take more effort and know-how to cook, but they can be equally delicious and sometimes more nutritious. Making the Most of Every Cut From a business perspective, we must find ways to use these lesser-known cuts. Unlike many butcher shops or grocery stores that buy only the parts they want, we purchase whole animals from our farm and other farms. This approach requires us to sell or use every other part, including bones, fat, suet, tendons, organs, and more. In the early days, we received all the extras and didn’t know what to do with them. After trial and error, we discovered the concept of nose-to-tail eating. We realized that people value these cuts, and we used social media and newsletters to educate and connect with customers interested in them. Our Nose-to-Tail Success Listening to our customers led to exciting innovations: Nose-to-Tail Ground Beef – 80% beef mixed with 20% organs, including heart, liver, tongue, and kidney. This product is now our second most popular.Tallow and Suet – another way to use parts that might otherwise go to waste. Today, we fully utilize all of our beef, chicken, lamb, bison, elk, and turkey. Nothing goes to waste. We sell all fat, bones, organs, tendons, and other parts to retail customers, broth companies, pet food companies, or restaurants. Our next challenge is the pig. We aim to use trotters, tails, organs, and bones. Some customers buy these items regularly, but we continue to look for new ways to reach people who value these parts. Why Nose-to-Tail Matters for Us Using all parts of the animal keeps our business sustainable and profitable. It also helps us keep prices lower for the more tender, popular cuts because revenue from the less-used parts balances our costs. Every order excites us, but we get especially thrilled when someone orders the odd bits. Rib eyes sell themselves, but selling a chicken gizzard, pig tail, or beef spleen takes creativity, and that is exactly the challenge we love.

Read more
Return To Top

Follow us on Social Media!

Wild Meadows Farm Ltd.

  • 394265 Concession 2
    Durham (West Grey), ON N0G 1R0
  • mike@wildmeadowsfarm.ca | (519) 710 5702 | Hours: Mon-Sat, 8am-5pm (Closed Sunday)

Please get in touch with us before visiting the farm for an order pick-up, as GPS directions can sometimes be inaccurate. We’ll be happy to provide clear directions!