Where to get local, pasture-raised turkeys for Thanksgiving

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Happy Tuesday, Capital District! Today, we’re taking you to the best local farms for the tastiest, pasture-raised turkeys in the land—none of that Butterball nonsense. Plus, check out an amazing condo for our Home of the Week, and get your music and events for the week ahead.

Get ready for the 🦃 trot!

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

Where to get local, pasture-raised turkeys for Thanksgiving 🦃 

Imagine you’re a turkey who spends its days outdoors pecking in pesticide-free grass, foraging for insects and organic grain, and generally living your best turkey life.

Now imagine you’re living in a factory farm with thousands and thousands of other turkeys, gorging on industrial feed because you need to plump up as fast as possible.

Which turkey do you think will be healthier and happier—and taste better and be more nutritious?

This Thanksgiving, consider getting your bird from a local farm that raises free-range turkeys on open pasture. Yes, it will be more expensive (at least double what you would pay for a frozen Butterball). But you’ll not only get a much tastier bird, but it will better for your health and the health of the animal.

Pasture-raised turkeys are smaller, but all of that foraging in fresh sunlight gives the birds higher concentrations of omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin D. The meat is denser because they build up muscle running around.

And the turkeys won’t be injected with water, salt and additives to make them plumper and heavier. With factory turkeys, you’re essentially paying more for water, which makes a “bargain” turkey not so much of a bargain.

Here are our recommendations for excellent pasture-raised turkeys—all within an hour’s drive of Albany. Reserve your order now as these often sell out.

YundWell Pastured Poultry (Canaan, NY): Small farm run by a couple who specialize in raising fully-flavored, richly textured turkeys who freely forage on pasture. $6.79/pound; $30 deposit. Reserve here.

Laughing Earth Farm (Cropseyville, NY): Fresh, never-frozen certified organic, pasture-raised turkeys. $6.50/pound; $20 deposit. Reserve here.

Tiashoke Farm (Schaghticoke, NY): Local, pasture-raised turkeys. Free squash with every order. $5/pound; $25 deposit. Reserve here.

Buckley Farm (Ballston Lake, NY): Organic, free-range, pasture-raised turkeys. $6.29/pound; $50 deposit. Reserve here.

Baldwin Farm (Stockbridge, MA): Pasture-raised turkeys that have spent the summer feasting on a diet of foraged food and organic, GMO-free feed. $7.50/pound; $25 deposit. Reserve here.

Marchaland Farms (Greenwich, NY): Family-run farm raising turkeys on pasture, with foraged food and GMO-free grain. $4/pound. Reserve here.

Happy eating, y’all!

🌞 WEATHER WATCH

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🧑‍🎓 College enrollment is dropping in the Capital Region and nationwide, but a few schools managed to buck the trend. For example, Russell Sage welcomed its largest freshman class in nearly a decade and saw enrollment soar by more than 700 students. [Albany Business Review]

⛷️ Gore Mountain has been named one of the most affordable ski destinations in the U.S. A trip to Gore, with lift tickets and lodging, could cost about $195 per day—assuming a $107 lift ticket and $88 per-person vacation rental. [Times Union]

🦃 Don’t feel like cooking a ginormous Thanksgiving dinner for a dozen people? Get takeout or dine-in instead! The TU is out with its annual list of places to get your Thanksgiving meal done for you. [Gift article]

❄️ First Friday Albany is seeking local artisans & merchants who want to sell their wares during the upcoming Winter Wonders Market. Best of all—it’s free to sell! This special event will showcase local makers & merchants in various venues during First Friday on Dec. 6. Sign up to spotlight your unique wares by emailing [email protected]

This light-filled condo at Hudson Park in downtown Albany is a hot ticket to home ownership sans maintenance (mostly). Imagine a hip urban oasis tucked into the comfort of a cozy, historic neighborhood. Spacious windows flood the rooms with sunlight. The tasteful stone and wood bathroom is a nice bonus, and walk-in closets provide all the storage space you’ll need. Best of all, you own the place.

For a reasonable HOA of $351 a month, you’ll be sitting pretty with a reserved parking spot in a courtyard-style private lot, with snow removal, trash pickup, and well-maintained common areas. Plus, with secure entry, you’ll feel safe while enjoying life in Albany’s walkable, historic heart. Open house this Sat, 11a-1p.

The deets: 2 bd, 2 ba, 1000 sf. Asking: $220,000. Days on market: 5. See the full listing here.

🎟️ WHAT’S HAPPENING

Note: Our full weekend roundup publishes on Thursdays. Check your inboxes!

Weekends through Nov. 23, catch Michael Mills Magic at Proctors. This master of the sleight of hand also owns Saratoga’s hip underground cocktail lounge, The Misfit.

On Thursday, Siena College raises the curtain on its rendition of Guys & Dolls!, the beloved Broadway musical. Runs through Nov. 23.

This is the last weekend to see Steamer No. 10 Theatre’s showing of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

This Friday and Saturday, the SUNY Schenectady County Community College will present a student-led opera for the first time—Gian Carlo Menotti's “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” [Daily Gazette]

On Friday evening, join Ranger Jakob for a full moon hike out in Rensselaerville.

Also Friday, The Historic Albany Foundation is hosting a warehouse social. Dig into vintage bathtubs full of refreshments, plus plenty of pizza and preservation tales to share.

Put on your best whites and dancing kicks for Bachata Room’s 5th anniversary All-White Social on Friday.

Meet your new fav author (or bestie) at the Upstate Writes Book Festival this Saturday at the Cohoes Library.

On Sunday, get to the Clifton Park Center Mall for the popular indoor Malta Flea Market.

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