The Regenaissance Podcast

Ben Justman takes me inside Peony Lane Wine in Paonia, Colorado for a live farm tour of one of America’s highest-elevation vineyard regions. He educates me on how grapes are grown, how vines survive harsh winters, how low-intervention wine is made, and why true place-based winemaking creates a totally different drinking experience. It’s interesting to see how he constantly adapts to the seasons, soil, weather, and other farming variables to keep the operation productive and high quality.Key TopicsHigh-elevation Colorado vineyard conditionsHow Pinot Noir grows in the West Elks AVATraditional vs modern wine pressingNeutral oak philosophy & fermentation choicesFreeze events, die-back, retraining, & resilienceWater, irrigation strategy, and soil connectionWhat You’ll Hear in This Farm TourVineyard walkthrough and climate explanationOld basket press vs modern bladder press demonstrationStainless tanks, oak barrels, and aging philosophyVine die-back, retraining, and freeze recoveryHow irrigation, soil depth, and vineyard management shape flavorHonest discussion of additives, hangovers, and “natural” wineWhy Colorado wine deserves far more recognitionWebsiteInstagramX 00:00:00 — Colorado vineyard & climate 00:01:00 — Old basket press 00:02:30 — New bladder press 00:03:30 — Tanks & barrels 00:05:00 — Pressing process 00:06:30 — Vineyard origin story 00:07:30 — Why this wine feels better 00:09:00 — Additives & labeling truth 00:10:30 — Wine, place & meaning 00:11:30 — Commodity vs real wine 00:14:30 — Vine growth & maturity 00:17:30 — Freeze damage & recovery 00:21:30 — Training vines 00:23:30 — Irrigation & soil depth 00:27:00 — Cutting back growth 00:28:30 — Lessons, learning, & commitment

This on-the-ground episode explores Michael Grecos first-generation regenerative sheep operation, run entirely on leased land in New York’s Hudson Valley. We walk the pastures with Michael as he explains stocking strategy, grazing philosophy, shade management, lambing, predator protection, mineral systems, on-farm slaughter, and why sheep can make regenerative agriculture viable on smaller landscapes. Key TopicsWhy Michael chose sheep and how leased land shapes his operationDaily rotational grazing, density, rest periods, and pasture responseLambing, weaning, animal stress, shade, and heat managementGuardian dogs, predators, minerals, biochar, and health managementEthics, transparency, local food, and on-farm harvest philosophyWhat You’ll LearnWhy sheep economics differ from cattle and fit smaller northeastern landscapesHow paddock design, net fencing, and daily moves build soil and resiliencePractical realities of lambing, natural weaning, and dealing with rejection casesHow to think about ticks, rainfall, heat stress, shade, and pasture densityWhy buying local matters and why ranchers care deeply about animal welfareConnect with Michael:WebsiteInstagramFollow the tour on YouTubeTimestamps 00:00:00 – Meet Michael & the Hudson Valley Sheep Ranch 00:01:00 – Why Sheep? Cost, Scale, & Land Fit 00:03:00 – Leased Land & Grazing Philosophy 00:05:00 – Natural Weaning vs Forced Weaning 00:07:30 – Daily Moves, Density & Pasture Impact 00:10:00 – What a “Good” Grazed Paddock Looks Like 00:15:00 – Lamb Count, Losses & Culling Logic 00:17:30 – Guardian Dog & Predator Control 00:19:30 – Minerals, Biochar & Health Support 00:21:00 – Rumination & What Calm Sheep Look Like 00:23:00 – Lambing Timing & Spring Nutrition 00:28:00 – Shade, Heat Stress & Summer Management 00:30:30 – On-Farm Harvest & Ethics 00:36:00 – Visiting Farms & Transparency 00:37:30 – Rest Periods, Regrowth & Stockpiling 00:44:00 – Milkweed, Pollinators & “Poison Plant” Myth 00:47:00 – Mowing vs Not Mowing 00:48:00 – Scaling Plans & Future Growth

