Sustainable Season

November is in full swing, and it's time to talk turkey -- sustainable turkey, that is.

Pasture-raised or heritage turkeys are not only sustainable but also tastier than their conventional counterparts.

And how about this -- the traditional Thanksgiving bird often found in supermarkets also can't reproduce. Heritage varieties can, naturally.

Various regional farms have sustainable turkeys -- check for your local farmers market using the USDA website, or see the Heritage Foods USA website for mail-order.

Turkey Farming

Is ordering a sustainable turkey not enough for you? Trying farming your own!

Josh and Alisha Weiser embraced the slow food movement so much that they wanted to grow their own food. They began raising turkeys earlier this year, including the heritage variety.

Alisha Weiser says getting a tasty bird for Thanksgiving involves more than just seasoning it properly before sticking it in the oven:

We've learned from experience that a good-tasting turkey on Thanksgiving is the result of ‘resting' the meat after it is butchered and before it is cooked. We often put the butchered and cleaned birds in the refrigerator in sealed bags for several days before selling them or cooking them.

Read More:

• Your guide to finding a sustainably raised turkey (Ecocentric Blog)
• Family sold on 'slow food,' raises turkeys (Marion County Record)