S & J’s Lisbon Locker

Life often takes us on weird twists and turns. Days, even weeks, go by without any change in plans. Get up, go to work, make dinner, go to bed. Repeat until Saturday. This was my life until something amazing happened. Christmas in July. I got a phone call three weeks ago. My friend’s parents were raising free ranging red waddle pigs on their pasture and had planned to process them soon. It was a life changing event and I did everything possible to buy into the bounty.
I left early from work one day to visit the pigs. I petted them, played with them, and listened to them ‘oink’ their way around their pen. In pig language, they were in heaven. Albeit a damn filthy one but to a pig there’s nothing better. I fully admit that it’s not easy to play with a pig that will soon be in your freezer but I’d take that over the other way around. I helped load the pigs into a truck and off to S & J’s Lisbon Locker it went.
Then it hit me. The moment that all meat eaters don’t ever want to feel. I’m killing something. Not literally of course but my actions helped take the end of this pigs life. As a meat eater, I realized that I needed to do everything I could to respect that pig. Days later I placed my order; ½ of the pig along with any oddments (heart, jowl, liver, hocks/​feet, lard). This is where respect entered my head. ‘Don’t waste it’. I found myself repeating these words internally.
S & J’s placed a call to me yesterday. My order was ready. I drove the hour plus at 7 AM from Chicago to Newark, IL dreaming of a simpler life. Farms, barnyard animals, growing my own crops. I was in farm country and began dreaming the lifestyle. I pulled up to the ragged building and entered. A mild smoke flavor filled the room and a gentleman took my name. I grabbed a few extra pounds of bacon from the nearby freezer along with some ground beef and ribs. I was excited to see this section of for sale items besides the pig I was about to receive. I paid in cash (no credit accepted) and he went back to pull the pig from the freezer. A few minutes later he wheeled it out the door on a shaky cart and I loaded the cuts piece by piece into my cooler. Each section was wrapped with butcher paper and taped shut. ‘Don’t waste it’ I thought again. I rolled the cart back inside and waved goodbye. Off I went.
Tomorrow I’ll take my first bite of a free ranging pasture raised animal that I was involved with. I’m excited. Christmas in July. I’m looking forward to working with the family raising the pigs and this meat locker in the future. It’s great to know that I am one step closer to taking my eating habits ‘off the grid’. The experience was rewarding and eye opening all at the same time. Life changing moments seldom come and it makes me proud to know that one person can help make a difference.