In this live farm tour episode from July this year, I visited Julie Friend and her farm, Wildom Farm, a regenerative livestock farm where cows, sheep, chickens, and pigs are raised together on pasture and in forest systems. The discussion covers daily pasture rotation, animal behavior, predator dynamics, soil health, and how regenerative management affects animal welfare, meat quality, and ecosystem resilience. The farmer walks through real trade-offs, processing challenges, and why transparency and letting people visit farms matters.Key Topics Daily rotational grazing and mobile infrastructureRaising cows, sheep, and chickens together in one systemForest-raised pork, forage diversity, and meat qualityPredator balance, animal behavior, and welfare trade-offsProcessing bottlenecks, frozen meat, and food transparencyWhat You’ll Learn in This EpisodeHow cows, sheep, chickens, and pigs can be managed together in a single pasture-based system without confinementWhy daily animal movement improves pasture health, soil biology, and animal welfareHow forest-raised pigs and diverse forage directly influence meat flavor and qualityThe practical trade-offs of regenerative farming, including predators, hay quality, and laborWhy transparency, farm visits, and frozen meat matter for trust in the food systemJulie InstagramWildom Farm InstagramWebsiteTimestamps 00:00:00 – Daily pasture moves and extending the grazing season 00:04:00 – Mobile shade and infrastructure without trees 00:07:45 – Starting the cow herd and choosing heritage breeds 00:10:30 – Grassland birds, hay timing, and ecological trade-offs 00:14:10 – Letting customers walk the farm and see the animals 00:18:00 – Why cows, sheep, and chickens are run together 00:22:00 – Forest-raised pigs and whey feeding from a local creamery 00:30:00 – How forage diversity changes the taste of pork 00:37:30 – Fatty acid testing and nutrition in pork and chicken 00:43:30 – Processing bottlenecks and booking a year ahead 00:45:30 – On-farm slaughter vs USDA facilities 00:53:30 – Farm store transparency and frozen meat

This episode was recorded during the Colorado farm tour and features a long-form conversation with Jason Wrich from Wrich Ranches, a regenerative cattle operation built on leased land, rebuilt soil, and decades of hands-on learning. We walk through the origins of the ranch, the economics behind conventional vs regenerative systems, the realities of grazing management, and the cultural disconnect shaping how Americans think about food. The discussion moves from land stewardship and plant physiology to market forces, subsidies, meat processing, the American diet, and why local food systems matter. It’s a grounded look at how real ranching works, what it costs, and what it reveals about the country’s future.Key Topics- Growing a regenerative cattle operation on leased land and limited resources.- How plant physiology and grazing timing drive true soil health.- The hidden financial reality of ranching: debt, land leases, and cattle markets.- Why America is nutritionally sick and culturally disconnected from food.- The need for micro-processors, local supply chains, and real decentralization.Why You Should Listen- A transparent breakdown of how ranch economics actually function.- Firsthand insight into regenerative grazing, soil cycles, and land recovery.- A candid discussion of American food disconnection and its consequences.- An inside view of the challenges ranchers face in drought, markets, and policy.Connect with Jason:WebsiteInstagramTimestamps00:00:00 Camping, disconnection, and how far society has shifted from food00:01:00 Airbnb guests becoming beef customers and building trust00:03:00 Early exposure to farming and lessons from Rick’s grandfather00:05:00 Ranching in the 1980s and why the family operation barely survived00:08:00 Working full-time while farming full-time and raising a family00:11:00 Selling high-elevation hay and the old-school trust economy00:14:00 Processed food, hormones, and the roots of America’s health collapse00:17:00 Customers witnessing slaughter and reconnecting with the life–death cycle00:21:00 Grazing timing, plant cycles, and understanding true soil function00:27:00 Managing weeds through grazing and cattle behavior00:31:00 Leasing land, landowners, and why good relationships matter00:36:00 Generational loss of agricultural knowledge and young agrarians00:39:00 Restoring degraded pastures with biomass and proper cycles00:46:00 The case for micro-processors and problems in large packing plants00:51:00 Food stamps, ultra-processed diets, and engineered food addiction00:55:00 Losing personal responsibility and the cultural consequences00:59:00 Specialization vs. self-reliance and the fading generalist skillset01:02:00 The American Dream, suburban design, and comfort eroding resilience01:09:00 Public-land grazing vs. private leases and the real cost differences01:14:00 Why selling calves can be more profitable than finishing beef01:16:00 Community impact, customer stories, and why the work continues01:17:00 Global visitors, land ownership, and what makes America unique

