Frequently Asked Questions

Most frequent questions and answers

Our Farm

At our farm, sustainability and stewardship are at the forefront of everything we do. We believe that it is important to not only meet the needs of the present but to also ensure that future generations have access to the same resources and opportunities. That’s why we have made a commitment to utilize every part of the animal carcass in the most responsible and eco-friendly way possible. All of the animal remains are meticulously composted into organic fertilizers, which are then used to nourish our pastures and gardens. We also take great care to tan the hides, grind the bones, and sell the meat to ensure that every single part of the animal is utilized in the most efficient and useful manner. This approach ensures that no part of the animal goes to waste and that we can maintain a sustainable and ethical operation that aligns with our values and mission.

When it comes to labeling and marketing, there can be a lot of confusion and intentional misrepresentation. Take the term “free-range” for example. While it’s defined by the USDA as having access to the outdoors, many chickens labeled as such have actually been raised in conventional chicken houses with limited outdoor access. Here at our farm, we believe in transparency and honesty with our customers. That’s why we don’t use the label “free-range.” Instead, we have a pastured model for raising chickens. Our birds are completely outdoors. We provide our meat birds with housing also known as chicken tractors that get moved onto new grass everyday. Our laying hens can go all the way to DC if they wanted to! We’re proud of the way we raise our chickens, and we’re happy to provide our customers with farm-fresh, pasture-raised poultry.

With constant access to fresh pasture, pastured poultry is better for the chickens, the land, and the community. You are what you eat – and the same goes for the animals whose meat, milk and eggs you put in your mouth. We shouldn’t only be concerned about what we eat, but what our food eats as well. All of our animals whether it is our dairy cows, lambs, and goats are 100% grass-fed. Chickens naturally live on and eat grass.  PERIOD

 

The USDA, or United States Department of Agriculture, has established specific standards for organic animal production in order to ensure the quality of food products that reach the consumer. However, there are certain aspects of these standards that are not in line with our own beliefs and philosophies. One such aspect is the allowance of confinement feeding for corn, as long as it is organic. While this may technically meet the requirements for organic certification, we believe that it falls short in terms of providing the highest quality and most sustainable products possible. To truly go Above and Beyond the USDA-certified organic standards, we have chosen to focus on grass-fed beef, lamb, and goat. This is what we call BEYOND ORGANIC. By allowing our animals to graze on nutrient-rich grasses and pastures, we feel that we are able to provide our customers with products that are not only extremely flavorful and nutrient-dense, but also better for the environment and more humane for the animals

No. At our farm, we take pride in maintaining a high level of quality when it comes to our animals. As such, we have taken the necessary steps to ensure that our livestock are not exposed to hormones or antibiotics. By avoiding the use of such chemicals, we are able to provide our customers with healthier, leaner meat. Our focus on using natural remedies like garlic, apple-cider vinegar, and pumpkin seeds for the chickens allows us to uphold our commitment to producing high-quality meat that is both delicious and nutritious. We strongly believe that healthy, happy animals result in better-tasting meat, and that’s why we place such a high emphasis on their wellbeing. Our aim is to provide our customers with the best possible product, and we are confident that our approach to farming enables us to do just that.

No. As stewards of the land and caretakers of the animals that call our homestead their home, we prioritize their well-being and nutritional needs above all else. That’s why we have made a conscious decision to not administer vaccinations to any of our animals, including our dear live-stock guardian dogs. We strongly believe in the principle of treating our animals the way we treat ourselves, which means only giving them healthy and organic food options, free from artificial chemicals and additives. Of course, we understand the importance of ensuring that our animals are free from worms and other parasites, which is why we have a comprehensive deworming plan in place that we implement only if and when necessary. Our animals are our family, and we strive to give them the best care and quality of life possible.

Halal in regards to food means permissible to eat. Zabiha is the method that the animal was slaughtered. For example chicken by default is halal to eat but that does not mean it was slaughtered with the Zabiha method which is a requirement in Islamic Law. Our standards are the same as Halal Advocates of America which is to give the consumer a higher standard of Halal which exceeds the personal standards of any consumer regardless of which opinion, methodology, or Islamic school of thought they follow. For more details on the requirements of the slaughter please visit HFSAA

We are in the process of being Halal certified through Halal Food Standards Alliance of America (HFSAA). This certification is provided through the Halal Advocates of America. Out of the certifications available within the U.S., we felt that HFSAA was the most aligned with our core values and standards regarding Quranic jurisprudence. In addition to the high standards of HFSAA we also perform a Zabiha slaughter by:

  • making a single, swift incision to the throat of the animal with a sharp knife—deep enough to sever the jugular vein, carotid arteries, trachea and esophagus, but not so deep as to cut the spinal cord
  • We do not stun our animals in any form or fashion.
  • Facing the animal to be slaughtered towards the Qibla.
  • Animals do not witness another animal being slaughtered.
  • The slaughtered animal does not see the knife. 
  • Compassion and well-treatment is shown towards the animals from the beginning to the end of it’s life.

