There's a Cow in My Freezer: The Complete Guide to Buying, Storing, and Enjoying Pasture-Raised Meat in Bulk

Imagine enjoying delicious, nutritious, locally raised, and ethically produced meat whenever you wanted, without the hassle of a trip to the farmers market or the hefty price tag at a high-end grocery store.

That’s what buying meat in bulk is all about. Ordering beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and other meats by the quarter, half, or whole animal is an excellent way to save time and money. It also better connects you to your food, the people who produce it, and a more traditional and holistic way of eating. But how do you even buy an entire cow or half a hog? What exactly do you get? Where do you put it all?

Based on years of research and the firsthand experience of a health editor who’s been eating this way since 2011, There's a Cow in My Freezer is an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide that walks readers through the entire process of buying meat in bulk. You’ll discover:

• why local grass-fed and pasture-raised meat is better for you, the animals, the community, and the environment, and how buying meat in bulk can simplify your life
  
• how to choose what to buy based on your household’s budget, space, and eating preferences
  
• how to find local farmers and pick the one that’s the best fit based on the things that matter most to you
  
• how to choose a freezer, plus creative options if you’re short on space
  
• how the buying process works, including deposits, cut instructions, and replenishing your freezer year after year
  
• how to keep your freezer organized and keep yourself on track with a freezer inventory and weekly meal plan
  
• how to take the guesswork out of cooking grass-fed meat, and tips for keeping things fun and stress-free in the kitchen

...plus much, much more.

If you’ve ever been curious about buying meat in bulk but didn’t know where to start, or felt overwhelmed or intimidated by the idea of whole-animal eating, then this book is for you!

Maxine Taylor is a health and wellness acquisitions editor, freelance content developer, and lover of all things tasty. Since purchasing her first quarter beef in 2011, she's become an outspoken champion of the whole animal way of buying and enjoying local, humanely raised meat. Her goal is to show everyone how easy and rewarding this traditional way of eating can be. She holds degrees in literature, history, and professional writing from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and is a certified technical writer and instructional designer. Maxine currently lives in Portland, Oregon.