Terra Farma is a pasture-based mixed livestock farm raising dairy cows and goats, chickens for meat and eggs, heritage turkeys, and red wattle pigs. We practice intensive rotational grazing and believe in the power of proper pasture management to revitalize the soil web and to produce exceptional farm products. In fact, our philosophy is summed up in our name, which is based on the Latin phrase “terra firma,” which translates to “solid earth.” We imagine Terra Farma to mean “Earth Farm,” as we farm in a way to rebuild the earth rather than extract from it.

Production Practices

Multi-species rotational grazing; GMO-free; no routine antibiotics or hormones; on-farm slaughter; no grazing in riparian areas

Grazing, Pasture and Nutrient Management Practices

All of our animals have access to at least some pasture year-round. The only time they would be confined in a barn or coop would be during periods of extreme winter weather. Everything is finished on our farm, and no different from how they were raised the rest of their lives. We practice intensive rotational grazing to prevent overgrazing, sacrifice areas in the winter to reduce compaction, keep animals away from slopes in the winter, add compost to deficient areas, use pigs and goats to reduce invasive plants like blackberry. We compost all of our cow and goat manure and then apply it to the pastures.

Environmental Conservation

We are part of the Stream Care program through East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District, which removes invasive plants and then replants a large number of native trees and shrubs along our creek. We have committed to keeping our animals out of this area. We have a wide variety of bird species on our farm, and we have left standing snags for nesting habitat in our few wooded areas.