Laying the Groundwork: Regenerative Farming with Thousand Hills
According to Paul Hawken, author of Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever to Reverse Global Warming, practicing regenerative farming is “… the single greatest solution to the climate crisis.” Hawken explains, “The relationship between regenerative agriculture and the climate is… a path to walking back the carbon we have placed in the air.” These practices draw carbon from the air and pull it underground, where it can be stored & can rebuild soil health. Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed is a longstanding, trusted partner of Wedge Co-ops for the highest quality, local grass-fed beef. They are committed to land management and grazing strategies that restore natural resources– instead of depleting them. We spoke with them about how they engage in regenerative farming practices, and why they matter for future generations.
“Since our founding in 2003, Thousand Hills has focused on nourishing the soil, plants, cattle, and people by holistically grazing cattle for their lifetime. What began as a passion to simply share the nutritional benefits of Lifetime Grazed 100% Grass Fed Beef has evolved into a full embrace of regenerative agriculture– with its many critical benefits to people and planet.” Explains Matt Maier, Owner & ‘Chief Regenerative Renegade.’
Regenerative agriculture adheres to humane standards. Healthy land means healthy cows. With regenerative grazing, cattle graze naturally- living outdoors and not confined in commercial feedlots. The highest humane standards include a lifetime diet of diverse grasses. Certification from American Grassfed Association verifies that all animals are raised with the highest grazing standards to support animal welfare through humane and healthy treatment. Diverse forage has been shown to benefit the health of the animal and increase the nutrient density in beef. Higher nutrient content leads to more delicious & flavorful meat.
Photo: Abby Lillback
“Our regenerative agriculture practices support biological diversity, natural resources, native wildlife habitat, and soil fertility.”
With bold changemakers like Thousand Hills leading the way, the return to regenerative growing philosophy inspires the future. Their vision is to repair our food system by applying these growing practices nationwide.
“Regardless of what you value: human health, animal welfare, water cycles, soil health, wildlife and pollinator habitat, carbon, food security…—regenerative agriculture is a major part of the solution. By transitioning practices from conventional to regenerative we don’t need a silver bullet. We simply need to begin implementation on our existing agricultural land, in every country.” Says Maier, “We want to share this message with as many [shoppers] as possible. Voting with your dollar is the engine that drives the change.”
As we celebrate our 50th year, we remain unwavering in our commitment to bringing you the highest quality locally sourced options available. When asked about our sourcing philosophy when it comes to meat & seafood, our Fresh Category Manager Amber says, “In the Meat & Seafood departments at the Wedge, we highlight and celebrate products that are raised and produced in ways that support good welfare for people, animals, and the environment, and are so fortunate to have so many of these options available to us from local family farms like Thousand Hills. We are also committed to providing reasonably priced options that allow our stores to be truly welcoming and accessible to all members of our community.”
Photo: Matt Maier, owner, courtesy of Thousand Hills team