Pineywoods Cattle have a bio-diverse diet, it is one of the reasons why we chose to raise them. Ozark Akerz is a mix of pastures and forests and the combination of grasses, trees, and shrubs is the perfect combination for them. In fact we stopped rotational grazing, allowing them to eat what they want, when they want (food and medicine), just like their ancestors did.

What do the Pineywoods Cattle herd eat at Ozark Akerz Regenerative Farm?  The answer is, all sorts, from Brambles to Walnut. We'll share what we've seen them eat, how they sometimes eat similar to Giraffes, and how our bull Rocky competes with farmer Sue to see who can pull the tastiest kudzu vine out of the trees for the cows. We'll also reveal how their appetite helps us meet some of our regenerative farming goals.

Pineywoods Cattle are instrumental in conserving and maintaining Trees and vice versa.

The Pineywoods varied appetite - including kudzu, greenbrier, brambles, even poison ivy - has led to a healthier forest and increased biodiversity at Ozark Akerz. In return, forests help conserve the Pineywoods, allowing them to mimic the foraging behavior of their wild roaming ancestors, providing them with a variety of food and medicine.

This synergy between plants and animals allows the trees at Ozark Akerz to continue capturing over 800, 000 pounds of carbon every year.

Learn more about this partnership between Pineywoods and Trees and learn how we use the iNaturalist and iTree Canopy Apps to track biodiversity and carbon capture in this presentation originally given by farmer Mike at the Chatham Conservation Partnership.

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1:21 : Agenda

1:58 : Introduction to Ozark Akerz Regenerative Farm

5:27 : Meet the Heritage Breed Animals

7:36 : Pineywoods Cattle contributing to Forest Health and vice versa

11:11 : Measuring Carbon Capture with iTree Canopy App

13:45 :Increasing Biodiversity – Current Projects

15:38 : Measuring Biodiversity with iNaturalist App

18:21 : Resources

19:51 : Questions

We all like knowing where our food comes from and how it’s grown and raised. I hear a lot of people say “the best way to do that is to get to know your farmer.” Our practices of Graze Against The Machine Regenerative Farming is inspired by indigenous principles. Our approach is constantly evolving as we slowly learn from indigenous communities and unlearn the deep-seeded propaganda of industrial agriculture that even pervades some organic practitioners.

We find that not everyone has the time let alone knows what questions to ask to get to know a farm. Here are a few suggestions to get started down the path of understanding the philosophy and practices of a farm.

1. What pesticides and herbicides do you use on your farm?
2. How do you encourage biodiversity on your farm?
3. Have you adopted indigenous principles in your farming practices?
4. What do you do to promote animal welfare?
5. What are you doing to help capture carbon on your farm?
6. Where were you made and assembled?

You’re liable to get a few blank stares if you ask all these questions at a conventionally managed farm, but the questions will hopefully help open a broader discussion of what healthy farming is. Question 6 is a bit of fun to help you learn your farmers background and history.

Keep reading to learn our answers and how we Graze Against The Machine.