I also had the very fortunate opportunity to visit Caw Caw Creek farm in St. Matthews, South Carolina. Caw Caw Creek is an amazing pig farm, a carefully managed pig-friendly semi-wilderness which embraces the most sustainable and enlightened agricultural practices in the name of growing the “best-tasting pork possible.” Personally, I just thought of it as Pig Farm 2.0.

Emile explains how this pig farm works

Caw Caw’s proprietor, Emile, who doesn’t normally give farm tours, had made an exception for the Coastal Conservation League, and Emile and the CCL graciously consented to me tagging along. (I left the farm a big fan not only of Caw Caw Creek but also of the folks of the CCL, who unsurprisingly were incredibly welcoming and kind.)

A Sounder of Swine at Caw Caw Creek

Through Emile, I saw that a substantial size operation (over a hundred pigs) emphasizing sustainable practices is not only possible — it exists. Emile has worked out the details of shipping pork long distance, and while jetting pork across the country may not be the perfect long-term sustainable solution, it provides a great option for us to share great tasting, independently raised pork with our community. (And since we know of no pork no USDA-inspected pork raised in Southern California, it has to come from somewhere.) Look for Caw Caw Creek on the menu credits at the Linkery this month and in the future.