Regenerative
Regenerative Agriculture
Our farmer partners utilize a range of sustainable, regenerative agriculture techniques to minimize net carbon and pollution impacts, and improve soil health.
Silvo-pastured cattle at partner Grayson Natural Farms (VA)
Techniques include rotational grazing; woodland preservation and afforestation for silvo-pasturing; chemical elimination; and nutrient management planning. They principally use organic means of controlling pests and weeds. (They may occasionally use synthetic herbicides if a localized outbreak warrants them.)
These practices restore soils that centuries of conventional agriculture have depleted of nutrients. They also eliminate the need for fertilizers and other chemicals that can run off into our water systems, and notably the Chesapeake Bay.
Carbon Impact of Cattle Raised Regeneratively
There is a lot of contradictory data floating around regarding the greenhouse gas impacts of cattle generally, and grass-finished, regeneratively-raised cattle specifically, and people with different agendas cite different studies to serve their purposes.
We are compelled by the practices of our farmer partners, and by research that has demonstrated that raising and finishing cattle on 100% grass diets, while utilizing proactive grazing practices that emulate natural processes which can sequester some of the carbon that cattle produce, can lead to lower negative impacts than conventional grain-fed, feedlot-finished beef -- and potentially much lower -- particularly when part of a local supply chain.
Minimizing Emissions from Transport
Our 100% local supply chain means product only travels by van or truck, minimizing carbon emissions from transport.
Never, ever would our product ever have to go on a cross-country road trip, or an airplane, as does the premium meat some of our competitors offer to ship you from places like Missouri or even Australia (!).
Minimizing Solid Waste
This also means we're able to deliver your provisions in a single, reusable bag - not the padded cardboard monstrosities that our competitors who long-haul ship have to use.
Wild-Caught Seafood
Our seafood partners are regulated under a range of federal legislation related to wild fisheries management, conservation and marine mammal and endangered species protection. We source seafood whose catch location, and catch method, are classified as "Best Choice" or "Good Alternative" by Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch. They are often also classified as "Smart Choice" by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s FishWatch, though this system is less comprehensive.
Moreover, the Blue Catfish and Snakehead Fish we source are invasive in the Chesapeake and Potomac. They disrupt these precious, local ecosystems; they even decimate Blue Crab populations. Fishing and consuming this species helps protect the Bay.
Some additional species we offer are sourced as by-catch, e.g., Monkfish that is accidentally caught by watermen targeting scallops. Consuming by-catch is a delicious way to reduce waste. One person's by-catch is another's catch!
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