What Do We Mean by Pasture-Raised, Forest-Raised, and Grass-Fed?

Stacie Edwards
Apr 18
3 min read

If you have ever wondered what any of those terms really mean... you're not alone.

It seems there is always a new buzzword every week. So what do these "buzzwords" mean on our farm?

Let’s break it down—plain and simple—so you know exactly what you’re feeding your family when you buy meat (and eggs!) from our farm.

Pasture-Raised Chicken (Not Free-Range… and Here’s Why)

Our chickens aren’t labeled “free-range” because if they were truly free to roam... we’d be feeding the local predators instead of our customers.

Everybody likes chicken. And I mean everybody—hawks, raccoons, coyotes, you name it.

We raise our meat birds in moveable shelters (aka chicken tractors) that are rotated daily across fresh pasture.

They get sunshine, fresh air, bugs to chase, and space to move around, all while staying safe.

We feed them a locally milled, GMO-free, corn-free, and soy-free ration that meets our standards without breaking the bank.

In today’s world, animals can’t live on forage alone.

That’s why we use the best supplemental feed we can find—it gives them everything they need to thrive without compromise.

Forest-Raised Pork (Yes, This Is a Thing—and It’s Awesome)

Our pigs live in the woods, plain and simple. They root, dig, nap, and snack their way through the underbrush like nature intended.

No concrete floors. No artificial lights. Just pigs being pigs.

Compare that to some of the large-scale operations—like the ones in China where pigs are raised in multi-story factory buildings with artificial light 24/7. Yikes.

We supplement our pigs with that same high-quality, locally milled feed so they stay healthy and happy year-round.

98.7% Grass-Fed Beef (Finished on Grain, But Always on Grass)

Our cows live their whole lives on pasture—grazing, soaking up sunshine, and enjoying a stress-free life.

The “98.7% grass-fed” means they get all the good stuff from grazing plus a thoughtful grain finish in their last few weeks to improve flavor and tenderness.

Here’s the key difference: Our cows are never confined to a feedlot.

They’re still out on pasture with full access to grass, clean water, and fresh air until the very end.

No concrete pens. No crowding. Just good beef raised right.

However, it's worth mentioning that when we are weaning calves, they have to be in a separate pen for a period of time so their mother has time to rest.

If you want to learn more about the difference in dairy cows and beef cows, click here.

Farm Fresh Eggs (Because Breakfast Matters)

Our laying hens live on pasture, too—rotated regularly in mobile coops so they can scratch, snack on bugs, and lay eggs in cozy nesting boxes that we can actually find.

Because let’s be honest—when you let hens lay wherever they want, you’ll never find those eggs until one breaks under your foot. And nobody wants that before coffee.

With our pasture system, we know where the eggs are, you know where your food comes from, and your family gets real eggs from real chickens doing real chicken things.