Split 'n' Share

Last night, we got an exciting shipment: a split quarter of grass-fed beef. There was eye round, sirloin tip, rib roast, porterhouse steak, all to share among five members.

The organizing was simple. I posted a notice at HVFN, several people responded and we emailed through the site. I put down a deposit at the Awesome Farm website, and Dave Liepmann agreed to go pick it up.

Our split quarter was exactly 150 lbs. at $4 a pound. This varies by cow, but ours almost filled three medium size cardboard boxes. If I'd packed it in good, I'd say my share of that - 37 lbs - fills a little more than a quarter of my freezer.

I'm getting ready to make the porterhouse tonight. I hope all the members write in here with their recipes!

This is definitely an adventure for me - a once 7-year vegetarian - now staring down so many different cuts of beef. But that challenge is what I love about exploring local foods and it's an experience we can all share together.