This episode comes from our recent farm tour at White Oak Pastures in Bluffton, Georgia, where Will Harris walked us through the land and the systems that support it. White Oak is a multigenerational operation that has shifted from conventional row-crop agriculture to a diverse, closed-loop ecosystem of grass-fed cattle, wildlife, and restored soils. Will explains how these relationships work in practice, the long-term effects of pesticides and monoculture, and why ecological cycles - not industrial extraction - determine the health and future of the land.Key topics:How birds, insects, and cattle interact in regenerative systemsThe long-term impacts of pesticides and monoculture farmingNature’s cycles vs. industrial extractionCarbon, organic matter, and lifecycle assessments at White Oak PasturesGrazing management, dung beetles, and nutrient cycling across the farmWhy You Should Listen:- Clear, firsthand explanations of how regenerative grazing works in practice- A breakdown of pesticides’ long-term effects on soil, trees, and ecosystem balance- Real-world insight into carbon cycles, nutrient cycling, and dung beetle activity- A grounded comparison between industrial beef systems and regenerative cattle operationsConnect With White Oak PasturesWebsiteInstagramTimestamps:00:00:00 Birds arriving on the farm and their symbiotic role with cattle 00:01:00 Seasonal patterns, migration, and fly pressure 00:02:00 What this land looked like 25 years ago 00:03:00 Monoculture, pesticides, and the mindset of killing “problems” 00:05:00 Pesticides’ short-term benefits and long-term ecological harm 00:07:00 Residual effects of crop-field chemicals on soil function 00:08:00 “Nature bats last” and long-term cycles of recovery 00:09:00 Abundance vs. extraction in modern agriculture 00:10:00 Passing land ethics to the next generation 00:12:00 Education, land-grant universities, and learning farming 00:14:00 Grass-fed timelines, weight, and national inventory reality 00:15:00 Why most ground beef tastes the way it does 00:18:00 Industrial supply chains vs. farm-level economics 00:19:00 Feedlots, methane, and lifecycle carbon science 00:20:00 Dung beetles, nutrient cycling, and soil structure 00:22:00 Daily cattle moves and grazing pattern 00:23:00 Agroforestry, thinning trees, and managing understory growth 00:24:00 Total herd size and the surrounding landscape

Hickory Nut Gap is a century-old family farm in Western North Carolina, now run by Jamie and Amy, who shifted the operation toward grass-fed beef, pastured poultry, and regenerative grazing. Their model connects soil health, animal welfare, and community resilience - from rotational grazing that builds biodiversity to supplying local restaurants and retailers. This tour looks directly at how they raise animals, manage land, and keep farming viable in the Appalachian mountains.Key Topics How Hickory Nut Gap transitioned from an old dairy to a regenerative livestock operationRotational grazing, biodiversity, and carbon-building in mountain pasturesThe economics of grass-fed beef versus grain-fed systemsHow the farm navigated the 2023 Cane Creek flood and community recoveryWhole-animal butchery, pet food production, and reconnecting consumers with real foodWhy Listen To This EpisodeA real-time look at how a regenerative livestock farm actually operatesClear explanation of rotational grazing, pasture rest, and soil-buildingPractical insight into animal welfare, handling, and daily farm managementFirsthand account of flood recovery and community resilienceStraightforward breakdown of grass-fed vs grain-fed economics and tasteCuts through marketing claims by showing the real work behind regenerative agricultureWebsiteInstagramTimestamps00:00:00 — History of Hickory Nut Gap and returning to the family farm00:02:00 — Discovering direct-market pasture farming in the early 2000s00:04:00 — Grass-fed movement and building a farmer-supported food system00:06:00 — Taste, nutrition, and why fresh, local food matters00:10:00 — Flood impacts and land recovery after the Cane Creek disaster00:12:00 — Rotational grazing explained: density, rest, carbon, biodiversity00:15:00 — Grass-fed vs grain-fed: economics, animal health, taste00:17:00 — Talking with vegans and the ethics of reducing harm in ecosystems00:19:00 — Regrowth after grazing and how mountain pastures respond00:23:00 — Daily welfare checks: water, feed, injuries, antibiotics policy00:26:00 — Whole-animal use, pet food demand, and underrated cuts

Ben Justman of Peony Lane Wine grew up on this Colorado orchard, returned in his mid-20s, taught himself winemaking, and now runs a small high-elevation Pinot Noir winery on his family’s land, built alongside his father. Key Topics Childhood on a self-sustaining orchard and returning to family landStarting Peony Lane Wine and producing high-elevation Pinot NoirWinemaking as farming: soil, climate, and placeDirect-to-consumer realities for small producersWhy Ben accepts Bitcoin and why he places importance on itWhy Listen Clear insight into how small wineries actually operateA grounded look at family land, legacy, and returning homePractical examples of direct-to-consumer sales for farmersRare details about high-elevation Pinot Noir productionHonest reflections on working with family while building a businessWebsiteInstagramX

JR Burdick, a multi-generation farmer and founder of Nourishing Family Farm, shares his transition from conventional dairy to regenerative practices after facing significant losses. He reflects on the 1980s farm crisis, exposing the perils of industrial agriculture while advocating for local food sovereignty. JR emphasizes the importance of direct-to-consumer sales and the emotional toll of farming dynamics. He also challenges myths around raw milk, discussing its benefits and the need for consumers to reconnect with their food sources.

