Wells Branch Farm

Eliza MacLean Presenting at the 2009 Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAWG) Conference in Chattanooga, TN. January 21–24, 2009

Eliza MacLean will be presenting a session on "Finishing Pigs and Working with your Meat Processor"

The SSAWG 2009 Practical Tools and Solutions for Sustaining Family Farms Conference will be held January 21-24, 2009 at the Chattanooga Convention Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

This conference will provide you with the practical tools and solutions you need to be successful in your farming enterprise, your community foods projects and your advocacy and outreach work.

The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group -- commonly known as "Southern SAWG" -- is the region's non-profit leader in creating a sustainable food and farming system. Their programs and activities are aimed at helping family farms and those working to improve community food systems in the Southern region of the United States.

Southern SAWG provides learning opportunities for farmers and agricultural professionals, and tools and support for farmer entrepreneurs. We promote communication and collaboration between farmers, consumers and community organizations, and foster the development of food systems that are more secure. We develop grassroots leadership in the sustainable agriculture movement, and empower constituents to change policies that impact farm communities.

About Eliza MacLean (NC) In 2000, Eliza began managing hog herds at NCA&T State University. MacLean immediately realized she'd found her calling, and soon starting working full time in a partnership with Niman Ranch, Heifer International, NCA&T University and with the Gold Leaf Foundation—focusing on transitioning long time tobacco farmers across the state into family pig farms. After launching the program with Gold Leaf, Niman Ranch hired MacLean to be their representative, evaluating farms and meat quality for their fledgling North Carolina hog production. In 2003, Eliza began her farm, raising pastured Ossabaw Island Hogs, Ossabaw Crosses, and Farmer's Hybrid hogs. Learn more about the farm here: www.canecreekfarm.us/ Session: "Finishing Pigs and Working with your Meat Processor"

Wells Branch's 'Cane Creek Farm' featured in NC Signiature Magazine January/February 2099 Issue!

NC Signiature has written a delightful piece on Eliza MacLean's Cane Creek Farm, titled: "Hog Heaven". Find it in the 'Imprint' section on page 116 of this month's issue.

Check out the web bonus for delicious ways to serve Wells Branch / Cane Creek Farm's famous pork, including: Dan Barber's Pork Belly, Cane Creek Posole, Magnolia grill Style Brined Pork Chops, and Andrea Reusing's Pork Spare Ribs with Fermented Black Bean and Chilies.

 

Dont Forget: Saxapahaw Oktoberfest this Saturday, Oct 18th

Come on out to the 2008 Saxapahaw Oktoberfest. We'll be there!

 

Our Farms featured in the current October edition of Bon Appetit

Check out this months edition of Bon Appetit Magazine, for a great article on Durham/Chapel Hill's local food scene...including the two farms that currently make up Wells Branch Farms: Braeburn Farm and Cane Creek Farm. 

America's Foodiest Small Town (Oct 2008 Bon Apppetit Mag)
Imagine a place where foodies not only have a favorite chef, but also a favorite farmer; a place where the distance between the organic farm and the award-winning restaurant is mere miles; a place where a sustainable future is foreseeable. It's all a reality in Durham-Chapel Hill.
By Andrew Knowlton

Wells Branch serves up tasty lunch and timely information at the 2008 Piedmont Green Gala

If you attended the 1st annual Piedmont Green Gala on Oct. 4th, chances are you got to sample one of Charles Sydnors famous burgers or Eliza MacLean's 'Frankly Eliza' hot dogs. Wells Branch was a proud sponsor of the Piedmont Green Gala, providing a mouth watering lunch of grilled hamburgers (technically ground beef, not hamburger) and hot dogs served up on fresh locally made buns provided by Ninth St Bakery of Durham.

Charlie Sydnor also co-hosted a talk on Sustainable Agriculture, where he discussed the benefits and challenges of creating a healthy local food economy. 

 

After the formal discussion, Charlie Sydnor and Eliza MacLean (below) chatted with local residents of Alamance County answering questions about Wells Branch Farms, local agriculture, food safety, food ethics, animal welfare, etc.

 

Thanks to to 300+ people who made this event a huge success. We hope you see you there next year! 

Our brand new "Why Choose Grass-Fed" brochure is here

View our shiny new "Why Choose Grass-Fed" brochure! (pdf) You can find additional information on our "Grass-Fed Beef" page.

Dog (and Cat) food now available!

By popular request, we are now offering pet quality meats. These are the same great farm raised meat products we sell every day, but are slightly less than perfect or are parts that us humans generally choose not to eat. Give your pet the gift of a healthy, pasture raised, grass fed, locally produced B.A.R.F. diet.

Introductory price: $2/lb

Life on the (organic) farm - Greensboro News & Record writes article on Wells Branch Farm

Excerpt from Greensboro's News & Record Article titled, 'Life on the (organic) farm':

"Charlie Sydnor is "Doc" to most who know him. The opthamologist excels at neuro-opthalmology, so much so that some patients travel from Durham to Burlington to see him."

"But Sydnor often calls himself a rancher, or farmer. That's where he's most content — on his sprawling 500-acre farm, about 13 miles from his Burlington practice."

"Here, dogs run, tongues out and tails wagging. Cows bellow as they graze on rolling green pastures. Muddy pig pens are filled with 800-pound hogs and tiny piglets, their snouts dusty from gobbling grain. Tractors hum in the distance, and trucks crunch on gravel."

"Eliza MacLean, former wildlife rescuer and adventure racer turned hog farmer, keeps everything running. She lives on the farm with her 7-year-old twins who are growing up planting produce and gathering freshly laid eggs."

"Sydnor's farm, Braeburn, adjoins MacLean's 20-acre Cane Creek farm. They merged their operations about a year ago, forming Wells Branch Farm."

Click here to read the article

We would like to send a huge thanks to Tina Firesheets and The Greensboro News & Record for writing this excelent article about our farms.

Thanks for stopping by! - 2008 Piedmont Farm Tour

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the farm this weekend during the 2008 Piedmont Farm Tour benefiting the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association. It was nice to see you all and we had a great time. Tour participants had the opportunity to take guided hayride tours with frequent stops to see an learn about our naturally raised pigs, sheep, goats, chickens and grass-fed cows.

   

For those of you who missed out on this year's Piedmont Farm Tour, we do offer organized tours of the farm throughout the year (by appointment). Please visit the 'Touring The Farm' page on the Cane Creek Farm website for more information.    

Farm Update: A Whole Lot of Bull

The boys are growing up!

Click here to listen to Charlie Sydnor tell you about his latest crop of Red Devon Bulls, a breed known for their superior quality as pasture-raise, grass-fed beef: