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Our farm has been in continuous operation since the first
Anglo settlers arrived in this part of Texas in the
mid-1840s. Prior to then the land was home to Caddo Indians.
This farm was probably originally settled by a veteran of the
Texas Revolution. The second owners were involved in the
American Civil War. Its early inhabitants endured hardships
on the edge of the frontier and carved out of the wilderness
a lasting Texas Homestead that we now call our home.
In 2005, we purchased a ranch at Rocky Branch, Texas north of Daingerfield. This land had been in the Russell family since the early 1900's. Bounded by a sixteen acre lake on one end, most all of the land can be used for grazing or crops. Until a few years ago, it was used for peanuts and sweet potatoes. Before that, watermelons were raised here. On one portion of the land are many of the old style Texas out buildings and barns. Some are made of hand cut timbers,. One of the buildings is the old Rocky Branch post office opened in 1890. The area got its name from a creek that goes through this property that has very large rocks along its banks; thus Rocky Branch. The lake is spring fed and old timers say that before the lake was built children dove off the rocks into the cold deep spring waters of a natural pool. The local Baptist church, organized in 1854, used this pool for baptisms.
Our goal is to be a Center of Excellence in Sustainable Agriculture demonstrating that a family farm can be profitable, practice environmental stewardship and produce a stable food supply and timber in perpetuity without degrading the natural resources that support the production processes.
What is sustainable agriculture? Sustainable Agriculture is a way of growing food that is healthy, does not harm the environment, respects workers, is humane to animals, provides a fair wage to the farmer, and supports farming communities. Characteristics of this type of agriculture include: conservation and preservation, biodiversity, animal welfare, economic viability and socially just. (from sustainabletable.org)
What are the differences between sustainable and organic agriculture? When is organic not sustainable?
Both organic and sustainable agriculture strive to preserve the land for generations to come and have many similarities, but one system is not necessarily better than the other. The main difference between the two methods of production is that organic food production must be certified yearly by an independent third-party certifier approved by the US Department of Agriculture. Sustainable food has no independent certification process, and the consumer must rely on the word of the farmer. In addition, sustainability is more of a philosophy or way of life, whereas organic is a specific set of government-verified standards. (from sustainabletable.org). On our farm and ranch we will use the minimum of artificial inputs, but recognize that to be good stewards of the land and be profitable we cannot be organic.
In 2005, we purchased a ranch at Rocky Branch, Texas north of Daingerfield. This land had been in the Russell family since the early 1900's. Bounded by a sixteen acre lake on one end, most all of the land can be used for grazing or crops. Until a few years ago, it was used for peanuts and sweet potatoes. Before that, watermelons were raised here. On one portion of the land are many of the old style Texas out buildings and barns. Some are made of hand cut timbers,. One of the buildings is the old Rocky Branch post office opened in 1890. The area got its name from a creek that goes through this property that has very large rocks along its banks; thus Rocky Branch. The lake is spring fed and old timers say that before the lake was built children dove off the rocks into the cold deep spring waters of a natural pool. The local Baptist church, organized in 1854, used this pool for baptisms.
Our goal is to be a Center of Excellence in Sustainable Agriculture demonstrating that a family farm can be profitable, practice environmental stewardship and produce a stable food supply and timber in perpetuity without degrading the natural resources that support the production processes.
What is sustainable agriculture? Sustainable Agriculture is a way of growing food that is healthy, does not harm the environment, respects workers, is humane to animals, provides a fair wage to the farmer, and supports farming communities. Characteristics of this type of agriculture include: conservation and preservation, biodiversity, animal welfare, economic viability and socially just. (from sustainabletable.org)
What are the differences between sustainable and organic agriculture? When is organic not sustainable?
Both organic and sustainable agriculture strive to preserve the land for generations to come and have many similarities, but one system is not necessarily better than the other. The main difference between the two methods of production is that organic food production must be certified yearly by an independent third-party certifier approved by the US Department of Agriculture. Sustainable food has no independent certification process, and the consumer must rely on the word of the farmer. In addition, sustainability is more of a philosophy or way of life, whereas organic is a specific set of government-verified standards. (from sustainabletable.org). On our farm and ranch we will use the minimum of artificial inputs, but recognize that to be good stewards of the land and be profitable we cannot be organic.
