Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is a farm share?
A: A farm share is a package of all of the quality grassfed meats we offer. You pay a set cost and received a specific amount of meat over the course of the season (June through November). Shares are available in different sizes to meet the needs of any family or individual. Depending on the size of your share, you can have meat for the year! You will receive chicken, lamb, rabbit and a Thanksgiving turkey. As a bonus, we offer an option for grassfed beef only as part of the farm share. Farm shares are a true farm-to-consumer partnership. They exemplify our shared commitment to a healthy, local food economy. See the order form for current prices.

Q: How do I get started?
A: We recommend that you take a careful assessment of the types and amount of meat your family consumes in a year. This will help you determine the size of farm share you will need, as well as any additional products. Remember that the season runs June through November, but you will eat meat during the rest of the year as well, so plan to have extra to freeze for the off-season. Then you are ready to order! You may fill out the order form and mail it in or use online ordering.

Q: What if I only want chicken?
A: We offer a chicken package that includes 10 chickens. They are scheduled across the pick-up season (June through November). You may also order chickens individually.

Q: Can I purchase products individually?
A: All of our products may be ordered individually. Some require a deposit. Consult the order form for current prices.

Q: Do you have meat right now?
A: Our quality meat is available seasonally from June through November on a rolling basis (as it becomes available). Our focus is producing the highest quality meat naturally, so we do not have means for storage. Please meet us halfway by calculating what you'll need for the year and making arrangements to order, pick up and store your meat accordingly. Our customers appreciate the quality, savings, reduced trips to the grocery and security of purchasing their meat in a farm share.

Q: What is the last date to order?
A: That depends on our meat supply. We take share orders throughout the year as long as meat is available. When shares are full, you may order available products individually.

Q: What is the pick up schedule?
A: We plan to have chicken available approximately twice per month, June through October. You may allocate your chickens across these batches as you like, as long as chicken remains available from that batch. Turkey is ready in November. Rabbits are ready on a rolling basis throughout the year. Lamb is ready late summer. Beef is ready in the fall.

Q: Do I pick up everything at once?
A: No. Meat becomes available on a rolling basis throughout the season. See the question, "What is the pick up schedule?"

Q: Can I get everything at once?
A: No. Everything will not be available at the same time. However, you may be able to schedule all of your chickens for the same date. We try to coordinate pick up dates as much as possible.

Q: How will I be notified of pick up dates?
A: As a patron, you will have access to our Chicken Scheduler prior to the beginning of the season. You will schedule your chickens there and be able to review and make changes throughout the season. Please mark these dates on your calendar. IMPORTANT: We'll do everything we can to ensure you get the meat you've ordered but if you miss pick-ups and do not contact us immediately, we may not be able to furnish you with replacement meat at a later pick-up. Please mark your calendar for scheduled pick-up days.

Q: Do you deliver?
A: No. Our focus is producing the highest quality meat naturally, so we do not have very extensive means for storage or transportation. We also urge our patrons to visit the farm during the season to see how their food is being produced. We also encourage carpooling and sharing responsibility for pick-ups and we plan to create an easy connection web tool to help you coordinate pick-ups with others nearby you. NOTE: Maple Valley Farm is just 12-15 minutes from downtown Bloomington and the campus, about 5 minutes from Elletsville, about 15 minutes from Spencer and about 30 minutes from Martinsville. See here for directions.

Q: Can I make substitutions?
A: You might talk with other customers who wish to “trade." However, our time and resources for managing and tracking substitutions is limited. If you have a serious need to substitute just ask us.

Q: Can I get a group discount?
A: Our prices are as low as we can make them and we are unable to offer group discounts.  However, a group of people may choose to share multiple farm shares (i.e., 4 families split 3 shares) or trade items.

Q: May I split a share with someone else?
A: Yes. Please let us know all of the names on the share and who is the main point of contact.

Q: How much beef should I order?
A: Please consult the beef ordering and cuts guide linked on the home page for guidance.

Q: Is there an additional processing fee for beef, and if so, how much is it?
A: Yes, the butcher charges about 50 cents per lb of carcass weight. That comes out to be in the range of $12 for a beef pack and $100 for a half beef.

Q: What is a beef pack?
A: A beef pack is approximately 25-30 lbs of assorted, packaged, cuts (includes some steaks, some roast, some ground and some other cuts.) It's 1/16th of one beef. Please see the beef ordering and cuts guide for more information on the variety of cuts available for various portions of a beef.

Q: What is a lamb cut (half share) or lamb pack (full share)?
A: A lamb cut will be 4-6 chops, a roast, or 2-3 pounds of ground meat. A lamb pack will be a few assorted lamb cuts.

Q: How is everything packaged?
A: Chickens, turkeys and rabbits are fully dressed (no head, feathers, feet or insides) and packaged in a zippered freezer bag or large twist tie bag for the turkeys. Livers and kidneys are intact in the rabbit. Liver, gizzard and heart is included with the turkey. Chicken livers and hearts are sold separately. Beef and lamb are frozen and vacuum packaged from the butcher.

Q: How do I cook these things?
A: A lot of help is available for creative ways to cook your meat! We are happy to provide techniques and recipes. Our Facebook Fan page (see the Discussions tab) is also a good resource for sharing ideas with other patrons.