Raising Gloucestershire Old Spots with RAISING ROOTS FARM ｜Farm Series S1 E1

Описание: Raising Roots Farm exemplifies sustainable and regenerative agriculture through innovative practices, community engagement, and a commitment to conservation, all while redefining the American Dream through personal fulfillment in farming.

Sustainable Farming Practices


Raising Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs, nearly extinct in the US, offers a unique flavor profile and Traditional Specialty Guarantee for at least 30 years, while being docile and suitable for conservation breeding.


Regenerative agriculture practices allow pigs to root and be pigs, clearing wooded areas and tilling rocky land, while avoiding chemicals and seeing soil bounce back quickly from setbacks.


Alternative feeds like mealworms, with similar nutritional composition to soybean, are being explored as a more sustainable option to reduce reliance on expensive corn and soy rations.


Land Management and Nutrition


Using cover crops like clover, turnips, and grasses provides micronutrients for soil health and pigs, offering more diverse nutrition than standard feed.


Pigs on pasture eat fruits and vegetables like peaches and watermelon rinds, sorted from dumpsters and controlled for sugars, carbohydrates, and mold to ensure a balanced diet.


Recycling food waste from local grocery stores as pig feed reduces waste and the farm's reliance on industrial agriculture.


Farm-to-Table Integration


Opening an on-farm butcher shop enables quality control of meat processing and product development, showcasing the farm's passion for animals and commitment to sustainability.


Partnerships with local farmers to purchase their cows and rabbits support the local food system and offer a diverse range of products to customers.


Community Engagement


The farm's community-focused approach engages customers through taste testing, workshops, and classes on farming and food preparation, fostering connection to the farm.


Combining aquaponics, animal husbandry, and a butcher shop allows the farm to produce local, healthy food and offer a unique experience to customers.


Challenges and Rewards


The farm's journey to opening the butcher shop was driven by a desire to control product quality and cater to niche markets not served by larger processors.


Family farming in rural America presents challenges but offers rewards through commitment to community, sustainability, and producing high-quality products.

Production Partner ‪@YanasaTV‬

Meet My Neighbor Productions Farm Series Season 1 Episode 1
Raising Roots Farm Hickory, NC

Nationally meat packaging plants have been facing unprecedented delays in processing meat for consumers and farmers causing food shortages globally.

The backups in meat processing around the country has left many farmers wondering not only how to process food for their customers, but themselves. Farmers Brandon and Jennifer Berry from Raising Roots Farm in Hickory North Carolina, take us back to a time when farming meant more than just a corporate filled freezer and explain the process of how they have integrated a butcher shop a hog on a hog farm with a 9000 square foot greenhouse and garden to serve their community.

Raising Gloucestershire Old Spots with Raising Roots Farm: A Family-Owned Farm's Journey in Sustainable Livestock Farming and Community Engagement

00:00 Brandon Barry shares the journey of Raising Roots Farm, a family-run operation in North Carolina that evolved from a backyard aquaponics setup to a commercial greenhouse, emphasizing hard work, collaboration, and a passion for farming.
06:20 Raising Gloucestershire Old Spots pigs for their personality, conservation value, and high-quality meat involves sourcing diverse genetics to maintain a robust herd.
10:44 Raising Roots Farm has expanded to 50 acres, focusing on regenerative agriculture with rotational grazing and diverse feeding for pigs to enhance soil health and biodiversity.
18:46 The farm is innovating pig feed by using mealworms and food waste, while also collecting local discarded produce to minimize waste.
22:40 Raising Roots Farm promotes sustainable farming by feeding pigs healthy waste, engaging the community, and prioritizing conservation breeding.
26:03 The speakers are opening a butcher shop to enhance local support for niche farming, improve butchering skills, and foster community engagement through chemical-free products and collaborations.
35:03 Learning from experienced farmers is crucial for raising Gloucestershire Old Spots, as the farm develops an online platform to enhance agricultural practices and support community sustainability.
40:54 Embracing the journey of life and redefining the American Dream, the speaker emphasizes the importance of personal experiences over material wealth.

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