We are in our early to mid thirties seeking 40 plus acres of pasture and woodland for a grass fed, grass finished, rotational grazing operation. Through precise rotational practices, utilizing mob grazing techniques, and the planting of perennial fodder crops, we want increase fertility on the land while diminishing off farm inputs and feed costs. We are predominantly interested in running beef cattle and sheep, while breeding/culling for herd resilience.
We also have experience and interest in a small scale raw dairy, egg production, and utilizing pigs when appropriate.
Aside from our livestock ventures, we have owned and operated a perennial food crop nursery for the better part of a decade that we would like to reinvigorate. We would like to continue to sell bare root plants as well as plant out silvoculture systems on the property that benefit both livestock and production of perennial food crops.
Ben- I am an Ohio transplant and have lived in the southern Willamette valley for the last 11 years. Off farm, I am a licensed contractor focusing on custom woodwork with a natural aesthetic. I spent many years prior as a landscaper and handyman. I am a plant nerd of sorts. Being connected to my food has been a big drive in life. I also enjoy playing music, finding the best swimming holes, fishing, hunting, and hiking.
Chelsea- I am a southern Willamette valley native. I love to cook extravagant meals, bake delicious treats, care for animals, and make healing teas and salves amongst many other things.
Along for the ride are our 2 well behaved dogs, Doxa(11) and Gheezer (3), who have grown up around a variety of livestock and other dogs. Both are medium sized healer mixes. Neither of them are traditional working dogs though they do have experience in gently herding both poultry and sheep when called upon.
We are both hardworking and easy going folks who enjoy the exchange of collaboration while also valuing personal space. The both of us are incredibly passionate about organic farming and growing/consuming quality food. We work well together and feel confident in accomplishing what we set our minds to.
We have some flexibility depending on the farm.
-Clean water is of upmost importance. This could be a dependable spring or well.
-Barn for hay storage as well as tool storage.
-Electricity for livestock fencing.
-Water rights for the plant nursery as well as fruit and nut tree installations.
-Ideally a combination of pasture and woodland.
Ben- I grew up in Ohio helping grandparents with their 10 acre homestead. Since moving to Oregon 11 years ago, I’ve lived and worked on a number of different small farms and homesteads in the southern willamette valley. Experience includes goat and cow dairy, egg production, animal husbandry, meat chickens, market garden, mushroom cultivation, plant nursery, pasture pigs, sheep, and beef cattle. Over the years I’ve done a lot of fence construction and maintenance, rotational grazing, farm construction, orchard planning and install, till and no till vegetable farming, green house construction, irrigation, forestry (managing for diversity, forest health, timber products) milling lumber, off grid solar installs, natural building (cob, strawbale, round pole timber framing, plastering), road maintenance, heavy machinery operation, mechanics, and I’m sure much more.
Chelsea- I have worked on numerous farms around the southern Willamette valley, working with dairy goats & cows, beef cattle, meat chickens, egg production, pastured pigs. I have been a helping in the perennial plant nursery for the last 5 years as well as working in a market garden growing vegetables for a local fermentation business.
We spent 4 years leasing most of a 25 acre property in Drain, developing a modest off grid homestead and farm. Unfortunately the owner of the property decided to sell unexpectedly and we were not in a position to purchase. Over the course of the time spent on the property we:
- Raised pastured pigs and laying hens on rotation in order to restore 12 acres of fallow pasture (otherwise known as a blackberry forrest)
- Resurrected a lot of perimeter and cross fencing
-Put in a quarter mile of road
- Built a small off grid cabin from trees felled on the property with slip straw walls and cob plaster
- Established water systems
- Brought an established orchard back into production
- Established a large kitchen garden
- Managed roughly 7 acres of reprod forest for: diversity, hazel and maple coppice, fire resistance, round-pole timbers, native food/medicinal crops, and wildlife.
- Operated a perennial food crop nursery
This is a very hard question to answer because it all depends on the land and the scenario. We have many interests and skills and the direction we feel most inclined is running beef cattle, sheep, and/or chickens in a rotational/mob grazing scenario. We are interested working towards a closed loop system and breeding for herd resilience.
Likely short term goals:
-Solidify perimeter fencing.
-Dialing in rotation patterns.
-Establish infrastructure for plant nursery
-Begin planning/ planting out fruit, nut, and livestock forage trees/shrubs.
-Establish Irrigation and watering systems.
-Tending the forest and managing for health, diversity, as well as various forest products. This could look like many different practices depending on the forest at hand.
-Establish and/or maintain direct sale and wholesale relationships, join local farmers market.
-Dialing in meat and egg production.
-Harvest fruit, nuts, and other perennials for market or direct sale.
-Building out infrastructure for on site butchering and meat curing.
Looking to land on a farm with housing available or nearby. This could be a house, cabin, loft in a barn, etc. Ben is a licensed contractor and woodworker off farm and could be open to building out a living space in a barn or outbuilding. Given the right fit, we would also be open to purchasing a trailer or building tiny home to live for a period of time.
We believe diversity breeds resilience in all contexts. Keeping the farm open and inviting to community and those interested in learning/contributing is a high priority.
To contact a land seeker, you must first create a land listing and have it approved by our staff. Thank you.
