A beautiful afternoon at a Wake County farm saved by local food: Ninja Cow Farm

When we think of Wake County, we might automatically assume that all the farms have long ago succumbed to subdivisions and sprawl. What a pleasure it was for me to find myself recently at Ninja Cow Farm, just minutes from downtown Raleigh, as a volunteer for the Piedmont Farm Tour.

This gorgeous farm is 150 acres and has been farmed since the 1700s. Dan Moore is the affable and thoughtful farmer who runs the place. The farm raises grass fed cattle and pastured pigs. The cows are mob grazed (intensive rotational grazing) and the pigs live mostly in the woods and eat donated produce scraps. Entrepreneurial Dan is a Joel Salatin fan and is happy when the animals “do the work” on the farm.

Dan sells all his product from a well-stocked farm store and does not do farmers markets. The store also sells produce and specialty products from lots of other local producers. Check it out.

I went home with some fine-looking sirloin steaks. They will taste all the better knowing that they help preserve such a beautiful place.

Thanks to Dan, his family and Carolina Farm Stewardship Association for a great farm tour!