Sunshine is Here

People had been asking why did we stop the Sunshine Chicken.

It tickles us to think that the name Sunshine Chicken became synonymous to free range colored chickens.  Reality is Sunshine Chicken is our branding, and whatever we produce in our farm is Sunshine Chicken.  When we chose that name, we thought about natural way of raising chickens, so our dressed chickens will always be named Sunshine.  

In our advocacy on pushing natural farming in the Philippines, we are in search of ways of giving cheaper and accessible food for all.  A problem with importation we had before due to bird flu in France, led us to try pasturing the white chickens that always been connoted with commercial raising with chemicals.

We got very good results...plus the great find that by pasturing white chickens that are cheap and easy to find, we are giving cheaper source for all interested to farm them.  Clean, cheap and accessible. The big bonus is that the white chickens have Grand Parent Stocks (GPS) in the Philippines.  The GPS produce the Parent Stocks (PS) who in turn produce the day old chicks we use as broilers.  That secures the supply in the food chain :)  Now, that means, your source of pastured chicks are NOT dependent on one or two suppliers that raise the prices.

How we farmers decide to raise them is what is important.  The health benefits and taste has nothing to do with the color of the feathers of the birds.  Now, our consumers are very aware of the benefits of naturally raised chickens. 

To recap:

1) We are not selling the dayold chicks, as it is cheaper and easy to get in your area.  The bigger poultry supply stores sell retail.  If you need volume, contact the distributor in the area, you may find out from the poultry division of the companies who the persons to contact in your area.

2) We have not stopped teaching people HOW TO pasture chickens.  This is our advocacy.  In a larger picture, we are teaching natural farming, with our expertise in pasturing chickens :)

3) Sunshine Chicken is not gone.  This is our brand and thank you that we are associated and synonymous to free range chicken.  

4) We continue to give you a good alternative for clean food, with a very fair price.  You are cutting out the middlemen by dealing with your farmers directly.

We are planning bigger things for our journey in natural farming.  One of which is educating you to grow your own food.

Please please please...let us all support our natural farmers.  Grow your own food, or buy from farmers in your area practicing safe natural farming.  You have to know to trust your suppliers :)

Steamed Chicken Of Marusil

Marusil is Bobby Inocencio's better half. Since Bobby is the Godfather of Free Range Chicken in the Philippines, Marusil cooked a lot of the ranging chicken to be served to guests.

This recipe was featured in a brochure that they used to give around.

Marusil is Ilongga. I am not sure if this is a regional recipe.

Marusil's Steamed Chicken
Ingredients:
• 1 whole SUNSHINE chicken
• 1 teaspoon rock salt
• 1 chunk ginger, grated
• 1 head garlic, crushed
• 2-3 stalks lemongrass
Gravy:
• dripping from steamed chicken
• 2 T all purpose flour
• spring onions and grated ginger
• salt and pepper
• 2 T peanut oil
Directions:
Rub chicken with salt. Rub juice of grated ginger on the skin and inside of the chicken. Stuff chicken with grated ginger, crushed garlic and lemongrass. Steam for 30-40 mins or until tender. Set aside.

For the gravy, sauté the onions and grated ginger. Stir in the dripping. Dissolve flour in water and stir into the dripping mixture when boiling. Add salt and pepper. Top with spring onions and grated ginger. Serve with chicken.