I mentioned in response to the concern about using raw eggs in the Pesach ice cream recipe that we try to use eggs that are from the farmer whenever we can (not always), but realize that it sounds like a foreign idea to a lot of people.  Free range eggs are much higher in nutritional value, and though you can find them in the health food store, they tend to be pricey.  Don’t think that eating well means paying high prices.  Sometimes it does and it’s often worth it, but it doesn’t have to be significantly more than the regular eggs you buy.

 I was able to find farm fresh eggs from the dairy farmer that I get our raw milk from – they have neighbors who provide the eggs for sale and bring the eggs to the little one room ‘store’ where the milk is sold.  Then I found an Amish store that sells what looks like regular eggs, but I found out that the eggs are provided by different Amish workers from their private farms.  None of these eggs are expensive – they’re about the same price as regular eggs in the store.  I’ve also seen signs when driving through rural areas ‘Eggs for sale’, though I’ve never stopped to buy because I already have sources I’m happy with.  In fact, just today I saw a sign I never noticed before for fresh eggs for $1 a dozen (I had already bought my eggs or I would have stopped to buy them here – next time!), and today I also noticed someone who had a large number of chickens in their backyard – so I made a mental note of the address in case I ever wanted to ask them about if they sell their eggs.

Another option is to look on Craig’s List.  I’ve seen people advertising their farm fresh eggs a number of times, usually priced from $2 – $4 a dozen.  Look in the ‘farm/garden’ section to see what your local options are.  You can also visit a farmer’s market and chat with the people selling there to find out about local options.  More and more people across the country are raising chickens in their own backyards (did you know even in many urban areas, it’s legal to raise chicken? – in our city, I’d be allowed to have four), people who aren’t officially farming but have eggs that they might be willing to sell or barter for.   I know someone just a few minutes away from me, in the same semi-urban neighborhood I live in, who has a few chickens.  I’m sure I could buy eggs from her. 

My daughters volunteered for three years at a small hobby farm that had chickens, and the woman there sold the eggs on a small scale basis.  The people who bought from her all heard about her through word of mouth; she didn’t do any advertising of any sort.  My girls at one point each had a chicken that they were raising on that farm, and when we decided they needed to sell their chickens, we met another local woman who purchased them.  She’s just a fifteen minute drive from our neighborhood, and also has chickens; I asked her if she sells the eggs, and she said she did.  

So there are lots of good options to buying from the health food store, and eating these eggs raw shouldn’t pose a health concern!

Avivah