Devyn LeBlanc
reporter@greenepublishing.com
Promised Land Homestead Farm is located among the beautiful Live Oaks in Madison County. It spans over 62 acres of open pastures, oak hammock bottoms and uncultivated farm land, where sheep and cattle co-graze.
Promised Land Homestead is owned and founded by Tony and Tobi Hester, of Madison County. They began their homesteading journey when they yearned to find truth in their food. The Hester's aim to provide clean, natural food for people (and their pets) to be healthy and nourished. The practice of sustainable farming and homesteading has become a way of life for the Hester's.
One of the many ways that the Hester's practice sustainable farming is through co-grazing. While co-grazing, the sheep and cattle often consume different plant species or different parts of the same plant, utilizing vegetation diversity within the field. The practice of co-grazing also aids in keeping parasites at a minimum. This process also aids in regenerative farming.
By practicing regenerative farming, the Hester's grow according to season and feed the animals what they grow. The animals fertilize the ground, tilling the land as they wander and graze. The Hester's pride themselves on their pasture-raised animals, they ensure that no antibiotics, soy, corn or genetically modified organisms (GMO) are implemented into the animals' diets.
The Hester's also participate in the “Shave 'em to Save 'em” initiative. Due to decades of decline in the wool market, the overall sheep population is diminishing, causing more than 20 once-popular breeds to be added to The Livestock Conservancy's list of endangered breeds. This initiative, launched by The Livestock Conservancy, aims to build interest among fiber artists in rare breed sheep's wool. By introducing fiber artists to rare breed sheep's wool and sponsoring a challenge to start new projects and earn items upon completion, The Conservancy hopes to bring business to shepherds and increase the populations of rare sheep breeds on its Conservation Priority List.
Promised Land Homestead sells a variety of meat and products from their livestock such as lamb, rabbit, beef, chicken and eggs. They also sell honey from their beehive. For more information about their farm or how to place an order, visit their website at www.promisedlandhomestead.farm.