Winter Pastures and Southern Wisdom

What do cattle grazing in January, warm-season grasses, and a farmer who calls his herd like a pied piper have in common? They all marked a pivotal moment on a winter road trip our CEO, John Hommeyer, and VP of Supply and Merchandising, Mike Beveridge, took through North Carolina this month.

This wasn’t just about shaking hands and snapping a few pasture selfies. It was a journey into the heart of regenerative farming and a view into how Walden’s mission to build a thriving food system from the ground up comes to life beyond New England, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Winter Pastures

Picture this: it’s January, and cows are grazing on vibrant green pastures, their tails swishing lazily as they roam free under the noontime sun. That’s not just an Instagram-worthy scene; it’s a departure from how things work in the Northeast during the same season.

“Cattle get heat-stressed when it’s above 65 or 70 degrees,” Mike noted. “At 30 to 40 degrees, they’re extremely comfortable. That’s what Southern grazing is like from November through April.”

In the Northeast, winter means barns, hay bales, high fuel costs, and knee-deep mud during thaw season. While these practices ensure animal comfort, they’re not always ideal for the land, the animals, the quality of the end product.

Cattle can be comfortable in a Northeast winter with a warm coat, wind break and stored nutritious forage — however they are also not putting on nearly as much weight as they do in the summer, often leading to less marbling and poorer texture in the finished cuts of meat. A disappointing result for our members after a long, well cared for life for our animals.

We knew we could do better. And we set out to learn how.

---

Common Threads

At first glance, it might seem counterintuitive for a company rooted in the Northeast to find inspiration in places like North Carolina. But the trip cemented what we’ve been coming to realize: ‘local’ is an ethos, and our mission isn’t bound by geography.

• Healthier Animals, Healthier Land: Seeing cattle grazing in January is more than just a novelty. It’s about environmental sustainability and animal welfare. As John put it, “More time on pasture means more time for regeneration and healthy gains.” Unlike the Northeast’s cold winters, the Southern climate allows pastures to thrive year-round, which leads to healthier soils and lower environmental impact.
  
• Economic Viability for Farmers: Supporting farmers along the East Coast isn’t just a matter of geography—it’s about viability. “It’s really expensive to hold animals up north because you’re having to feed them supplemental hay from a shorter growing season all winter long,” said Mike. In contrast, farmers across the Mid-Atlantic and further south graze their cattle almost year-round, making their operations more sustainable and profitable.
  
• Expanding Expertise: Meeting farmers like Todd Smith and Adam Grady wasn’t just inspiring—it was eye-opening. “To hear them talk about the exact grass mixes they use, how they rotate cattle, and why it matters—it was incredible,” said John. Adam went into great detail on his feed regiment, sharing how he borrows techniques from wine fermentation to increase the nutritional content of the Bermuda grass baleage he feeds cattle. He teaches the many farmers he works with to use different grass types they use to ensure optimal nutrition and how they rotate pastures to maintain land health.
  
  And Todd did something we’d never seen before: he yodeled his cattle over, and “a hundred head of cattle just moseyed over and stared at us,” recalled John. “They were super curious, not spooked, just content.”
  

---

Raising The Bar

This road trip reminded us of something crucial: our mission isn’t static. It’s a living, breathing commitment to raising the bar for farmers, animals, and our members. Factory farming is the villain here—cutting corners, mistreating animals, and wreaking havoc on the environment. We’re here to be the antidote, and that sometimes means taking a hard look at ourselves and finding ways to do better.

Our mission is to cultivate a thriving food system from the ground up. From the soil, to the animals, to the farmers, to our communities. That mission is never over. Living it fully means pushing forward—more acres managed with regenerative practices, more independent farmers breaking free from the grip of industrial agriculture.

---

The Road Ahead

We’ve always known that change starts with the farmers. Those who wake up every day and choose to do things the right way, not the easy way. And when we find farmers who share that ethos, we don’t just shake hands—we roll up our sleeves and get to work together. Their pastures, their practices, their deep-rooted knowledge of the land—it all reinforces what we’ve believed from the start: ‘local’ isn’t a dot on a map. It’s a mindset. It’s knowing where your food comes from and choosing to support the people who raise it with care.

That’s why we’re telling their stories. You’ll hear more about farmers like Todd and Adam, see the lush pastures their animals graze on, and taste the difference in every bite. And yes, you might notice some changes—but they’re changes driven by a singular purpose: to build a food system that works for all of us, from the soil up.

Because this is bigger than Walden. Bigger than any one farm, any one region. It’s about something fundamental: connection. To the land, to the people who tend it, and to each other.

At a time when it’s easier to find differences than common ground, when industrial agriculture would rather keep us passive consumers than engaged participants, our regenerative farmers remind us that real work happens in the soil, in the sun, in the quiet rhythm of the seasons. The land doesn’t care about borders—it cares about how we treat it. The same goes for the people who steward it.

If we want a thriving food system—one that respects animals, supports independent farmers, and nourishes families—it has to be built together.