A turkey farm set in rural Delaware was my first trip of the sustainable summer. T&A Farms is home to 3,500 'all-white hybrid free range turkeys that are all natural' and one black lab named Hunter. Why visit a turkey farm? Why not I say! Turkey Marketing Master, Elizabeth was there to answer any of my questions and give me the lay of the land. We started in the processing room-which wasn't receiving much love this time of year. In the business of providing high quality holiday memories, the Palmer's process their turkeys twice a year-Thanksgiving and Christmas. What they don't sell, they freeze and use throughout the year. A quick spin through the processing room and bakery, and it was off to see the newest addition to the farm, the little chickies! With the heat lamps keeping them toasty, all 1,000-baby chicks were chirping away. Only a couple weeks old, I couldn't help but hold one. Nervous I would hurt them, my bonding experience didn't last all that long. Next stop adult hens. Bigger and louder these ladies had something to say-and no way was I attempting to hold one. We moseyed on to the area where the turkeys are free to roam, ergo free range turkeys! Question: I know they are free range, but are they certified organic? Answer: No, however, these turkeys are as close to organic as you can get. The Palmer's make their own feed that contains non-organic corn, so they can't be considered completely organic. Homemade feed you say, how in the heck do they do that? When Elizabeth set me free to wander, I found myself face to face with the "how". The machine used to make all of that homemade feed (containing only locally grown corn, soybean meal, and minerals) is all about precision. Using a pull string method, the feed is accurately measured with ease and efficiency. I wandered on to snap my pictures (turkeys, machines, hay, and one very angry bull). Finally I made my way back to where I started. But why T&A Farms for the Rehoboth Brew Pub? Our off-centered chef Dennis reports, "Theyre local, fresh, free range turkeys. They taste like real turkey-meaty, earthy, and healthy." It doesnt get much better than that folks! The Palmer sign says, "Lets talk turkey," and after my visit I can say, "gobble, gobble!"

little chick-only a few weeks old

bunch of chickies

adult hens

not quite old enough to roam free