Partnerships

Bone Dry Ridge partners with many farms.  We go by the philosophy that we are stronger together.  At first glance one may say we are competitors.  But that is hogwash.  We are much better off, all of us, by working together.

One of the hardest things a small farmer has to do, is to let you, the public, know we exist.  Thanks to the internet however, this is now, a much easier task.  Not all farmers are comfortable working with this relatively new medium, and so partnerships have developed between us and other farmers here in our lovely valley of Independence.  We only partner with farmers we feel raise their animals using the same humane methods we use.  People who respect their animals and give them a good life.  Plenty of good pastures, fresh water, salt and minerals and lots of space to play in and be happy. 

Most of our partners live right here in Independence Valley.

Code and Michael Morris:

Code and Mike are a father and son team.  Together they run the farm as well as a small family business in Centralia, where they haul gravel, bark and what ever else needs to be hauled.  Each year they buy a few yearlings from other farmers, and give them the good life until it is time for them to go to slaughter.  They have tried various breeds, and have come to really like the Japanese Wagyu, Angus cross.  This cross breed is called American Style Kobe Beef.   Considered some of the best meat in the world (look it up on the web). These creatures are very gentle which makes the whole operation of having animals around, very pleasant.  The animals are rotates around the three pasture areas and given a nice shelter in the winter.  They are 100% grass fed.  Eat grass all summer and local hay in the winter. 

We have been buying hay from Code and Mike for years.  They live just on the other side of our ridge.  They are both gentle souls, which we think is a good quality to have as farmers.

Broken Bow Farm:

Broken Bow Farm is run by Zowie Aleshire and Drew Schneidler.  They are a young couple, trying their hand in farming.  They raise chickens and Icelandic Sheep.  They live 3 miles from Bone Dry Ridge.  I’m mentoring them in sheep raising, since there is a lot to learn in raising animals, especially during lambing season.  During the summer months, we graze our sheep together, which reduces the workload for all involved.  Just about the same amount of work goes into rotating pastures with 50 sheep as 70 sheep.  When you buy lamb from Bone Dry Ridge you may indeed be getting lamb raised by Zowie and Drew.  We are all in this together.

Tanglewood Farm:  

Chuck and Craig raise Icelandic sheep, goats and chickens.  Mostly for them selves and their family, but as demand for Icelandic lamb rises we have been able to expand without having to buy more land.  Chuck and Craig do a wonderful job with their small flock of animals.  They live near Yelm so we don’t get to visit with them as often as we would like.

Other partnerships:

In the summertime, when our non irrigated fields go dry and the grass growth slows down,  we move the sheep to the lowlands.  To the irrigated fallow fields of our wonderful neighbors, the vegetable farmers.  We are so lucky to live in this lovely valley, full of organic vegetable farms.  Each year, they lay some of their fields fallow, to give the soil a rest, and give it a chance to recuperate from producing a lot of food per acre.  Fallowing also prevents pest from getting a hold in the fields.  It is very good to have animals eat the grass in the fallow fields because that promotes root growth which in turn makes the soil thicker, richer and fluffier.  Not to mention the stuff that gets left behind.  Grass turned into fertilizer right on the spot.  These farmers give us fields to graze our animals and we leave behind a lot of fertilizer.  Does life get any better then that?

These vegetable farms are:

Helsing Junction Farm

Rising River Farm

Wobbly Cart Farm