Our Vision

Two Creek manages everything according to the whole of the farm, following the Savory Institute’s approach. This approach provides a decision-making process to ensure that management supports both land and livelihoods tailored to our unique context. Livestock management emulates a wild herd and is integrated into the wider ecosystem.

Animals are necessary for our ecosystem to function. We assess animal welfare according to American philosopher Martha Nussbaum’s Capabilities Approach, which is articulated so clearly by Joel Salatin as “respecting the pigness of pigs.” We ensure that our livestock enjoy choice, socialization, and play. Their main task is fulfilling their ecological function. For example, our sheep roam and forage, enjoying a diverse diet while transforming grass into living soil. Similarly, our pigs run and root, playing together while reversing succession and enhancing biodiversity in our woodlands. We keep our animals in family groups and practice delayed or natural weaning.

Silvopasture is the integration of grazing and forest on the same land. We work silvopasture from both directions - thinning mid-stage forests to open up canopy and light for grazing, and planting trees into our larger pastures in tree lanes. Most of our tree lanes are planted on keylines to improve hydrology within uniform alley spacing for efficient grazing. Silvopasture offers livestock diverse nutrition, shade, and shelter and supports habitat for biodiversity. Silvopasture also sequesters 10x more carbon than pasture alone.

Management-intensive grazing uses high animal density on small paddocks. This allows full consumption of forage along with long rest periods. Multi-species grazing takes advantage of the different diets and preference of each each species, resulting in more diverse pastures with enhanced biodiversity.

We avoid tilling in order to build carbon-rich living soils. Instead of plowing, we supplement our beds with compost, which slowly decomposes and rejuvenates the soil below. Instead of pulling our plants after harvest, we cut them off below the soil so the roots decompose and retain biomass and nutrients.