LA GRANGE — An alternative to conventional pest control? Farm kitties.
That’s what Daniel Sutton said of his family’s three cats at Nature’s Touch farm. The black, orange and gray-striped cats are overly friendly, but work the farm to keep it free of unwanted vermin. The farm, which features chickens, egg-laying hens and a couple hogs, also has a dog that keeps predators away.
But that doesn’t mean the cats, which have a natural taste for poultry, don’t do typical cat things.
As Sutton talked about his composting methods Wednesday near two compost beds at the farm, the orange cat — none are named — leapt off one of the beds and sped across the ground with a chicken leg in its mouth.
Sutton said he would have to do something about the compost’s fencing.
The cats, the compost, the chickens and the hogs are part of a holistic approach Daniel and his wife Chelsea take to their organic operation, which also includes a planted field of vegetables and an old pecan tree.
The Suttons helped organize an event on May 6 at the Woodmen Center that will draw in local farmers who are able to sell direct to the public.
“We’re having an event called ‘From Our Farm to Your Table,’ and I’ll tell you what it sort of comes from,” Daniel Sutton said. “I attended several events last year and this year as part of the Farmers Market and stuff. And it was all out of great intentions.”
He went on to explain how experts from Raleigh came down to talk about local farming methods, and said he and Chelsea felt area farmers should be doing it themselves, which she said they’re perfectly able to do.
“We don’t need someone else to speak for us. People think framers are dumb or they need someone to communicate for them,” Chelsea Sutton said, laughing, “but we’ve got a lot to say.”
Those experiences spurred them to do something about it.
“We’re all getting together, but we’re not bringing in outside sources here,” Daniel Sutton said. “This is Lenoir County’s farmers talking to Lenoir County’s people.”
Slated to attend are Brothers Farm, Living Well market, and a reach to Greene County for Nooherooka Natural farm.
“They’ll have their products there to sell,” Chelsea Sutton said.
Brothers Farm will bring produce, Nooherooka will have beef and pork available, while Nature’s Touch provides chicken and eggs.
Also involved are downtown restaurants Chef and the Farmer and Queen Street Deli.
“We tied in Chef and the Farmer and Queen Street Deli because Chef and the Farmer has been very loyal to us, and really helped to promote us,” Chelsea Sutton said. “They believe in what we do, with putting our chicken on their menu, so we really want to tie (chef Vivian Howard) in and give her thanks for her support.
“And Queen Street Deli is also getting ready to start carrying our chicken and eggs as well.”
People attending will be able to talk to farmers about the practices that go into producing their food, like the approach the Suttons use to process their chickens.
The poultry is slaughtered according to the process outlined in the Book of Leviticus. The chickens go upside-down into a funnel, and its neck is sliced to allow for the quick draining of blood, leaving none to stay in the body. Blood and feathers removed during the process are reused as part of the composting and fertilizer process.
The event at the Woodmen Center starts at 5:30 p.m. and lasts until 7 p.m.
Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 or wes.wolfe@kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.