What is Regenerative Farming and Why We Do It at 2 Coots Ranch

written by

posted on

April 7, 2025

At 2 Coots Ranch, we believe regenerative farming just makes sense. It's more than a farming technique; it’s a philosophy that guides everything we do. We want to share why we’ve chosen this path and what it means for the land, the animals, and the future of our ranch.

Why Regenerative Farming?

When we first started out, the idea of regenerative farming immediately resonated with us. Phil, like many farmers, was frustrated with conventional farming practices. He often heard other farmers say, ‘Well, that’s how we’ve always done it,’ but that mindset never sat well with him, in fact that kind of mindset can really stifle innovation and sustainability.

Then, we found regenerative farming—and it just clicked. This approach isn’t about taking from the land—it’s about giving back more than you take. It’s a cycle that improves the soil, the ecosystem, and the animals. Over time, it only gets better, and that’s the future we want to build at 2 Coots Ranch.

The Journey to Regenerative Farming

So, how did we end up here? Well, Phil was on the hunt for a better way, and after Googling “how to raise cattle,” he stumbled upon Joel Salatin, also known as the “Lunatic Farmer.” (And yes, he loves that name!) After watching a few of Joel’s videos, it all clicked. The conventional feedlot model just didn’t feel right, and Phil knew he wanted to go beyond the typical approach—he wanted to go from start to finish with a sustainable, holistic system. Joel Salatin’s ideas put Phil’s thoughts into words, and that’s when the vision for 2 Coots Ranch really started to take shape.

Another big influence came from Greg Judy, whose work on rotational grazing and land stewardship further fueled our passion for regenerative farming. These guys were the pioneers who showed us a better way.

What Regenerative Farming Means at 2 Coots Ranch

At 2 Coots Ranch, we’re not just growing food; we’re restoring the land. Using animals to regenerate the soil, improve biodiversity, and create healthy ecosystems is at the heart of what we do. It’s about healing the land and doing things in a way that benefits everyone—now and in the future.

Thank you for being part of our journey. We’re excited to keep learning, growing, and sharing this regenerative path with you.

Why we call it "common sense meat"

What "Common Sense Meat" Actually Means Somebody asked what "common sense meat" actually means. Fair question.Not Industrial. Not Ideological. The industrial side asks "What's cheapest at scale?" The purity side asks "What's most natural?" Well, I've got news for you. Both decided the answer before they ever looked at the animal. Common sense asks the boring question: What's actually best for this animal, this week, on this ground? Sometimes that's the old-fashioned thing. Sometimes it's not.Here's What That Looks Like on Our Ranch We give one vaccine for blackleg. It's the only disease our cattle could realistically run into, so it's the only one we bother with. Not "no vaccines ever." Not routine shots no matter what. We could get certified organic if we wanted the paperwork. We don't. We'll just tell you how we ranch. On pasture, in fresh air, skipping most of the questionable stuff. No certificate required. Just ask us. Our cows live outside on pasture. Not confined, not pampered. Just normal cow treatment. We also offer grass-finished and grain-finished beef. Ideology says pick a side and defend it. Common sense says people like different things. And guess what? Both are honest ways to raise a cow, and it's not our job to tell you your steak preference is wrong.Not a Trend. Just What Makes Sense We're not chasing a trend. We're doing what makes sense on our ground, not what makes the best label.The Real Difference Want to know the real difference? You can buy "organic" at the grocery store and still have no idea how that animal was raised. With us, you just ask. You know us. We actually answer. That's common-sense meat, from a veteran-owned ranch in Tennessee, raised by people whose word is their bond. See for yourself and shop our store today!

The great steak debate: salt only vs. marinade.

The Great Steak Debate: Salt Only vs. Marinade. We'll say it plainly. If you're marinating a good steak, we think you're covering something up. Not you personally. We don't know your steak. But statistically, probably. Here's our logic, and we'll defend it. Why Marinades Exist (And Why You Don't Need One) A marinade exists to do two things: tenderize a tough cut, or mask a flavor you don't want to taste. That's it. Those are the only two jobs it has. Neither of those is a problem you have with a good ribeye or sirloin. The tenderness is already there. The flavor is the whole point. Soaking it in a bag of soy sauce and brown sugar for six hours is like painting over a countertop made of good wood. You're hiding the thing you paid for. To be fair, there are cuts where a marinade makes sense. Flank steak, skirt steak, cuts that work hard during the animal's life and have a coarser grain. Those cuts benefit from a marinade. We're not touching that argument. This is a ribeye and sirloin debate only. What Salt Actually Does Salt doesn't hide anything. It amplifies. Here's what actually happens when you salt a steak properly: the salt pulls moisture to the surface. That moisture dissolves the salt. Then it gets reabsorbed back into the meat, seasoning it from the inside out — not just sitting on top of it like a coat you never took off. Give it 40 minutes before it hits the grill. That's the whole trick. Forty minutes of patience does more for a steak than any marinade recipe we've ever read the ingredient list on. And with pasture-raised beef? The flavor is already doing the heavy lifting. Our cattle live outside, eat a varied diet of grasses and forage, and develop real, deep beef flavor because of it. Salt lets that flavor come through. A marinade buries it. Why This Matters More With Good Beef Here's something worth knowing. Conventional grocery store beef tends to hold more water. Feedlot diets and industrial processing add moisture to the meat. That extra moisture works against you when you're trying to get a good sear or develop real flavor. Pasture-raised beef has less water and more flavor. Which means salt does its job better, the sear comes faster, and the crust forms cleaner. The beef is doing more of the work before you even season it. Starting with good beef and finishing with salt isn't a shortcut. It's the right call. We Know Some of You Disagree We've been informed, more than once, that we are wrong about this. Boring, even. Possibly un-American. So make your case. If you're Team Marinade on a ribeye or sirloin, we genuinely want to hear why. Chimichurri people, we especially want to hear from you — that's the one argument that gives us pause and we'll admit it. Leave a comment, reply to our newsletter, or shoot us an email. We read every one of them and might just feature the best rebuttal in a future post. Choose your words like you're going on the record. Salt only on a good steak. That's where we stand. For now. Looking For A Steak Worth Debating Over? Shop our ribeyes and sirloins here.

