Prairie Folk Farm is deeply dedicated to the art and science of “rotational grazing”. This is the bread and butter of our farm and what we dream about in deep winter! Our approach is so much more than just letting the sheep and chickens have access to pasture! It’s a thoughtful strategy that puts the health of the land and sheep first, therefore producing some of the healthiest lamb and eggs available.

We use permanent and temporary fencing tools to divide our pastures into small sections, giving the livestock access to no more than a days worth of pasture at a time. These daily allotments of forage allow us, the shepherds, to control how the sheep and hens impact the soil and forage.

Most importantly, this approach allows us to ensure that the livestock have a positive impact on the soil and forage. Our fencing tools allow us to move lambs and chickens out of the grazing area before too much forage is impacted. The grass and legumes can regrow quickly when there is enough remaining leaf area to collect lots of sunlight. Additionally, it prevents forage from being eaten before it is fully regrown and recovered, which would damage plants and set back growth.

Creating daily “paddocks” also promotes an even application of sheep and poultry manure. This nutrient cycling is what keeps our pastures going without many additional inputs. Sheep hoof action tramples forage onto the soil surface, which then gets broken down by abundant soil biology, adding to the soil’s organic matter stores. Organic matter helps hold onto nutrients and water, improves water infiltration and soil aeration, and serves a habitat for beneficial soil microorganisms.

Our pastures contain a mix of grasses, legumes, and forbs. It is an excellent source of energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals when it is actively growing. The mama sheep stay healthy and the lambs grow vigorously on milk and forage alone. The chickens consume an abundance of forage and insects, producing nutrient dense delectable eggs.

Practices like these are often referred to as regenerative farming because they put soil health at the forefront of management. Considering soil first helps create the foundation for vigorous plant growth, leading to healthy livestock, and ultimately, healthy people.

We believe our farming practices produce exceptional food for our family and yours. You can learn how to purchase Prairie Folk Farm’s pasture raised eggs and lamb here.