Raising Gloucestershire Old Spots with RAISING ROOTS FARM ｜Farm Series S1 E1

Production Partner @YanasaTV
Meet My Neighbor Productions Farm Series Season 1 Episode 1
Raising Roots Farm Hickory, NC
From Farm to Table - Farmers take meat processing into their own hands.
Nationally meat packaging plants have been facing unprecedented delays in processing meat for consumers and farmers causing food shortages globally.
The backups in meat processing around the country has left many farmers wondering not only how to process food for their customers, but themselves. Farmers Brandon and Jennifer Berry from Raising Roots Farm in Hickory North Carolina, take us back to a time when farming meant more than just a corporate filled freezer and explain the process of how they have integrated a butcher shop a hog on a hog farm with a 9000 square foot greenhouse and garden to serve their community.
Raising Gloucestershire Old Spots with Raising Roots Farm: A Family-Owned Farm's Journey in Sustainable Livestock Farming and Community Engagement
0:00 Raising Roots Farm
1:31 Family-owned farm in North Carolina grows produce, raises livestock, and operates a butcher shop.
3:19 Aquaponics Greenhouse focused on growing food sustainably and striving for year-round production
5:36 Reviving heritage pig breed on the farm with unique flavor profile and conservation efforts.
7:00 Diversifying farm income with pigs for meat production
7:14 Why Gloucester Old Spot Hog Breed
8:31 Characteristics of Gloucester Old Spot Pigs
9:00 Importance of conservation breeding and livestock conservancy
9:27 Distinct flavor profile and traditional specialty guarantee of Old Spots meat
9:53 Selecting the best Gloucester Old Spot genetics and efforts to maintain genetic diversity in the pig herd.
10:26 Sustainable farming practices for raising pigs on diverse pasture lands.
11:50 Land management of Pasture Raised Hogs
12:10 Land management challenges and benefits of regenerative agriculture
13:03 Utilizing pigs for clearing wooded areas and tilling rocky land
14:13 Dedication to chemical-free farming and use of cover crops for pig management
15:10 Do pigs benefit from being pasture raised?
15:50 Sustainable farming practices for healthier pigs through alternative feeds and complete nutrition.
16:03 Biodiversity in pastures accelerates waste breakdown and benefits gardens.
16:21 Grass-fed animals show healthier traits without antibiotics.
16:40 What do Gloucester Old Spot pigs eat?
17:40 Alternative feeds like mealworms are explored for healthier and cost-effective pig nutrition.
19:59 Sustainable farming practices, including recycling food waste and alternative feed production.
20:19 How to get Free Food Waste for Pigs
24:28 On farm butcher shop.
24:35 Exploring the journey of a community-focused farm transitioning from aquaponics to raising animals and opening a butcher shop.
29:16 Local farm's commitment to community, sustainability, and high-quality products.
33:40 Hickory Farmers Market
34:53 Learn about raising pigs on pasture.
35:04 Challenges and learning experiences in sustainable farming practices.
37:10 Farmlife It's a Life You Choose
38:58 Exploring the challenges and rewards of family farming in rural America.
39:45 Credits
#foodsecurity #hogkilling #meat #pork #meatprocessing #foodsecurity #farm #farming #homesteading #meatshortage #foodshortage #TheBeardedButchers #JustinRhodes #KissTheGround #regenerative #sustainable

[@robyngrubb8413]

My goodness, this guy is a National Treasure... I hope you folks appreciate what you have in this man. What a gem.Regards from Australia.

[@maddydenny244]

I love this

[@JudeeaKn]

What an honor to watch this wonderful story of your life. It is amazing how you have the privilege to have community like this one. Family, friends and others coming together is Outstanding ! Thank you for all the blessings your story has created for each of us to dream of what can be. 😇😁😇

[@marybuffo2632]

Loved this segment! In my 60s now, these spotted pigs brought back sweet memories! My sweet spotted sow as a kid (probably a cross, not full heritage) was gentile and the best mama! Blessed to grow up on a small diversified family farm, I have enjoyed, grown, and maintained a small market garden. My "stay-at-home be-a-mom" career has lasted 32 years, and saw 3 kids grow up with growing and marketing skills.
Thank you for the sweet memory and awesome history of this spotted heritage breed. Love and Respect from Kansas ♥️

[@JudeeaKn]

Your documentary was well done, too ! Quite interesting ! "❤️💖❤️"

[@zulemamijangos4062]

Good evening!
I just said
GOD BLESS YOU
KEEP YOUR HARD WORK
ITS LOVELY 💕

[@jenniferbaucom9769]

I live in Fuquay Varina NC, this farm could definitely be a day trip for me! BTW those Old Spots babies are about the cutest things I've seen. So glad you gave insight on breed temperment, helps us understand the preference of heritage breeds. Now it makes me want to research which breed my grandfather raised.
Also, my dad was stationed at Ft. Rucker, AL. I saw the smart practice of raising peanuts, then turning pigs out in the fields when the peanuts were harvested. Widespread system used in Alabama. The pork quality after they foraged the peanut fields was top shelf! Can peanuts be grown over there in Hickory? LOL if I had any land to devote to it, I sure would try it. But your video was stellar. You are a treasure! Carry on!!