How We Farm

Food you can feel good feeding your family.

At Elmcrest Farm, we raise food the same way we feed our own family:

with intention, integrity, and a deep respect for the land.

We believe healthy food starts with healthy soil, healthy animals, and a healthy ecosystem.

That belief shapes every decision we make—from how we graze our cattle, to how we raise poultry and pigs, to the farms we choose to partner with through the Elmcrest Farm Hub.

Our promise is simple:

We won’t sell you food we wouldn’t proudly serve at our own table.

Our Farming Philosophy

We are regenerative, pasture-based farmers.

That means we work with nature instead of against it.

Our goal isn’t simply to produce food, it’s to leave our soil, pastures, animals, and community healthier than we found them.

Every season we’re learning, adapting, and improving how we care for this land so it can continue feeding families for generations to come.

For us, regenerative agriculture means:

Building soil instead of depleting it
Keeping animals on pasture where they can express natural behaviors
Supporting biodiversity in our fields and woodlands
Protecting water quality
Using practices that strengthen the long-term health of the land

We see ourselves as stewards first, and farmers second.

Are We Organic?

We are not certified organic.

But we use many organic and beyond-organic practices on our farm.

We know certification can be meaningful for many families, and we respect that. For us, we’ve chosen to invest our time and resources directly into the farm itself rather than pursuing formal certification.

That means focusing on the quality of our practices rather than a label.

Transparency matters deeply to us, and we’re always happy to answer questions about how your food was raised.

Do We Use Herbicides or Pesticides?

We avoid synthetic herbicides and pesticides whenever possible and rely first on healthy soil biology, strong pasture systems, biodiversity, grazing management, and prevention.

Rather than trying to “fix” problems after they show up, we focus on creating conditions where plants and animals are resilient from the start.

That includes:

Diverse pasture and forage systems
Rotational grazing
Healthy mineral balance
Clean habitat for beneficial insects and pollinators
Building strong animal health through nutrition and environment

Our approach is centered on ecology, not chemicals.

How We Care for the Soil

Healthy soil is where everything begins.

We spend a lot of time thinking about what’s happening beneath our feet.

We focus on practices that improve soil life and fertility over time, including:

Rotational grazing and managed pasture recovery
Returning fertility back to the land through animal impact
Keeping living roots in the soil whenever possible
Minimizing disturbance
Building organic matter naturally over time
Using compost, minerals, and natural amendments where needed

When soil is healthy, grass grows better.
When grass grows better, animals thrive.
And when animals thrive, the food they produce becomes more nutrient-dense.

It all starts in the soil.

Our Animals

Our animals are raised outdoors on pasture with fresh air, sunshine, and room to move.

They’re able to forage, graze, scratch, root, and behave like animals were designed to behave.

We believe animal welfare and land stewardship go hand in hand.

Our livestock are moved regularly through pasture to give forage time to recover and to distribute nutrients naturally across the farm.

That movement helps:

Build healthier pasture
Improve soil biology
Reduce parasite pressure naturally
Support animal health
Reduce reliance on outside inputs

Healthy land supports healthy animals—and healthy animals produce exceptional food.

Seeds, Feed & Farm Inputs

We try to source thoughtfully whenever possible.

That includes seeking out:

High-quality seed from growers we trust
Non-GMO and responsibly sourced feed whenever available
Soil amendments and minerals chosen to support long-term fertility
Genetics suited to pasture-based production and our Appalachian landscape

We’re always learning and improving, and we’re committed to sourcing inputs that align with our values as much as possible.

The Farms We Partner With

Through the Elmcrest Farm Hub, we also source from neighboring farms across the Twelvepole Valley and the tri-state region.

When we bring in products from other farms, we look for producers who share values similar to ours.

We seek out farms that prioritize:

Responsible land stewardship
Pasture-based livestock systems
Organic or low-input growing practices
Animal welfare
Transparency
Quality over quantity

While every farm operates differently, we intentionally choose partners whose food we trust and feel good bringing into our own home.

Who Does the Work?

Elmcrest Farm is family-run.

Daily life on the farm includes Park, Lacy, Luke, Hazel Jane, grandparents, farm interns, friends, seasonal help, and an incredible extended community of supporters.

You’ll find us feeding animals in the early morning hours, moving fence, collecting eggs, loading deliveries, packing CSA boxes, stocking the market, mentoring students, or chasing kids through the pasture.

Farming here is truly a family and community effort.

And we wouldn’t have it any other way.