Farm fresh eggs, apple cider and raw honey at Minea Farm

I have been on the hunt for true farm fresh eggs for several months, without much luck. Granted, I have to admit that I haven't looked THAT hard or gone to a huge effort. Obviously, living in Western Washington, with many farms in the surrounding areas as well as the fact that fowl is allowed within city limits, I'm sure there are many many places that sell them - it just takes a little searching and effort. Today Heather and I decided to take our inaugural summer trip to the u-pick South 47 farm in Woodinville. They had some awkward looking shaven Llamas, or maybe they were Alpacas, and quite a bit of leafy greens....and pretty much only leafy greens. So, Heather and I are up to our eyeballs in chard (which she hates, but bought anyway. That is why I love her) kale, bok choy and mixed greens. We got two bulging bags of greens for only $10.97. On our way back we spotted a small, almost hidden little farm on the side of the road with a sign stating "Farm fresh eggs." I almost made Heather get into a car accident with my squealing. Of course we turned the car around. And went to get ice cream. Yeah ok, I know, farm fresh eggs, ice cream, how does that make any sense? Well, earlier we discussed the possibility of stopping at this little local ice cream/dairy place up the road the other way that is fairly well known around here called Theno's Dairy. They have heavenly ice cream and I think we showed pretty good self restraint by only getting a one scoop sugar cone instead of a waffle cone.

After Theno's we finally stopped at the little farm, called Minea farm. It seems like they mostly specialize in Apple Cider. When we walked in we were greeted by who I assume was the owner (Mr. Minea perhaps?) who proceeded to show us a short informational video (which we later learned was the only tour we were gunna get) about the place and how they make their apple cider. We learned that it takes about 25 apples to make a gallon of apple cider. They have about 100 apple trees on their farm but also bring many in from Eastern Washington. He also gave us samples of both regular apple cider and cherry cider (which were so goldenly delicious!), as well as a taste of Blackberry honey and Fireweed honey. Then the eggs. You should have seen the light in my eyes as I saw the cartons of eggs. I asked him if the chickens were pastured and he said YES. They are eggs from their own chickens, and they also sell eggs from a farm in Redmond. I decided to purchase the ones from Minea farm. They were tiny eggs, really adorable, from Pullets. I just now learned that pullets are chickens that are under one year of age. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. I had to buy 2 dozen to equal about 1 dozen regular or large eggs, but it is worth it to me to try the tiny adorable eggs from adolescent hens. I cannot wait until tomorrow morning to test them out. I also had to get a quart of the fabulous apple cider- I should have bought a gallon really. I also love trying out new types of raw unheated local honey so I had to get some of the fireweed honey. I asked him if it was filtered and he told me that it was, because you don't want legs and wings and stuff in your honey. I actually disagree and think that unfiltered unheated raw honey is the way to go. When you filter honey you get rid of many nutrients and enzymes, and nutritious pollen and propolis fragments. But I digress, I bought the honey anyway and will use it, it's yummy.


More information on why to eat farm fresh eggs:

"Pastured chickens will get up to 30 percent of their nutritional needs from insects, grass, clover and other greens. As a result of this kind of diet, their eggs have higher amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, vitamin A, folic acid and carotenoids and half the cholesterol." -Mother Earth Magazine

Also see: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-pastured-eggs.htm