Pastured Meat CSA - Moomaw Family Farm
We’re Nathan and Amanda Moomaw and we started our farm in 2013 to provide humane, pastured meat to folks around Portland, Oregon. We got going with the support of our initial 60 CSA members and we’ve been steadily increasing each year to reach a size that allows us to sustain our family. Along the way, we’ve developed relationships with other small family farms in our area who raise animals for our CSA. The farmers we work with are listed below.
Grass-fed, raised humanely and free-ranged outdoors
The welfare of our animals is our top priority. They live outdoors and are moved regularly through pastures and woodlands using rotational grazing. When raised this way, they are naturally happy, healthy, and a joy to work with. The beef and lamb are entirely grass-fed and grass-finished, while the pork and chicken receive locally-milled grains, primarily barley, wheat, oats, and peas, while avoiding corn and soy.
No antibiotics, hormones, or mRNA vaccines
We closely manage our animals and land in a naturally sustainable way, so that we are not dependent on medications to keep them healthy. We don’t use antibiotics, hormones, or mRNA vaccines.
Healthy land, healthy animals
We support diverse and healthy pastures through the rotational grazing of our animals; and in turn the health of the animals is supported by being moved regularly. Additionally, we're planting hundreds of trees into our pastures, such as hazelnuts, apples, and service-berries. These trees will provide food and shade for the animals, as well as diverse habitat for wildlife and native pollinators.
Wildlife habitat combined with agriculture
By cultivating lush and diverse habitats on our farms, we can produce food for people and simultaneously support increased biodiversity on the same pieces of land. We believe the marriage of farming and nature conservation is one of the best ways to achieve a truly sustainable future.
Soil is improved each year
Good soil is the foundation of a productive farm, a diverse ecosystem, and a stable climate. On our farms, biologically active soil is generated and held in place by grasses, plants, and trees. Animals grazing those plants return nutrients to the land, which furthers the health of the soil and the plants in the pastures.
Minimal use of fossil fuels
Having animals outside on pasture year-round means we don't have to construct or power large buildings in which to house the animals, which means our energy and materials use is minuscule compared to most livestock operations. Our farm is also only 10 miles from Portland, which means our entire distribution chain from farm to plate uses a tiny fraction of gas compared to most meats.
Significant carbon and nitrogen sequestration
Grazing animals on land with perennial grasses and trees is a remarkably effective way of pulling carbon out of the air. The fact that we raise all our animals outside on pasture combined with our minimal use of fossil fuels, means that the meat we produce is almost certainly carbon negative.