Mastodon Farm is a 60 acre Regenerative farm in Southeast Michigan. We have cows, pigs and chickens which perform various functions to assist in food production while simultaneously improving the soil. We believe in working with nature, rather than against it.
Small diverse farms can provide ecosystem functions as well as wholesome food for their local communities. We hope to set an example for others to follow so that we may care for Mother Earth as she has cared for us. All are welcome. To each according to their need. Current Price Sheet can be found below.
There is no victory without partnership. We are passionate about fostering the connection between local farms and their communities.
Farm Beginnings:
My story with farming started at a very young age. Growing up in the unforgiving sun and sands of Florida, my annual Summer vacation to Grandpa’s farm felt like a little piece of paradise. The soft grass and cool breeze was the perfect backdrop for collecting eggs, helping in the garden, sitting on the porch with Grandpa. Always front-of-mind was the delicious food! Message received: If you want the best food, GROW YOUR OWN. This stuck with me as I worked my way through adolescence in various restaurants.
The chefs I worked with approached cooking as if working some kind of magic to make their ingredients taste good. Indeed, there is some magic here at Mastodon Farm. Probably the same kind of magic that helped Grandpa Thacker find these mastodon bones while excavating his fishing hole. After earning my degree in Ecology and failing to find rewarding work in the environmental field, Michigan came calling. I had outgrown my backyard farm in Gainesville and grandpa had some health issues. He would never admit to losing his independence but he definitely needed some help with the farm. In 2012, at 30 years old, I sold my house and moved from the Southern peninsula to the Northern one.
After a fantastic year living with grandpa, he suffered some complications from elective surgery and passed away. I couldn’t imagine leaving the family farm so, with a lot of help from my family, we bought it and in 2013 we began farming with regard for the environment. One problem: I didn’t even know what a legume was or why they are good for the soil. Fortunately my career path took a turn and I started getting paid to travel all over the US and 7 other countries to meet with Organic farmers and discuss their practices. After 6 years of that, I became an Organic farm inspector and I now visit around 100 farms every year. Combined with my hands-on farming experience, I have begun to figure out what regenerative farming is all about.
The Farm Today
The 100 acre homestead is hidden in the gentle hills of Southeast Michigan. A menagerie of cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys and honeybees call it home. We raise some fruit, vegetables and mushrooms, tap some maple trees, and produce cut lumber.
- Our beef cows are 100% grass-fed
- Our seasonally-pastured hogs are always fed Non-GMO, mostly Organic wheat from a farmer 20 miles away in Adrian!
- Same wheat we feed our milk cows and laying hens (Soy-free eggs!)
- Broiler chickens get Organic feed (soy included) produced by a farmer outside Lansing
- No synthetic substances are used on honeybees, produce, maple syrup, or any livestock!
The pastures are managed regeneratively with the help of the livestock. Cows build organic matter in the soil by eating massive quantities of hay. Pigs work the ground to expose the pasture seed bed for new growth. Chickens clean up after everybody and help control insects. The garden is amended by cows eating hay which may be used as mulch or incorporated by the pigs. A variety of cover crops are recycled by the cows and pigs in the garden and orchard. The forest is managed for maple syrup and lumber which we harvest and mill ourselves. The honey bees are 100% treatment free.
The farm is also home to a variety of wildlife thanks to the restored wetlands and prairie and the 30 acres of forest. All conventional practices were discontinued in 2013 in favor of regenerative ones. Wild berries and mushrooms and medicinal herbs are easy to find as they are naturalized around the uncultivated areas of the property.
Farm Goals
Our primary goal is to produce healthy food for the local community while giving our animals
the best lives possible and without harming the environment. We are also passionate about
building a resilient community of farmers, artisans and supporters to lead the way to a more
rewarding and sustainable economy. We have come a long way but the work is never finished.
Here are some plans for future projects:
Additional pasture and shelter for the livestock
Increase perennial fruit production by establishing an edible forest
Expand regenerative management into the forest by introducing hogs
Utilize renewable energy and earth-works to reduce dependence on the grid
Increase capacity to cure and smoke pork and jerky for more ready-to-eat products
Build facility for on-farm processing, commercial kitchen, and food truck
If you think you can help with some of these projects, please reach out! We love engaging with
the community whether its for a skill-share / work day, an educational field-trip, or just some
cow-cuddling therapy!