What we do:
New Roots Farm produces grass-finished beef, grass-fed lamb, pastured pork and pasture raised chicken using intensive rotational grazing practices in West River, Maryland. We raise a variety of breeds at the farm, and specialize in breeding livestock that thrive on pasture. We have a fiber flock of coated Natural Colored Longwool sheep and a flock of Border Cheviots. We raise Angus, White Park and South Poll cattle—crossing the breeds to produce animals that finish well on grass, have great tenderness and marbling, and that tolerate the harsh summer heat during the summer grazing season. We also raise Large Black Berkshire Tamworth hog crosses on pasture from farrow to finish.
Why and How:
Simply put: Sustainably raised and pastured everything because it tastes better and is more sustainable. At New Roots Farm the goal is to raise the happiest, healthiest and most delicious animals for your family while keeping everything as local as possible. From the GMO free grain that is locally grown and milled to the family owned butcher shops who package your delicious meats the focus is on keeping it local; this supports other farmers, small businesses and reduces the farm's carbon footprint.
When we say grassfed we mean it. We raise animals on pasture 365 days a year. We use rotational grazing practices which means we move our cows and chickens every 24 hours. Our sheep are rotated every 24-36 hours during the grazing season and the pigs are rotated through the pastures too. We stockpile grass for winter grazing. We feed supplemental hay during winter, inclement weather, and during lambing, but continue to rotate the cattle throughout winter. Our fields are seeded with a variety of forages, including native grasses, to ensure we have quality pasture year round. We don’t spray herbicides or pesticides at the farm and minimize mowing so the pastures stay a vibrant habitat for birds, pollinators, and other small animals.
The farm:
New Roots Farm is in West River, Maryland. It is 12 miles south of Annapolis and 38 miles from Washington, DC. You can keep up with farm happenings by signing up for our email list and following along on Facebook and Instagram!
The Farmers
Sarah
Sarah Campbell, a 4th generation farmer, started the business on her family’s land. Sarah moved back to the farm in 2014 and began converting the land from conventional row crop production to pasture for grazing. Sarah now runs the farm with her business partner Chelsea Kruse, who also manages the livestock and pastures.
Sarah loves cooking, Cast Iron, all things fiber, and is a self described ag policy nerd. She has an MS in Community Development from UC DAVIS Where she studied food systems and Has COMPLETED THE IOIA ORGANIC crop INSPECTION Training program. her favorite animals at the farm are the sheep.
Chelsea
Chelsea Kruse Chelsea is a first generation farmer who came to New Roots Farm after working at several commercial dairy farms. She manages the livestock and pastures at new roots farm.
Chelsea is the new roots secret sauce. she takes great care of all the animals, has an associates in dairy science, is a certified AI technician, and shears small flocks of sheep in MD. She is available for grazing and livestock management consultation. She also loves cows and ice cream.
Partner Farms:
New Roots Farm is part of an amazing community of farmers. Here are some of our extended “farm family” members.
The maryland lamb cooperative is a group of women owned and operated sheep farms that use regenerative agricultural practices to produce meat and fiber products. new roots farm carries maryland lamb products in our farm store and is a member farm.
Adam and Jocelyne cottrell are first generation farmers who grow a wide variety of vegetables using sustainable farming practices. They have an amazing CSA and you can catch them at the annapolis farmers market.