Collected here are documents and websites that we hope you find interesting and informative.  We occasionally update them, or post new things on our Facebook page, but we also love it if someone want to suggest new resources that we should check out – just email us!

1. About Our Beef
   • Kinne Brook Farm Highland Beef (PDF)
     A brief description of our beef, our farm, and our herd.
   • Highland Cattle Breed History (PDF)
     An introduction to the breed, including information about its adaptability, foraging capabilities, mothering qualities, and history.
2. Cooking Guides
   • Tips for Cooking Grassfed Beef (PDF)
     A one-page introduction to cooking grassfed beef from the American Grassfed Association.  Customers report that following these directions has resulted in tender, wonderful meals.
   • Grass Fed Cooking.com
     “The source of everything worth knowing about cooking with grassfed meats and grassfed farm life.” The author, Shannon Hayes, is a farmer who has also written a number of cookbooks specifically about preparing grassfed meat, The Grassfed Gourmet Cookbook and The Farmer and Grill.  Enter “beef cooking tips” into the search box, and you’ll get a wealth of posts about grass-fed beef.
   • “The Difference Between Grain-Fed and Grass-Fed”
     A discussion from Shannon Hayes of how the variability of grass-fed beef affects how you should  cook it.
   • “Top 5 Grassfed Steak Misteaks”
     Another post from Shannon Hayes, this time about how not to ruin a nice grass-fed steak.
   • Confident Cooking with Beef (PDF)
     A 52-page booklet designed to provide the basics about beef – from choosing the right cut and knowing what to look for in the supermarket to mastering each cooking method. Helpful charts that show how much to buy, what cooking method is best for which cuts, and even some recipes.  Not geared toward grass-fed beef, but still helpful for those with questions.
   • Beef Made Easy Cut Chart (PDF)
     A visual depiction of all the cuts, where they come from on the animal, and how to cook them.
   • The Cook’s Thesaurus: Beef
     A helpful guide to all the cuts, including where they come from on the animal, with substitution suggestions.
3. Websites and Documents We Like
   • The Grassfed Primer (PDF)
     Written by the Animal Welfare Approved organization, The Grassfed Primer cuts through the confusion surrounding the term grassfed and to help you understand the wide benefits that real grassfed farming systems can have for the environment, for farm animal welfare, and for the health of you and your family.
   • What’s Your Beef (PDF)
     A recent report from the UK’s highly-respected land management organization, the National Trust, has confirmed what we’ve all known for a long time: feeding cattle on grass throughout their life cycle is the most environmentally sustainable way to raise beef. Buying high quality, pasture-raised meat means that you are eating healthier, supporting family farms, and helping protect the planet.
   • Food Labeling for Dummies (PDF)
     Also written by the Animal Welfare Approved organization, Food Labeling for Dummies is a comprehensive labeling guide that helps make sense of the bewildering range of claims and terms on food labels, providing definitions for common claims.
4. Organizations We Support
   • Communities Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA)
     CISA, located in nearby South Deerfield, strengthens local agriculture by building connections between farmers and the community. We have been involved on a number of levels, including being designated as Local Heros, participating in workshops and focus groups, and drawing on the expertise and assistance of the fabulous staff.
     
   • Animal Welfare Approved
     The Animal Welfare Approved program audits and certifies family farms raising their animals humanely, outdoors on pasture or range. Farmers who earn the AWA seal benefit from having a third-party verification of their high-welfare practices and consumers benefit by knowing that the humane label means what it says. We have begun the process, with our audit complete, and will let you know when we’re certified.
     
   • American Highland Cattle Association
     The American Highland Cattle Association (AHCA) is dedicated to preserving the integrity of the breed, maintaining an American breed registry and assisting its members in creating value with their animals.
     
   • American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
     The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is a nonprofit membership organization working to protect over 180 breeds of livestock and poultry from extinction. Included are asses, cattle, goats, horses, sheep, pigs, rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys. The ALBC has included Highland cattle as a “recovering” breed because even though the breed is increasing in numbers, with over 10,000 head in the US, there are threats to its genetic integrity in Europe. Look at the website to learn more.
     
   • Local Harvest
     LocalHarvest is an organic and local food website, that maintains a nationwide directory of small farms, farmers markets, and other local food sources. Check it out to find other sources of local, sustainable food.
     
5. Publications We Read
   • Stockman Grass Farmer
     The Stockman Grass Farmer is the grazing publication of North America. Since 1947 it has been devoted solely to the art and science of making a profit from grassland agriculture. It covers natural grass finished and organic grassfed beef, seasonal, pasture-based dairying, grassfed lamb production, organic grassfed bison (buffalo) and pastured poultry. The Stockman Grass Farmer is the only magazine focused entirely upon management-intensive grazing in North America.
     
   • Acres USA
     Acres U.S.A. is a national magazine that offers a comprehensive guide to sustainable agriculture. Drawing on knowledge accumulated in more than 35 years of continuous publication, it brings readers the latest techniques for growing bountiful, nutritious crops and healthy, vibrant livestock.
     
   • Northern Woodlands
     The mission of the Center for Northern Woodlands Education is to advance a culture of forest stewardship in the Northeast and to increase understanding of and appreciation for the natural wonders, economic productivity and ecological integrity of the region’s forests.