We believe that the best way to source healthy, nutrient dense food raised regeneratively and humanely is to get to know a local farmer. We do not believe there will ever be a “label” that will guarantee this. Nothing can take the place of our personal responsibility to know how and where our food is grown.

When we started raising food, we didn’t know a lot of people farming this way. Recently, there are more people in our area starting to farm organic and we are very excited about this. We will be featuring a local organic or beyond organic farm family each month for the next few months.

To get everyone started, I have listed several questions that we find helpful when seeking out good quality, nutrient dense food. I always ask a lot of questions, because I have learned never to assume anything. The answers stated are coming from our own farm. We have more information on our website and love to answer questions and give farm tours. Unfortunately, we do not have time to ask all these question to the farm families that we are featuring, but will have to leave it up to the consumer.

1. Do you have a compost pile?

We always have several.

2. What do you feed your animals?

Cows, sheep, and goats never receive grain. They are rotated on pasture for as long of the year as possible and fed chemical free non-gmo hay in the winter. Chickens and pigs are supplemented with transition or certified organic grains along with their pasture or greens from weeding or scraps. We never feed soy. If someone says they don’t feed their chickens or pigs any grain I would be very suspicious and ask them how they are doing it. I have had this happen once and after their explanation I knew I couldn’t trust them. I only know of one person in the Untited States that is grain free with their chickens, and they are feeding cafeteria waste. That’s not something we would feed our animals.

3. Are the chickens allowed to roam on pasture during the day (not just a dirt area, but growing plants)

The door is opened in the morning and the chickens are allowed to go anywhere on our place except the garden. The door is closed at dark to prevent predators from killing our flock. The chickens roost at night whether the door is open or closed.

4. Are the cows, sheep, and goats allowed to graze on pasture at least during the growing season?
Yes.

5. How do you prevent erosion?

Minimal tillage, cover crops, keeping the soil covered with plants or hay, and rotational grazing. Not only are we working to prevent erosion we are building soil.

6. How do you deal with parasites/worms?

Diatomaceous Earth, Rotational grazing, cleanliness, apple cider vinegar, wood ashes from our stove, and pumpkins.

7. What is your plan for conserving water?

Keeping the soil covered as much as possible with plants, planting multiple species, covering the gardens with wood chips, hay, etc.

8. How do you deal with weeds?

Several times a year we grab a shovel and dig up thistles or noxious weeds in the pasture, hand weed the gardens and fields, and the same applies to our yards. We are working to build healthy soil through rotational grazing, compost, and diversity which should help as well. We don’t consider things like dandelions, clover, or native flowers to be weeds like most people. We want to feed the bees and pollinators.

9. How do you deal with disease in animals?

Prevention is key, cleanliness is imperative, and good quality, expensive minerals and kelp have proved themselves to be very valuable. If something gets sick, we question our management (what did we do wrong?), separate them from the herd, bring them closer so we can keep a close eye on them, and give them the best care we can. We have been able to solve most problems so far with minerals and herbs, cod liver oil, and a little rest and time. I’m learning more about injectable vitamin C and I hope to have that on hand soon. If an animal must be treated with conventional therapies we would sell it through the sale barn as soon as we know it is full recovered.

10. What kind of minerals do you feed?

We do not believe using synthetic vitamins/minerals is healthy, and we source the best quality, naturally occurring minerals such as Redmond’s salt and Thorvin kelp to name a few. We believe rotational grazing, keeping the soil covered, crop rotation, compost, minimal tillage, and more will build nutrients back into the soil. 
11. How and why did you start farming organically or regeneratively?
Some health problems and the distrust of the organic label gave our family a desire to grow as much of our own food as possible. As people saw what we were doing we started getting requests to raise food for them. Because of the amazing health and vitality this food has brought our family, and the stories our customers are sharing, our prayer is that we can grow even more to provide more families with these products.

12. How do you add fertility to the land?

We do rotational grazing of herbivores and pastured chickens, turkeys, pigs, and guineas. We also use fish emulsion, worm castings, cover crops, and compost. 

13. How do you practice humane treatment with your animals?

We truly love our animals and don’t want them to have to endure any unnecessary pain or suffering. We want our animals to be able to express their qualities that God has given them. Herbivores will be found on pasture for as long of the year as possible. Chickens are allowed to range and eat green plants, scratch, and search for bugs. The pigs are rotated on various pasture areas and allowed to root and devour plants. We never use crates or anything restraining for our animals as living quarters. We have several strategies in place to keep the animals clean and healthy by rotating everything to new pasture as often as possible, using straw or hay in the winter for bedding, and keeping them out of the muck as much as possible. Giving them good quality feed, clean water, and minerals have worked really well to give them optimal health.

My biggest indicator of good quality food is observing how I feel after eating a product (as long as I’m not combining it with processed or conventional food this can be a great indicator).