How to buy 4C Farm Fresh Meats.

We realize that you may have questions about how the meat you buy is raised. We are going to answer some of those questions here. If you have other questions, drop us an email and we'll answer them for you.

Our meat is grown hormone free on our farm pastures.

Oklahoma summers can be hot and terribly uncomfortable, especially if you are a “fat pig” or a “chicken”, pun intended. For this reason, we have chosen to offer our farm fresh pork and poultry in the spring and the fall, typically at the end of October and March. Our beef is available year-round.

We offer pork and beef by the cut/pound and whole chicken in our 4C Farm Store for your convenience, however our freezer space is limited and meat sells quickly, so we would encourage you to consider purchasing your meat in bulk. You may reserve a whole, half or quarter of beef or pork and a number of whole chickens, by contacting us with your wish list. We would be happy to go over the details with you, including weight, cuts, price, processing fees, and availability dates.

We do require a $300 deposit to reserve a quarter, half or whole beef and $150 for pigs. Deposit for poultry is $5.00 a bird. The deposit will be deducted from your total cost. When paying your deposit, you are locking in your price. The fall deposit is due September 1 and the spring deposit is due February 1.

When buying meat by the cut/pound, prices will be based on the current market and are subject to change.

This SPUD'S FOR YOU!

Spring potato planting time has arrived in Oklahoma. Potatoes are a cool-season crop and grown through the spring months and harvested in early summer in Oklahoma. I would love to share some easy potato planting tips and ideas for small or large gardening areas.

Planting should begin in early March in central Oklahoma and mid-March in northern Oklahoma to promote early crop development and avoid extreme summer temperatures. Loose, friable soil improves tuber set and development of smooth, well-shaped and even-colored potatoes.

HILLING METHOD

Cultivation may be necessary to control weeds, keep soil hilled-up, aid water penetration and soil aeration. Cultivate only when needed, but should be completed by the time plants reach full bloom. Weeds must be controlled in potato fields, since they compete with the crop for water, nutrients and light, and are hosts for insects and diseases.

With that being said the next two methods I will describe will be lower maintenance and take up less valuable space.

POTATO TIRE STACKS

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Potatoes don't like to get water-logged so have good drainage below the tires, rocks under the tires works well. Stack two or three tires and fill them with damp earth and compost to just over half the depth of the stacked tires. Then place 4 or 5 seed potatoes in the stack, about 2 inches deep, with the eyes or shoots facing up.

Cover with a couple of inches of soil and don`t forget to water. You may choose to add one to two more tires to the stack as potatoes grow. If conditions are right, you will see healthy potato plants growing after about 6 weeks.

Please excuse the uncropped photo from my phone.

POTATO GARDEN TOWER

Start by choosing a spot for your towers. I have kept mine together in the past, but if I separated them they would be less likely to all go down if there was an insect or disease problem. So if you are doing more than one tower, consider placing them in different locations (and away from tomatoes too).

You will need 12-24 seed potato pieces per tower.

For step by step instruction on growing potatoes in a garden tower, see Potato Tower Blog: 4Cagservice.com/blog

How to Plant Strawberries

March is an excellent time to plant strawberries in Oklahoma. They are easy to grow and produce a good crop with reasonable care. June-bearers are the most widely planted type of strawberry. They produce one crop per year,with the majority of fruit ripening in June.

Make planting holes deep and wide enough to accomodate the entire roost system without bending it. Be careful not to plant too deep.The root should be covered but the crown should be right at the soil surface. Provide adequate space for sprawling. Set plants about 20 inches apart, and leave four feet between rows.

OSU Fact Sheets 6214 has the complete guide on growing strawberries in our great state of Oklahoma.