Regenerative Agriculture [Texas Cattle Ranch] land restoration family farm

A Texas family owned farm operated since 1846, Parker Creek Ranch is a homestead and working ranch located 50 miles west of San Antonio, Texas. These permaculture farmers are committed to regenerative agriculture and creating healthy habitats for livestock, wildlife, and people. As stewards of the land, their goal is to produce nutritious products for the community while designing and managing systems that will benefit the environment and future generations. Constant iteration and improvement is the key to their success. They have indeed built one of the most resilient and productive systems in all of Texas.
Mandy and Travis are proud to come from a long line of farmers. Mandy is a fifth generation farmer and grew up on her family's citrus farm in McAllen, TX. Travis is a seventh generation farmer and grew up on his family's ranch in D'Hanis, TX. The pair met at Texas A&M University and graduated in 2008 with Bachelor of Science degrees in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. Both worked as biologists and educators for several years, Travis abroad and Mandy in south Texas. While working in India, Travis' love for books led him to permaculture. His early ideas were derived from pioneers like Masanobu Fukuoka, Bill Mollison, Joel Salatin and Malcom Beck. Travis always knew he wanted to spend his life on the ranch his family has lived on for generations as traditional cattle ranchers. He believed pasture-raised poultry would be well suited for the land and was inspired enough by Joel Salatin’s book to embark on a new farming journey. By the end of 2010 Travis had moved moved back to the ranch and began to build a homestead. Mandy joined him in 2011 and the couple married in 2012. We have three sons - Jack, Max and Eli, who we love raising on the homestead. Mandy Received her permaculture design certificate from Austin Permaculture Guild in 2014.
Parker Creek Ranch's regenerative, holistic agriculture practices have a large-scale impact on the conservation of our natural resources on the Ranch and in the bioregion and ecoregion in Central Texas as well. The Ranches systems and efforts greatly improve the soil and forage quality, water catchment and infiltration, and wildlife habitat. Community relations are paramount to success as well as being a way to share good news and hopefully replicate as scale the regenerative systems. Parker Creek Ranch is energized by sustainable agriculture design and loves to teach others about what they do.
Holistic Goals
Produce nutritious and flavorful products for the community and allow people the opportunity to connect with the land.
Demonstrate the balance and relationship between agricultural production and natural resource conservation.
Generate a healthy profit from the land in order to support our family and invest in things we believe in.
Manage the land holistically - care for the soil, water, plants, animals and people.e
The Ranch focused on producing broilers and laying hens in the early years, but have now expanded to turkeys and grass-fed beef. They are a direct farm-to-market producer committed to the idea that local is better. All of our products are sold within a 150 miles radius to farmers markets, restaurants, and individuals/families. Travis, Mandy and the kids enjoy harvesting wild game, spending lots of time in the vibrant garden, planting incredible amounts of native and edible trees and constantly brainstorming and implementing regenerative practices.
Parker Creek Ranch's business and production models are always evolving. The family farm has overcome enormous obstacles by staying committed, focusing goals and bigger, longer term picture. Travis and Mandy genuinely love regenerative farming and constantly challenge themselves to iterate and improve their systems.
Holistic Goals of the Ranch include:
Produce nutritious and flavorful products for the community and allow people the opportunity to connect with the land.
Demonstrate the balance and relationship between agricultural production and natural resource conservation.
Generate a healthy profit from the land in order to support our family and invest in things we believe in.
Manage the land holistically - care for the soil, water, plants, animals and people.

[@threeriversforge1997]

One of the best things you can do to help the land and stave off problems from drought is to replant the native Prairie Grasses. While fescue and bermuda might seem great, they aren't nearly as robust as the grasses that evolved to live there over millions of years. And with root systems that can dig down a dozen feet or more, the native prairie grasses do the aeration for you so you don't need to "subsoil" nearly as much. You can buy Switch Grass at the garden store, in pots, and plant it just to see how it takes. Folks are using them as decorative landscape elements b/c they have such a nice shape. Big Bluestem is another prairie grass that's very drought-tolerant, and is also excellent food for cattle. Throw in some compass plant, prairie dropseed or sideoats grama, and you have a very balanced diet for all the animals you're raising, and all of them are great at adding organic matter to the soil, aiding aeration, and withstanding hot, dry weather.

[@earthrepairian333]

100 percent agree that restoring our native, deep rooted prairies and moving animals regeneratively is the solution to many of the biggest issues we face in America. Thank you for you comment! We are listening!

[@L79Channel]

Storytelling at its best. Great people and cause told masterfully. Cudos guys, keep spreading the word!

[@woodphoto21]

Thank you!

[@earthrepairian333]

Thank you. Positive comments like this keep us going?

[@woodphoto21]

What a fantastic family farm and story. Nobody doing it better in Central Texas than the Krauses!

[@earthrepairian333]

Indeed they are. We need many more of these family's doing more of this. It's a hard but very rewarding life.

[@JamesG1126]

We need thousands more families like this.

[@earthrepairian333]

Indeed we do!

[@a4000t]

Nice looking place,its coming along well. It's tough to get the grass in hot dry Texas to look like Joel Salatins' place.

[@earthrepairian333]

No doubt about that. We have so much respect for the Krause's and family farmers that are doing it the right way! And Salatin is definitely the gold standard!

[@ponyrang]

That's a great video. I will always cheer for you in Korea I'm looking forward to a great video. Have a nice day.

[@earthrepairian333]

Thank you so much!

[@ITDFilms26]

This came out fantastic! Super beautiful and interesting story.

[@earthrepairian333]

Thank you. We think it's our best yet and your comments are really appreciated.

[@harlankraft578]

I was thinking the same thing as another commenter about making a pasture in south Texas look like Joel Salatins place in Virginia. and watching this Excellent video such marvelous job Woody! Such an articulate young hard working couple, Beautiful Family, Beautiful Ranch as well! Praying for their continued success!!!

[@earthrepairian333]

The Kraus'e and all regenerative farmers like them and the Salatine's are our true national treasures and we should be lifting them up and honoring their ways with our wallets and every other chance we get! Carpe Diem! Thank you my friend!

[@harlankraft578]

@@earthrepairian333 I Noticed the Parker Creek sign on hwy 90 near D’hanis when I Going to work in Utopia last week!

[@harlankraft578]

Do they sell the chickens or only Eggs?? Have a friend looking for local grown chickens

[@buckkaren]

Great video!

[@earthrepairian333]

Thank you! Great ranch and family doing it right and we all benefit!

[@DigestibleMedia]

Beautifully done!

[@earthrepairian333]

Thank you Digestible!