Sustainability

Our Production Methods

Grass-Fed | Free Range | Treatment | Land Use | Organic Certification | Sourcing | Recycling

Grass-fed

Our cattle are exclusively grass-fed.  They graze during the summer months and are given grass or oat hay produced on the ranch when forage is not readily available.  

Cattle also need mineral supplements to meet their nutritional needs. We buy organic mineral salt licks, making sure that these mineral blocks do not contain any ingredients not allowed by the USDA National Organic Program Standards.  We never use grain, animal byproducts, synthetic hormones, antibiotics, GMOs (genetically modified organisms), pesticides, herbicides, or commercial fertilizer.

Free Range

We are fortunate to have 160 acres at our disposal and only raise a few head of cattle every year.  This gives our cattle more than enough pasture to graze in.  They always have access to pasture, food, clean water, and also to shelter during the winter when it is cold.  

Humane Treatment

We do as much as we can to ensure that the lives of our cattle are as stress-free as possible.  They are always treated in a calm, respectful manner.  If injured or sick, a cow will be treated as needed.   This could include administering antibiotics.  If this happens, it will not be sold as naturally raised.

Sustainable Land Use

We have been free of pesticides since 1999, and free of commercial fertilizer since August 2006.  Considering that we raise a small number of grass-fed beef a year and have 160 acres to work with, overgrazing is not an issue.  Just the same, we rotate pasture as necessary, and direct-plant whenever possible (an important soil building technique.)

A word on Organic Certification

Although our production methods meet or exceed those required by USDA organic certification, we have decided to forgo organic certification at this time.  The fundamental purpose of certification in our minds is to guarantee the consumer that their food has been produced safely, sustainably, and in a way that is in accordance with their values.  We have decided to provide this guarantee through trust, transparency, and personal relationships with our customers.

Sourcing

As of 2009, we are considering focusing on finishing and direct marketing, buying yearlings from other ranches to be finished on the ranch.  If this practice is adopted, we will go to great lengths to ensure that the cows we buy have been raised to these same specifications.

Material Recycling

We have worked hard to reduce our environmental footprint.  We ask that you please help us in this endeavor by sending the boxes you receive your shipment in back to us.  Every box comes with a prepaid return shipping label attached.  Just drop them off at the nearest UPS location.