Blog - Colvin Ranch

Conservation and Cattle

When people think of conservation, they don't often think of cattle. But livestock play an important role in how we preserve and enhance the diverse environments we have at Colvin Ranch.

Open House May 19

On May 19, come join us for a behind-the-scenes look at our historic ranch. We'll be offering ranch tours, prairie walks, and burgers, of course!

Thurston Green Business Designation

This time of year, our ranch is visibly green. But all year round, we follow sustainable business practices to reduce our carbon footprint while preserving and protecting our natural resources. Because of our environmental stewardship, we're now officially recognized as a Thurston Green Business. We talk a lot about our conservation work to restore and enhance the native prairie habitat at the ranch, but we don't often talk about the other steps we take to ensure that we operate our business as a whole in a sustainable way. Some of these business practices include: limiting the transportation of our cattle minimizing packaging, reusing materials, and recycling conserving water and protecting streamsconsolidating deliveries to reduce driving milessupporting local businesses by buying local The conservation easement in place at the ranch ensures that the native prairies here will be protected forever. Working with partners like NRCS, WSU Extension, Thurston Conservation District, Ecostudies Institute, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife, we've completed projects including: contributing to the recovery of the golden paintbrush and its removal from the federal list of endangered and threatened plantsimproving Mazama Pocket Gopher habitatincreasing plant diversityprotecting Scatter Creek stream bedsmaintaining Garry Oak ecosystems planting hundreds of trees And there's more in the works. We're currently working on a five-year project to eliminate scotch broom and restore native prairie plants on a nearby property, and creating silvopasture on a section of land that had been previously neglected. Check out the other local businesses who have been designated as a Thurston Green Business and shop local.

Proctor Farmers' Market

It's the 30th anniversary of the Proctor Farmers' Market! See us there every Saturday starting March 30.

Habitat Conservation and Restoration

At the ranch, we take on a number of habitat restoration and enhancement projects that go above and beyond conservation grazing. A lot of the time, these projects start with me standing in a field or forest, dreaming about what's possible.

Home Delivery With South Sound Fresh

Bringing local and seasonal farm-fresh meat, produce, and prepared foods to your doorstep.

Community Supported Agriculture

Signing up for Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is one of the best ways you can show up to support your local farmer.

Washington Conservation Society - Creating A Legacy

The Washington Conservation Society inducted Fred as a Creating a Legacy honoree at their annual meeting this year, recognizing his decades of conservation advocacy and education work.

Purchasing a Whole or Half Pig

Go hog wild and go all-in on a pork meat share. Here's everything you need to know about the pigs.

Regenerative Farming Means Better Food

Creating a more resilient and harmonious agricultural system at Colvin Ranch that's good for the the plants, the animals, and people too.

Climate Change and Food Production

In some ways, all of us involved in local food systems are facing similar challenges. In the face of climate change, the best outcome for our community in the farm-to-table system is for all parts of our local food systems to work together.