As with much of the Piedmont region, our land was cropped, overgrazed and then left lie fallow. Fortunately, the land is hilly and thus was not conducive to large-scale mechanized cropping, so it never received the chemical assaults that much of the bottomland suffered at the edge of the Piedmont. However, with our blessing of over 40 inches average annual rainfall, the soil minerals were depleted and the mixed grasses gave way to fescue and broom sage. Through our combination of Management Intensive Rotational Grazing and careful application of natural soil amendments and reseeding, the pastures now provide livestock with a pasture "salad" that is a mix of perennial and annual, cool season (spring & fall), warm season (summer), and hardy grasses that can be stockpiled for winter grazing. Clovers provide a natural nitrogen source, through their ability to harness the sun's energy and "fix" nitrogen out of the atmosphere and express this valuable nutrient into the soil from their root nodules. This has enabled us to dramatically reduce our requirement for nitrogen amendment. With a mix of grasses, the pastures are able to support livestock year-round, thereby reducing our reliance upon environmentally stressful haying operations. Wolf Creek Farm is a member of theAmerican Grassfed Association (AGA) which audits and certifies that Wolf Creek Farm’s grass farming practices adhere to their strict protocols for animal grazing, health, and welfare.