At Cottrell Country Farm we are “All Natural.” What is All Natural and how does it vary from Organic? Organic certification is a certification process for producers of organic food and other organic agricultural products. In general, any business directly involved in food production must be certified. It takes time and money to become officially organically certified. An alternative to organic certification is to be “all natural.” In being all natural, we pride our farm in staying to basic growing methods.
We hydrate using natural rain water collected in totes. We stay away from strong sprays. We only spray with Neem oil. Neem Oil, also known as Margosa oil, is a vegetable oil pressed from the fruits and seeds of the neem (Azadirachta indica), an evergreen tree which is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent and has been introduced to many other areas in the tropics. It is the most important of the commercially available products of neem and is used for organic farming and medicines.
Neem oil is actually good for your skin. The oil also works as a pesticide and fungicide on plants. The oil is effective against many types of insects. At Cottrell Country Farm we believe that staying “all natural” is what a farmer’s market should be all about.
At Cottrell Country Farm, we stay as close to nature as possible. We collect rainwater in 275 gallon totes. We stay away from chlorinated watering. Additionally, the only spray we use, if any, is neem oil. Neem oil is a natural, organic, spray. We take great pride in providing only “farm fresh” products. Our vision of a true farmer market is natural vegetables, otherwise, our customers could shop at stores that purchase vegetables with harmful sprays. If our products are not “true to nature,” we won’t sell them! Come give us a try, you will taste the difference.
We raise bobwhite quail for their eggs. Bobwhites are very unique birds, and their eggs are really a true specialty. Quail eggs are healthier than chicken eggs. They contain more protein, they promote “good” cholesterol, and while the eggs are small they are jammed packed with vitamins and antioxidants. Another fact is you cannot get salmonella poisonings from quail eggs.
In many ways, quail eggs are far superior to chicken eggs, but because most people are not aware of their food values, they continue to eat chicken eggs instead. Many restaurants are starting to offer quail eggs as a specialty item. They can be served anyway a chicken egg can, but some innovative ideas are to put them in salads, in the center of a halved avocado, or on top of your favorite hamburger.
Our 25-acre farm is located in the heart of north Texas farmland. Blum is a small country Texas town. Our soils are rich. We ensure the growing ground is replenished each year. We have our soil analyzed at Texas A&M. Each spring and fall we fertilize the soil to ensure continued nutrition. The extra care we take is evident in our products. Come see us and taste the difference.