As of now, we have whole lamb, goat, and beef for on farm purchases. We also have cut-up chicken, beef cuts, eggs, raw milk, and bone broth. We plan to have other products on our farm that we will start offering latter this year inshAllah. This includes local honey, lamb cuts, chevon (goat meat), goat milk, turkey, heritage chicken, and organic heirloom vegetables.  Non-food products like goat’s milk soap, natural cleaning products, and natural beauty products will also be available.

Orders & Shipping

We have a few different options depending on where you are located and the cost of your order.

  • We ship throughout the 48 contiguous states, to any address that UPS can deliver. Free shipping for orders $300 or more. If your order cannot be received within 3 days using ground shipping, our website will not allow you to choose ground as the shipping option. If you are given the option for ground, it will get there within 3 days of shipping.  If you are not given the ground option, we must use 2nd-day Air. These shipping charges are based on weight and distance. If you are ordering from these states, it will default to 2nd-Day Air: CA, OR, NV, NM, ID, MT, WY, WA, AZ, and UT.
  • As of now we have 10 neighborhood pickup locations throughout Virginia. During checkout you will select any one of these locations and a date. On the website there is a calendar link so you can see which days and times you can pickup from your neighborhood local pickup. 

    1. Fitrah Farms (Gordonsville, VA)
    2. All Dulles Area Muslim Society (located in Sterling, VA)
    3. ADAMS Ashburn Center (Ashburn, VA)
    4. ADAMS Fairfax Center (Fairfax, VA)
    5. McLean Islamic Center (Vienna, VA)
    6. Islamic Society of Central VA (Charlottesville, VA)
    7. Masjid Al-Falah (Woodbridge, VA)
    8. Islamic Center of Fredricksburg (Fredricksburg, VA)
    9. Islamic Center of Hampton (Hampton Roads area, VA)
    10. Masjid Yusuf Islamic Center of Richmond (Richmond, VA)
  • We offer free home-delivery ($200 order minimum) in a 15 mile radius from all of the above neighborhood pickup locations which is throughout Virginia. If your zip-code does not qualify for home delivery you can still select any of the locations for a pick-up or shipping through Fedex.

We carefully pack and ship directly from our very own farm, located in a quaint rural area of Virginia. Unlike other companies that rely on impersonal order fulfillment centers scattered across the country, we have full control over the entire process of getting our fresh, top-quality products to your doorstep.

To ensure that your orders arrive in the freshest possible condition, we only ship between Mondays and Wednesdays. We understand that our customers lead busy lives, which is why we encourage you to add any special comments or instructions to your order, including if you have any travel plans or will not be available to receive your package. We will work hard to process orders within 7 to 10 days, though many orders are shipped out even earlier than expected. Plus, we will keep you updated every step of the way with email notifications and tracking information as soon as your order leaves our farm.

Everything is vacuum sealed, frozen, and shipped with dry ice within a 3 day transit time.

If your cooler still contains dry ice on arrival, wear gloves to remove the bag from the cooler and place the bag outdoors. Once completely evaporated dispose of the plastic bag.

Dry ice is solidified carbon dioxide. As the -109°F substance absorbs heat, it turns directly into a gas, releasing carbon dioxide into the air.

What not to do:
Do not place dry ice in water or other liquids.
Do not attempt to dump dry ice in a sink or toilet. The extreme cold will harm sink and toilet parts and pipes.
Do not dispose of dry ice in garbage receptacles or garbage chutes.
Do not leave dry ice in an unventilated room to evaporate. It will release a build-up of carbon dioxide into the air that can cause rapid suffocation.
Do not place dry ice on a tile or laminate countertop. Instead, use a solid surface – a wood cutting board or piece of plywood is best. Dry ice is sometimes used in tile removal and may destroy the bonding agent holding the tile or laminated material in place.
Do not store dry ice in a glass or air-tight container. Pressure will build up inside and could cause the container to explode.

By default, orders ship in styrofoam coolers. While styrofoam isn’t recyclable, we rarely have meat spoil in transit. We hope that you can hold onto the cooler and take the delicious meat and poultry you purchased from our farm on a nice picnic! 

We take food safety and shipping our products very seriously. We take as many measures as possible to ensure your order arrives in a safe condition. It is possible that a portion of your order may not arrive completely frozen, especially when the weather is very warm. We suggest consuming any beef within seven (7) days and any poultry within three (3) days or refreeze the items upon arrival. Read more about freezing and food safely

If any of your order is warm to the touch upon arrival, we suggest sending us a photo of the item with the label and the cooler lid and your order number to [email protected], and then discard that portion of the order. We will take the necessary steps internally to identify the problem, and work with you for a resolution that’s reasonable and manageable by everyone.