Work and rest on the farm - why we take a break in the winter.

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January 27, 2026

For two winters now, we've done something fairly radical.

We've removed all animals from our farm for the winter. Roughly, this lasts from about mid December to early March.

And if you think that sounds a little strange - a farm without animals for a period of time? - we felt that way at first, too.

If you haven't heard me talk about this before, there's a few reasons why we do this. First, our cows graze on grass all winter, rather than hay, making them stronger and healthier when they return in the spring.

And because we harvest bulk beef in the spring, that makes a big difference. We're taking animals to the butcher that are at the peak of their health, which means we're going to provide better, more nutritious meat for our customers who are making a year (or more) investment in their food.

Likewise, our partner farmer, who grows crops, uses our animals to fertilize his soil and make it more resilient, diverse, and regenerative. It's a good way to use our favorite tools (animals) to make multiple farms healthier and more self-sufficient.

And most importantly, we find time to do all the behind-the-scenes work (and get a little rest) so that our farm can hopefully remain resilient for years to come.

We've found that farming is as much about what you DO as it is about what you ABSTAIN from, too. We're a fairly small farm - only 50 acres. We've found that giving our pastures and woods sufficient rest in the winter is as important as what we do in the spring and summer, when animals are here.

And it matters for the mental health of farmers, too. Being burned out at the start of the season is a recipe for disaster, as we found out a few years ago.

Because we're truly a small family farm - it's just the two of us, and our kids, plus one neighbor who offers part-time help - the work on our farm bleeds into our family life. Remaining in business is as much about good business practices as it is about maintaining strong and healthy family relationships. And if we're in a bad place mentally on the farm, it affects everything in our home life.

So we're happy and grateful to say that the cows will be going south for the winter again. It's not a conventional approach, but it's one that's healthiest for everyone on our farm, animals and humans alike.

Why should we care if grass-fed beef is grown in America, anyway?

The government is importing over 600 million pounds of ground beef. A big company is claiming that grass-fed and grass-finished beef "doesn't exist" in this country. So if we can just buy our beef overseas, why does it matter at all if we grow it here or not?

Can we care about animals - and still raise them for food?

I probably spend the most time with the pigs on our farm. Part of this is practical: since pigs can’t sweat, we spray them down twice a day to help them wallow in the mud and stay cool. But part of it is emotional, too. I enjoy being around the pigs. When there’s a lot on my mind, or I’ve spent too much time on the computer and need to get outside, wandering over to that week’s pig paddock is one of the ways I can clear my mind. Pigs are highly emotive and responsive. When I spray them down with the hose, they like to sit back on their haunches, prick back their ears, and snap playfully at the water as it showers down on them. And then joyfully roll around in the mud afterward, of course. But they’re responsive to humans in general, too. They are naturally curious and, in the case of our heritage breed Red Wattles, gentle. They’ll come up and sniff you, rub their mud-streaked bellies over you, and let you scratch their ears. And maybe this is the part where you start to wonder: But aren’t you raising them for food? Why would you want an emotional connection to an animal that you are raising for food? I understand where this question is coming from. I was a vegetarian for nearly a decade because I didn’t like the thought of killing animals, especially within the framework of our industrial food system. But actually, it isn’t a problem or moral quandary for me. Yes, we grow fond of and attached to our animals, including our pigs. Yes, we still send them to the butcher or process them on our farm for food. And yes, this still makes sense to me. I would gently suggest that the idea that we shouldn’t have any emotional connection to our food - that we can only eat meat that comes from animals we withhold our emotions or affection from - is a sign of our disconnection to the way food is grown. That is, after all, one of the premises of industrial agriculture. Designate animals with one sole purpose - “becoming food” - and then shut them away in buildings, cramped quarters, or far away from humans who might interact with them beyond the farmer. And the farmer, too, should be as disconnected as possible. After all, this is an efficient machine. The problem, from a regenerative perspective, is that growing food is never just about growing food. Food is the gift you receive at the end of your work, but it’s the work itself - and the consequences of the work beyond the food - that is the point. The work, on our farm, is caring for the land. That means working alongside animals to nurture native plants, clear forest areas to make existing trees healthier, and create habitats for birds, pollinators, and wildlife. And that means becoming attentive and thoughtful - to animals and to the land. Watching, learning, and yes, developing bonds with the habitats you’re nurturing and the animals that are helping you do so. Is it sad to load up animals and take them to the butcher at the end of the season? Yes, it often can be. But I don’t feel guilty about it. I know that we’ve given them the best life possible, and that we’ve partnered with them to leave our farm better than we found it each year. And if that doesn’t make sense, that’s okay. I’m not saying that everyone has to agree with me. I’d simply like to advocate for a way of farming and consuming meat that includes this experience - one of affection and bonding between animals and humans. After all, this is one of the many ways we try to do things differently on our farm. We don’t want to just provide you with food that meets your standards - non-GMO, no vaccines, no antibiotics, grass-fed and pasture-raised. We also want to help you reconnect with that food. And part of that is knowing the animals, hearing stories about them, and yes, maybe even having an emotional connection with them, despite the end goal of providing meat to you.

Know your beef farmer - and stock up on grass-fed and grass-finished beef you can trust.

Worried about the recent beef news about imports? Want to know where your beef comes from - and that it's actually beef? Our 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef is honest, trustworthy, and truly local. Try it now get the peace of mind that comes from sourcing food you can actually trust.

Work and rest on the farm - why we take a break in the winter.

More from the blog

Why should we care if grass-fed beef is grown in America, anyway?

Can we care about animals - and still raise them for food?

Know your beef farmer - and stock up on grass-fed and grass-finished beef you can trust.

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