McDonald Farm is a 220 acre pasture based, multi species,
multi-generational small family farming venture located in the heart
of the Finger Lakes Region of Upstate NY. Owned and operated by the
Peter McDonald family, McDonald Farm is developing into a successful
model for fulfilling relationships between soil, animals and people
through a farming enterprise dedicated to restorative agricultural
practices for clean food production. Peter currently produces over 50
farm raised products to customers in Rochester and Ithaca NY.
The Clean Food Movement is the name we use to both identify and then rally to the call those who recognize the importance of producing and consuming clean food. It is a protocol of growing practices whose end result is the most healthful food one can possibly eat.
Clean Food means the absence of chemicals, antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and genetically modified grains as well as animal stress events like ear notching, teeth removal, horn removal, chemical worming and confinement housing. Clean food also acknowledges that ruminant livestock, whose 4 stomachs are uniquely and perfectly suited to receive all the nutrition needed for breeding, birthing, raising and growing out, require only forage based feed. There is no need to feed citrus pulp, animal byproducts, moldy bread, chicken manure, or any kind of grain, organic or conventional, to beef, lambs, fallow deer, buffalo or goats. The species that do require grain are broiler chickens, turkeys, ducks, laying hens and pork and organic grain is always fed along with as much forage as they can consume as either pasture during the growing season, or baleage, haylage and hay in winter.
Clean Food is the only food we should be eating. Encouraging stores and restaurants to carry it, and encouraging farmers to grow it is one of the most significant actions we can take in preserving the agricultural integrity and antiquity of our communities.
