By Kristen Thompson
John Arbuckle explains why the farm is called Singing Pastures.
Food Connects is proud to work with farmers and producers who grow and craft food in a way that’s sustainable for our food systems, communities, and the planet. That’s one of the reasons we love working with Singing Pastures! Based out of Damariscotta, ME, Singing Pastures is a regenerative farm that the Arbuckle family started in response to the unsustainable ways large industrial farms produce meat. We talked to the Founding Farmer, John Arbuckle, about Singing Pastures’ regenerative approach to agriculture and their delicious Roam Sticks made from hickory-smoked pork.
How was Singing Pastures started?
We are a 9th-generation farm family. The more we learned about Regenerative agriculture, nutrient-dense food, and healing ecosystems, the more we wanted to be part of it!
What was its inspiration?
If a person enjoys being close to the earth, helping to heal watersheds and ecosystems by farming in nature's image is very exciting!
What makes your products unique?
Apple trees planted on the edges of the grazing fields.
They are delicious! So many foods that are good for you are more like taking medicine than relaxing and enjoying. Roam Sticks taste great, and you can feel good about eating them.
Can you tell us more about your approach to farming?
We really believe that food production should be a decentralized process that gives back more to the land than it takes. Regenerative grazing really covers all the bases.
What is your favorite part of producing pork?
Touching the earth every single day and trying to understand it like our watershed was a person.
What is one of your favorite pairings or recipes with your Roam Sticks?
Local cheddar cheese with the jalapeno Roam Sticks and pickles!
Why is buying and selling locally and the local food movement important to you?
It's very satisfying to have direct relationships with the people we work with.
What are you excited about in your partnership with Food Connects?
Food really does connect people. That's why we celebrate holidays with special foods. Eating locally and seasonally means we can always be looking forward to something.
Anything else you would like me to feature?
After using Regenerative grazing techniques for the last several years, we've seen our land totally rebound in a big way. We now host river otters, bobcats, and several types of ground-nesting ground birds that are quite uncommon in Maine.