Listen "028 - Industrial Farmer to Beyond Organic Icon, Will Harris III of White Oak Pastures"
Episode Synopsis
Will Harris III from White Oak Pastures joins me to talk about his inspirational journey of converting his one time factory farm to a beyond organic farming operation that celebrates polyculture and closes the loop on wastes.Will runs the largest USDA organic farm in Georgia farming 1200 owned acres and 2000 leased. He has over 2000 head of cattle and raises 60,000 pastured chickens. He has built two abattoirs on site - one for red meat, one for poultry. He has an organic vegetable CSA and heirloom orchard.His farm closes the loop on sustainability through rotational grazing, solar power, and the recycling of all of his various "wastes" from his animal operations. All of the wash water, bones, and other animal "wastes" end up back on the land, building the soil over time.But it wasn't always that way. Prior to 1995 White Oak Pastures raised cattle in an industrial system, a monoculture. Then Will made the decision to change what he was doing. So began the conversion over the beyond organic, mulch-species thriving farming operation that it is today.Will's story in an inspiration, and another example of what is right in modern day agriculture.
Show Notes: www.permaculturevoices.com/28
Show Notes: www.permaculturevoices.com/28
More episodes of the podcast Farm Small Farm Smart Daily
Developing Your First Crop Plan
16/11/2025
Introducing Medicinal Herbs to a Market
15/11/2025
Heirlooms & Open-Pollinated Seeds
14/11/2025
Earthworms vs. Ants
13/11/2025
Does Cover Cropping Make a Difference
12/11/2025
Clays and the Great Plains
11/11/2025
Results of Small Steps Towards No-Till
10/11/2025
Results of Small Steps Towards No-Till
10/11/2025
Carbon Saturation and Carbon Loss
09/11/2025
Compost PLUS Compost Tea?
08/11/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.