Know your farmer, Know your food.
Pirro Farm Lamb is sustainably raised on our family sheep farm in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. It's based there for now, while we're transitioning this family farm to the third generation! Erin and Jonathan are building a farm - from scratch - in Granby. What does that mean, you ask?
It starts with finding a piece of land that meets the right criteria: adequate pastures and room for a barn (or two), in a town that's supportive of agriculture, that's close enough to the infrastructure a farm needs (everything from transportation to feed and hay sources to processing facilities to the customers), with good soil and plenty of water. We've got most of the things on our wish list, now the rest come with hard work.
Our site was wooded - which meant clearing the trees and removing the stumps so the right kind of grasses can be planted. Forest soils tend to be acidic, so they need amendments (usually lime) to raise the pH so pastures will not just survive, but thrive. Along the way, we've even uncovered some old, buried barbed wire - which means this land was pasture once upon a time.
Raising our lamb sustainably means all aspects must be considered - what's best for the livestock, what's best for the land, what's best for the farm, and what's best for the consumer. Our lamb is pastured - so they're out on grass, but also fed grain to ensure good growth and the large rib and loins we've come to be known for. The sheep are raised in a low-stress environment, and our chefs are constantly amazed at how calm an environment it is. We take special care with each lamb to make sure it gets what it needs to be healthy and grow well.
We've partnered with Trace and Trust and their network of chefs to bring our lamb to restaurants near you. Trace and Trust is just that - a network to help consumers get to know where their food comes from. Visit their web site to learn more: www.TraceandTrust.com.