Our Story
About Us
I agree with Jessica Sowers of Roots and Refuge, “Store bought tomatoes taste like disappointment.” My suburban backyard lacked the sunlight necessary to grow tomatoes. A friend offered me west facing acreage to garden 7 minutes from our house. For 3 years I struggled to increase soil fertility on this borrowed ground. YouTube homesteading channels Roots and Refuge, Justin Rhodes, and Greg Judy provided inspiration.
Gabe Brown says that it is necessary to integrate livestock to increase fertility, water absorption, and cycle carbon. I got permission from the landowner to incorporate 20 chickens into the garden on this piece of borrowed ground. The hens did not produce enough impact. Then my husband, Ben, and I added 5 ram lambs in April 2020. Moving them daily in electric net provides a wonderful respite from the stress of working in healthcare during a pandemic. Because of the pandemic I could not get locker dates in the fall. Greg Judy says, “The rams go into the ewes December 1 for May 1 lambs.” We added 4 ewes to the daily rotation. In May of 2021 twelve lambs were born into our flock.
Electric net fences and solar energizers provided us with portability. Not only did we rotate the sheep to a new paddock every day, but we could also move to different borrowed ground as needs changed. We started asking friends, “Who do you know that needs land management? We come with our own animals, fence, and water.” A friend that taught a permaculture class offered his 10-acre pasture 15 minutes from our house. We added more ewes and more lambs were born. Drought limited the forage available. We moved again. My husband, Ben, suggested we start offering professional land clearing with our sheep. That way we get paid for moving our sheep from one location to another.
Stewardship on Borrowed Ground
Spring 2023 we added Goats On The Go® to our operation. We leased 40 goats, a livestock trailer, and electric net fencing. Now, in addition to proving lamb meat, we take goats to people’s yards to clean up brush. It turns out moving sheep and goats frequently provide excellent health to the animals and rest to the pasture. After five pasture moves in 5 years we have our first multi-year pasture lease.
As Christians we are stewards of God’s creation whether we own or lease the land on which we operate. Allen Nation of Stockman Grass Farmer says, “The goal is not to own the land but to control it.” Even if God provided the opportunity to own acreage we are still stewards On Borrowed Ground.
Why the name?
Ben and I are first generation farmers. We live in the suburbs with mature trees and tall houses shading our lawn. When I wanted to grow a garden there was not enough sunlight to grow tomatoes. A friend from work offered her sunny backyard as growing space. She even said it was fine to add a few sheep. When she wanted her yard back we moved our sheep to another friend's pasture.
As our sheep flock grew we borrowed pasture from a third friend. Then a fourth friend let us borrow some of his pasture. Now, we operate on 150 acres of leased pasture. Borrowing ground for our operation allows us to grow our skills with far less risk and overhead.
Our vision for farming
Our vision for farming is rooted in stewardship, regeneration, and faith. We believe livestock should work in harmony with the land, improving soil health, increasing biodiversity, and restoring the natural cycles that sustain productive pasture. By rotating sheep and goats across borrowed ground, we aim to strengthen the land rather than exhaust it, creating healthier animals, better food, and more resilient ecosystems. Whether we own the land or lease it, we see ourselves as caretakers of what God has entrusted to us, committed to leaving every pasture better than we found it.