We got 72 new heifers! Doing out part to help rebuild the US beef herds.

We Bought 72 Heifers — Here's the Bigger Picture We went to buy 65 heifers last week. Came home with 72. Kim says I have a problem. But there's a real story behind why we did this. It's bigger than just adding to our herd. If you've noticed beef prices climbing at the grocery store lately, this post is going to explain a lot. The US Cattle Herd Is at a 57-Year Low Most people don't realize how serious the state of the US cattle supply is right now. The national herd is at its lowest point in 57 years (and some say even longer). And it didn't happen overnight. A few years back, wildfires in Texas wiped out hundreds of thousands of cattle in one of the biggest ranching regions in the country. Those animals don't get replaced quickly. Rebuilding a herd takes years. A heifer has to grow, breed, have a calf, and that calf has to grow before the numbers start moving in the right direction. The ripple effect of that loss is what you're feeling at the grocery store every time you buy beef. Supply is down. Prices are up. And it's going to take time and a lot of ranchers making long-term investments to turn it around. Why We Bought 72 Heifers Most of these heifers and their calves (we'll breed them naturally with our South Pole bull) will eventually be sold to other beef farmers to help rebuild their herds (anyone who's looking can contact us here). That's how you move the needle on a 57-year low. One ranch at a time. We won't sugarcoat it. Good stock isn't cheap right now. These girls weren't far off $3,000 a head. Multiply that out and you're talking about a significant investment before a single calf hits the ground. And the payback period? It's long. Here's what that actually looks like: A heifer typically doesn't breed until she's around 15 months old. She carries a calf for 9 months. That calf is born, raised, and if it's a heifer herself, she won't be ready to breed for another 15 months after that. If the calf is destined for beef, you're looking at 18-24 months before it's ready for harvest. From the day we bought these girls to the day we see a meaningful return... we could easily be looking at 2-3 years. Minimum. That's not a complaint. That's just the reality of the cattle business. It's a long game, and you have to be willing to play it. Kim and I are truly blessed to be in a position where we can make that kind of investment and sit with it. Not everyone can, and we don't take that lightly. We're doing this because we love this land, we love these animals, and we believe the beef industry is worth investing in. About That Unloading Now. About the unloading. I was told the trailer would be a ground loading trailer. It wasn't. So there we were (72 heifers, no ramp, no chute) unloading from the side. It got a little chaotic. We did the best we could with what we had and kept things as calm as possible. We got some pushback on social media about how it looked. We get it. It wasn't the prettiest unloading you've ever seen. But I'll tell you what... every single one of those girls came off that trailer just fine. Not a scratch on them. We don't use electric prods, we don't rush the animals, and we don't take shortcuts when it comes to how our cattle are treated. Ever. That's not who we are. When you're dealt a situation you didn't plan for, you adapt and you figure it out. That's ranching. They were a little skeptical on day one. By day two they'd figured out the grass was good and nobody was going to bother them. Funny how that works. Watch the Full Unloading Day We filmed the whole thing. All the action, a little Tennessee rain, and 72 heifers hitting fresh pasture for the first time. Watch Part 1 right here: If you want to keep watching: ▶ Watch Unloading Part 2 (in the rain when the stragglers get off) ▶ Watch Exciting Short Clips (for some quick highlights) Thank You for Your Support We don't take it for granted. Every order you place helps us do things like this... raise good animals, take care of the land, and do our small part for an industry that needs it. The most direct way to support what we're building here is simple: choose 2 Coots when it's time to stock the freezer. You can SHOP GRASS FED BEEF HERE. We're grateful for every single one of you.

What is Regenerative Farming and Why We Do It at 2 Coots Ranch

More from the blog

Why we call it "common sense meat"

The great steak debate: salt only vs. marinade.

We got 72 new heifers! Doing out part to help rebuild the US beef herds.

Real Reviews From Real People

How to Buy

About Us

Resources

Follow Us

Common Sense Farming.