August Hortsmann is a first-generation Missouri cattleman and founder of Hortsmann Cattle Company, a regenerative ranch built on his family’s land near St. Louis. What began as a childhood passion grew into a full-time operation which, over the past eight years, has integrated adaptive grazing, direct-to-consumer beef sales, and long-term soil-focused practices. His education was established through years of study, observation, and trial. August spent countless seasons working ranch jobs integrating regenerative practices, allowing him studying grazing systems and testing various methods. Augusts story shares undertones of the uncertain, long road taken for each farmer to reach their dream of working full-time. For August, as you'll hear, he made it happen, but for 84% of farmers in America, they work other jobs. August shares his shift from conventional, university-trained agriculture to regenerative practice, the economic realities of running a small meat business, and his philosophy on scale, sustainability, and soil health.Key TopicsEarly life and the arduous path to founding Hortsmann Cattle CoTransition from conventional to regenerative grazingWhy multi-species farming can break a businessWhat adaptive grazing actually looks like on the ground'Breaking even' and the economic realities of cattle farmingScaling regenerative agriculture for the futureWhy You Should Listen- What the path to full-time farming really looks like- How farmers survive years before breaking even- Building a regenerative cattle business from nothing- Lessons from eight years of adaptive grazing- The hard economics of small-scale beefConnect with AugustInstagramWebsite Timestamps00:00:00 – Childhood roots and first memories on the family farm 00:03:00 – Starting Hortsmann Cattle Co in college 00:06:00 – University teachings vs. real-world economics 00:10:00 – Working off-farm while building a cattle business 00:13:00 – Discovering regenerative agriculture through Soil & Water 00:19:00 – Adding multi-species and the “death by diversity” lesson 00:29:00 – Burnout and the decision to simplify operations 00:31:00 – Quitting full-time work and going all-in on the farm 00:36:00 – Adaptive grazing and learning from nature’s rhythms 00:43:00 – Shifting from farmers’ markets to online direct sales 00:53:00 – Educating consumers on bulk buying and real costs 00:57:00 – Why small meat businesses struggle with margins 01:03:00 – Processing, scale, and the bottlenecks of small producers 01:09:00 – Is regenerative agriculture scalable? 01:13:00 – Advice for aspiring ranchers 01:17:00 – Social media, misinformation, and consumer trust 01:20:00 – Building a ranch that can sustain future generations

Will Harris is a sixth-generation cattleman and owner of White Oak Pastures, a 158-year-old family farm in Bluffton, Georgia. Since 1866, the Harris family has practiced land-based farming rooted in regeneration, humane animal husbandry, and zero-waste production. In this episode, Will reflects on the farm’s evolution from industrial cattle operations to a living ecosystem. He discusses soil, community, balance, symbiosis in an ecosstem, rural farming communities, stewardship, organic matter, his family history, and more. Key Topics6 generations of farming - from industrial cattle to regenerative systemsRebuilding Bluffton’s rural economy through local foodSoil carbon, organic matter, and ecological limitsThe moral and generational lessons of land stewardshipRethinking success: humility, balance, and long-term thinkingWhy You Should ListenHow six generations turned an industrial farm into a living ecosystem.Why killing pests and controlling nature backfired What it takes to rebuild a town’s economy The real economics of land, legacy, and long-term thinking.Why humility- not technology - is the key to surviving the human dilemma.Connect With White Oak PasturesWebsiteInstagramTimestamps00:00:00 — White Oak Pastures and 158 years of family farming 00:05:00 — Industrial agriculture and losing balance 00:08:00 — The cost of control: chemicals and confinement 00:11:00 — Soil carbon, fertility, and organic matter 00:16:00 — Working within nature’s limits 00:25:00 — Rejecting tech fixes and restoring balance 00:34:00 — Internships, purpose, and community revival 00:42:00 — Bluffton’s renewal through local production 00:50:00 — Land, debt, and long-term stewardship 00:55:00 — Generational transfer and humility 01:08:00 — Observation, faith, and living with nature