Key to the success of pastured farming is land management. We operate within a closed-loop system in which our land takes care of our animals and our animals take care of the land! As curators of this system, we ensure: We move animals to a new paddock every few days to prevent overgrazing We employ methodologies that utilize the individual traits of different species to benefit the land We match the number of animals to the capacity of the land to absorb impacts – we do not overload it We fully utilize animal waste (manure = fertilizer) without overwhelming the soil By promoting a healthy agricultural ecosystem, we use less fossil fuels, protect local water systems, support species biodiversity, and conserve – as well as build – fertile soil. Oh, and by maintaining a healthy pasture, we also benefit from the carbon sequestration abilities of healthy grasslands. It’s a win-win-win!

While we are not strangers to Amazon (we have 2 kids and a niche business… sometimes it’s inevitable), we are great purveyors of the ‘buy local’ philosophy. We support family-owned businesses, and seek out local, independent, retailers, artisans, and service providers whenever possible. Some of our favourites (in no particular order), include: Rorafresh Here & There Honey Paperkite Farm Lily’s Cafe Stella’s Eatery Luso Bites Jackson’s Falls Country Inn Cressy Mustard Red Apron Pottery Floralora Flowers Corporations and big box stores have a place (sometimes). But keeping it local whenever viable offers a host of benefits for all. We live by this philosophy and trust that others in the community do as well.

As small-scale farmers, we are in control of every element that effects the quality and safety of our products. And, as small-scale farmers who consume and directly live off of our own products, we take great measures to ensure that what we grow is clean, healthy, and nutritious. Our version of “safe, quality meats” come from animals that: Have been properly cared for Aren’t stressed Have access to clean water, fresh feed, and open space Are fed a hormone-, steroid-, and antibiotic-free diet in alignment with their natural digestive systems We are directly and intimately involved in the handling of our animals and products at every stage of production. This including travel to and from local, inspected, abattoirs.

KEY VALUES

Return to Earth is guided by five key values. Focused around health, community, animal welfare, environmental protection, and food quality, our key values drive every aspect of our operations.

1. HEALTH IS KEY - WE ARE WHAT WE EAT

We believe that good begets good: healthy soils produce healthy vegetation which produces healthy animals. For this reason, we utilize a holistic and sustainable approach to animal rearing and land stewardship. In utilizing regenerative farming methodologies we improve the health of our land, health of our animals, and nutritional profile of our products. We’re proud of what we do and believe that the products we offer are as clean and healthy as it gets.

In Practice...

Our animals are pastured and grass fed. They are antibiotic-, steroid-, and hormone free and fed an unmedicated diet. Additionally, they are allowed to fulfill their natural tendencies and instinctual needs. We believe that raising animals on pasture creates healthier, happier animals that produce meats that are more nutritious and better tasting. Moreover, research supports this theory! Studies have demonstrated that, in relation to conventionally raised products, pastured products are:

Leaner
Lower in calories
Have a healthier composition of fatty acids
Are generally more nutritious with greater levels of specific vitamins and antioxidants

Additional information regarding the nutritional benefits of pastured products can be found on our individual pork, lamb, poultry, and egg pages.

2. GREEN IS THE BEST COLOUR

The environment is the single most important thing that humanity has. Accordingly, we believe that people absolutely must act as responsible stewards of it. Simply put, it is our responsibility to do better! As such, RTE utilizes sustainable and regenerative farming practices which works to maintain healthy grasslands, protect water-sources and soil health, and foster the success of native flora. Our land is an element as critical to our business as our animals and maintaining its health is an absolute priority and one of our highest values.

In Practice...

Key to the success of pastured farming is land management. We operate within a closed-loop system in which our land takes care of our animals and our animals take care of the land! As curators of this system, we ensure:

We move animals to a new paddock every few days to prevent overgrazing
We employ methodologies that utilize the individual traits of different species to benefit the land
We match the number of animals to the capacity of the land to absorb impacts – we do not overload it
We fully utilize animal waste (manure = fertilizer) without overwhelming the soil

By promoting a healthy agricultural ecosystem, we use less fossil fuels, protect local water systems, support species biodiversity, and conserve – as well as build – fertile soil. Oh, and by maintaining a healthy pasture, we also benefit from the carbon sequestration abilities of healthy grasslands. It’s a win-win-win!

3. KEEPING IT LOCAL

We believe in community and knowing the people who service it. We recognize that there is great value in fresh, safe, healthy foods (and knowing where they come from). We value supporting small businesses. Buying local benefits the entire community through trickle-down economics: the creation of local jobs, better public services, encouragement of entrepreneurship, and promotion of environmental health. Does anyone need more reasons than that to keep their business local as much as possible?

In Practice...

While we are not strangers to Amazon (we have 2 kids and a niche business… sometimes it’s inevitable), we are great purveyors of the ‘buy local’ philosophy. We support family-owned businesses, and seek out local, independent, retailers, artisans, and service providers whenever possible. Some of our favourites (in no particular order), include:

Rorafresh
Here & There Honey
Paperkite Farm
Lily’s Cafe
Stella’s Eatery
Luso Bites
Jackson’s Falls Country Inn
Cressy Mustard
Red Apron Pottery
Floralora Flowers

Corporations and big box stores have a place (sometimes). But keeping it local whenever viable offers a host of benefits for all. We live by this philosophy and trust that others in the community do as well.

4. RESPECT THE ANIMAL

We believe that all animals, including animals being raised for food, should be respected and treated humanely and ethically and with provisions made for their natural tendencies. Working against the natural rhythm of the animal often causes sickness, stress, and behavioral issues. Behavioral issues which, in turn, may require otherwise unnecessary human interactions to “solve” man-made issues.

In Practice...

While our animals eventually become dinner, we dont see that as a reason to deny them a life that is anything less than respectable. We ensure that our animals have access to fresh air, natural light, outdoor space, clean water, shelter, fresh bedding, freedom of movement, and the ability to fulfill instinctual needs. For example, poultry need to scratch (forage), ruminates need to graze, and pigs need to root. By pasturing our animals we’re able to provide a high quality of life that simultaneously takes advantage of our animals’ innate ability to feed themselves, spread their own waste, and be comfortable. As an added bonus, we’re able to provide our community with healthier, cleaner, and higher-grade animal products.

In short, we feel good about how the animals at Return to Earth are raised and we want our customers to feel that too.

5. SUPERIOR FOOD QUALITY & SAFETY

Currently there is a massive disconnect between food producers and consumers. This is, in part, due to the invisible walls that have been created via modern processes. In example, confinement barns with “NO TRESSPASSING” signs, massive processors with limited (if any) public transparency, extremely limited information on where our foods are from / have been, etc. The food chain has become so twisted and disengaged from how and where plants and animals actually grow / live that it’s no surprise the average person has more questions than answers when it comes to food!

Return to Earth was literally started to ensure the quality and safety of our family’s food. We are absolutely committed to maintaining the quality and safety of our products. Doing so is, and will forever, be of the utmost priority.

In Practice...

As small-scale farmers, we are in control of every element that effects the quality and safety of our products. And, as small-scale farmers who consume and directly live off of our own products, we take great measures to ensure that what we grow is clean, healthy, and nutritious. Our version of “safe, quality meats” come from animals that:

Have been properly cared for
Aren’t stressed
Have access to clean water, fresh feed, and open space
Are fed a hormone-, steroid-, and antibiotic-free diet in alignment with their natural digestive systems

We are directly and intimately involved in the handling of our animals and products at every stage of production. This including travel to and from local, inspected, abattoirs.