2018 was my first full year with running Bunker Farms, not only did the vegetables grow, but the sheep flock grew as well. Starting out with 17 sheep in 2017, the total population on the Crozet farm as of today (Jan 2019) is 36. With lambing season just around the corner, this number is expected to jump to somewhere just over 60 sheep. Now we’re talking. And I mean that in multiple ways. First, a bigger flock means more product. I couldn’t hold on to my lamb supply this past year for more than a few weeks before it sold out. Turns out that lamb raised in this fashion is delicious! Second, more animals means greater efficiency in regards to time spent on grazing management. Managing grazing for 60 sheep won’t take much more time for managing the grazing for 17 sheep. Third, and most importantly, with more animals under good management means a bigger tool for making a positive impact on the soil. This is where Wandering River Farm, run by Gabe Engle, comes in.
Gabe and I see things eye to eye when it comes to raising livestock in a regenerative manner. Meeting through the Charlottesville farmers market, we’ve been comparing notes (more like me copying his homework) and have become big fans of each others’ farmers market offerings. If you haven’t had it yet, Gabe’s beef, pork, and mushrooms are nothing short of the best. Gabe thought the same of my lamb after sharing some chops with him from last years harvest. After introducing him to my experience with raising sheep he saw the same potential I did in having lamb as a viable regenerative farm enterprise and started amassing his own flock at his place just down the road in Ivy, VA.
As the Bunker Farms flock will be bursting at the seams when confined to the 10 acre land lease in Crozet, we’re combining our animals into one herd of which we will share the management duties primarily on his 200 acre farm. Sure we have some details to work out between the two of us, but we believe that good farming is best when played as a team sport. We expect to be managing more than 100 animals come spring to be able to accelerate the ecological regeneration of both farms with a byproduct of nutrient dense, zero grain, grass-fed lamb.