In this episode, Christine Martin shared her journey from homesteading to operating the Regen Ranch in East Texas. She discusses how her health issues led her to clean up her diet and start producing her own food. Christine also talks about holistic management, which helped her shift from homesteading to running a profitable ranch. She shares her experience with managing livestock, parasite loads, and proper infrastructure, as well as using turkeys to mitigate parasite load in sheep. In addition, Christine discusses direct-to-consumer marketing strategies for selling sheep and turkey products, focusing on farmers’ markets and online shipping. She also touched on the concept of planned grazing, which allows for better recovery and management of the land.
Continue reading e51. The Regen Ranch Story: A Holistic Approach to Sustainable and Profitable Livestock Management with Christine Martine49. Regenerative Farming and Livestock Management at Greenacres Foundation with Leevi Stump
In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Leevi Stump, Livestock Manager at Greenacres Foundation in Cincinnati, Ohio. We discussed the regenerative farming practices they use at Greenacres, including raising a variety of livestock such as grass-fed and finished beef and sheep, pasture-raised chickens and turkeys, and heritage pigs. We explored the benefits of using smaller breed genetics like Aberdeen Angus for grass-fed and finished cattle operations, as well as the importance of rotational grazing and avoiding herbicides and pesticides for overall soil health and ecology. We also delved into the management and integration of various livestock species on the farm, such as integrating sheep into the cattle herd, creating a “flerd,” and the potential benefits of parasite control and protection from predators. Additionally, we discussed the process of raising meat birds on pasture, ensuring their health and wellbeing through the use of chicken tractors and diverse diets. We also touched on their turkey operation, focusing on the broad-breasted bronze breed, and the growth of their pig enterprise. Finally, we explored the use of pigs on the farm to disrupt and root up invasive honeysuckle in wooded areas, improving the overall quality of the land for other livestock species. We also highlighted various resources and books related to grazing and regenerative farming, emphasizing the importance of time management, creating a game plan, and having a supportive team in the farming industry. Join me as I learn more about Greenacres and their incredible work in regenerative farming practices and livestock management.
Continue reading e49. Regenerative Farming and Livestock Management at Greenacres Foundation with Leevi Stumpe33. Alex Bates – Chickens, Turkeys, and Wool Sheep, Oh My!
In this episode of The Grazing Grass Podcast, Cal talks with Alex Bates of Chapel Ford Farm. We discuss brooding chicks for others, pastured poultry, pastured turkeys and wool sheep. For the Overgrazing Section, we discuss how his off-the-farm job makes him a better farmer.
Continue reading e33. Alex Bates – Chickens, Turkeys, and Wool Sheep, Oh My!