The land comes first
It all starts in the soil, with the recognition that we have never been separate from Mother Nature. The words 'human' and 'humus' come from the same base, meaning 'earth'.
01 / The ranches
Independent family ranches sharing a common pulse
Ranches that have met the strict qualifications for membership in the Landfed ecosystem do so because they live above and beyond the norm. Practices are designed to mimic the natural ecosystem while improving biodiversity, soil health and, at the end of the line, nutrient density in food.
02 / THE PHILOSOPHY
Being in relationship means deep listening
Ranches don't operate in a vacuum. They live inside watersheds where every move made on the ground eventually makes its way to a river, which we see as the ultimate pulse of an ecosystem.
Salinas River watershed
California
The Salinas River runs for 175 miles, up the Salinas Valley, and pours into the world famous Monterey Bay. The Madson Ranch rests in the eastern foothills of the river valley and sits entirely inside one of the National Audubon Society's globally recognized Important Bird Areas, the King City Grasslands. It's been nearly 40 years since chemicals or fertilizers have been applied on this property.
Gila River watershed
Arizona & New Mexico
The Gila River is one of America's largest waterways, ultimately feeding in the mighty Colorado River and joining the ocean at the Sea of Cortez. Merrell Livestock cares for land on both sides of the Gila that previously spent decades under traditional row cropping practices. Through planned, regenerative grazing of cattle, pigs and sheep, the Merrells have pulled every chemical and fertilizer off the land.
Our Relatives on the Ranches
These spaces are home to more than just cattle, pigs and sheep. The wider Landfed ecosystem is shared with nearly 250 plant species, over 90 bird and animal species, over 100 pollinators, and countless other tiny beings living in the soil and air. We care for them, too.
Illustrative placeholder portraits, not ranch sightings.
Plants
California poppy
Birds
California quail
Pollinators
Honeybee
Plants
Live oak
Birds
Anna’s hummingbird
Soil life
Earthworm
03 / LANDFED USA
Come back to the land that feeds you.
Every Landfed member has access to the full depth and breadth of land, animal and meat monitoring that occurs within the system. The ranches are also delighted to welcome members for special visits, workshops, camping trips and more. These are the places that feed you, and we believe you should know them well.
Two founding ranches, six western states in view. Members can open each ranch's full profile inside the portal.