What we learned from Polyface.

Have you ever had an Aha! moment that challenged your way of thinking? We had this happen to us two years ago at a small family farm in Swoope, Virginia called Polyface Farms. From his vast understanding of animal life cycles and the eco-system of his home in Virginia, Joel Salatin and his family have created a marvel of a farm.

Three days after his cows graze on an acre of land, Mr. Salatin pulls up with his portable hen house called an egg mobile and a multitude of chickens descend on the land pecking away happily at the cow pats that are by now bursting with insect larvae – a chicken’s equivalent to filet mignon. 

Not only do the chickens receive a hearty meal, thanks to the ample fertilizer provided by both cows and chickens, when the grass grows back, it is healthier and heartier than before – eliminating the need for modern, chemical fertilizers.

As you can imagine, the trip to Polyface left us spell bound and transformed the way we view farm production. Not only is Mr. Salatin’s approach to farming a viable business model, the farm itself enhances, not compromises, the bio-diversity and sustainability of the land.

Click here to see a great video of author Michael Pollan talk about his week at Polyface Farms.

Keeping all of this in mind, last night during our family meeting, we made the decision to purchase a respectable herd of 97 cows from a local farmer. While our intention is to establish a smaller cattle operation, this will be a great learning experience until we can introduce more animal and plant variety to our farm. Like the Salatin’s farm in Virginia, we are striving to find that unique balance between plants, animals, and the earth.

Welcome Alrigo!

Today we would like to formally introduce you to our Piedmontese bull Alrigo. Alrigo is Italian for “Ruler of the Estate.” Alrigo or ‘Al’ as we fondly call him is quite a handsome fellow. We think our farm’s lady folk will fall head over hooves (ha ha!) for this dashing young Italian. So far, Al has demonstrated little of the fiery temper legendary with bulls. Various members of our family have had to clear a few fences on this farm to escape the horns of a furious bull. I think everyone around here hopes that Al's family tree contains more Ferdinand’s than   "Inferno’s." Time will certainly tell. 


Piedmontese is known as one of the most “complete” cattle breeds of today. Alrigo’s ancestors were bred over 25,000 years ago in Italy, but weren’t introduced into the United States until the 1980’s. Grass-fed Piedmontese beef is lower in fat and cholesterol than chicken, but remarkably tender and delicious. We think this beef will be a favorite among individuals who either just love a steak rich in flavor or those who are looking for a lean, high quality beef, healthier than the variety sold in most grocery stores.


Al won't be lonely for long, as we will soon be purchasing our first herd of cattle to join him here at the farm. 

Getting Started

Hello Friends,

It’s a new year, a time for change, and for our family farm we have some BIG changes in store. We have always harbored dreams of slowly restoring our family farm to the viable, productive enterprise it once was. For many years, we lived among dust-choked machinery, silent cattle stalls, and a dormant granary. We missed that certain joie de vivre farm life produces.

When it seemed profitable to sell, rather than surrender our farm to those titans of subdivisions and shopping centers, we held firm. We finished other obligations such as nourishing our education, and working far away from home, and waited.

Somewhere along the way people began questioning the quality of their food. Whether the production processes of big growers were ethically unsavory, environmental concerns made them rethink the long distances most foods travel, or they simply hungered for a quality of food produced honestly and locally, folks once again yearned for family farms. We know that nothing tastes better than a fresh-picked heirloom tomato, in the way that nothing tastes quite as good as beef raised right down the road from you. 

So after much thought and careful planning, we believe the time is right to begin anew. A wise Chinese philosopher once said, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” We hope that you will follow along with our family as we undertake this adventure together.