10/24/2026
We have had many people ask us if we are going to clear this forest, the answer is NO!
What we practice is called silvopasture, the intentional integration of trees, forage, and livestock on the same land. Instead of bulldozing the forest to make way for grass, we work with the ecosystem that’s already here using rotational grazing methods!
Forested patches harbor beneficial insects, songbirds, and native pollinators that naturally help control agricultural pests.
Leaves and woody browse can supply extra minerals and nutrition for grazing animals.
Animals stay cooler in the summer and protected from winds.
Tree roots cycle nutrients from deep underground, bringing minerals to the surface that shallow pasture grasses can't reach.
Goats are natural pruners, they love browsing on woody shrubs, brambles, and lower tree branches, which helps clear the understory and prevents wildfire fuel from building up.
Sheep target tender weeds and grasses growing beneath the canopy, keeping ground cover lush without damaging tree bark.
Pigs naturally turn over soil, clear out underbrush, and disrupt invasive species or unwanted plants like blackberries.
Cows add gentle hoof impact and natural fertility, moving through the woods, they step seeds into soil and leave behind rich manure that feeds the soil microbiology and the trees.
❗️We keep thiamine (vitamin B1) on hand in case our livestock eat any ferns or other thiaminase containing plants or roots. Livestock generally avoid eating ferns and other toxic plants if there is plenty of good-quality grass, browse or supplemental hay available. However, they may nibble on young fiddleheads or eat them out of desperation if the pasture is overgrazed or feed is scarce. Thiamine is a great thing to have on hand for anyone grazing livestock in their forest, thankfully we have not had to use it yet but it always feels better to be prepared.
Regenerative farming is about leaving the land better than we found it. Farming shouldn't mean fighting the land. By leaving most of the trees we are building a resilient food forest that feeds our animals while healing the earth!
