The Regenerative Way: Grazing Smarter with Crossing Creeks Farm

Don’t Overgraze — Meet the Farm That’s Getting It Right

Author

Start My Homestead
June 17, 2025

Why Overgrazing Destroys Pastures (and How to Fix It)

Hey homesteaders,

Before we dive into this week’s farm spotlight, I want to talk about a mistake a lot of beginners make: overgrazing.

When you let them stay too long in the same paddock…

You’ve probably heard the phrase “take half, leave half,” and it’s not just a catchy saying. It’s the golden rule of pasture management.

When animals are left too long in one area or return to the same spot too quickly, the grass doesn’t have time to recover. Roots shrink. Bare spots form. Weeds and erosion take over. And suddenly, what was once a lush paddock becomes a dirt lot.

👉 Healthy grazing is about movement, not just feeding.
Give your grass time to regrow. Rotate your animals. Watch how fast nature bounces back when you stop interrupting the cycle.

It’s not just about producing better beef or milk — it’s about building soil that’ll still be there for your grandkids.

No one knows this better than this week’s featured farm: Crossing Creek Farm in Shelbyville, TN. They’ve been practicing regenerative grazing since 2009 — and their pastures show it.

Featured Farm: Crossing Creeks Farm (Shelbyville, TN)

Started in 2009 with a small herd and a mission to feed their family better, Crossing Creeks Farm now raises 100% grass-fed beef, pasture-raised pork, chicken, and eggs — all managed regeneratively.

They rotate animals daily, nurture healthy pastures, and have built a farm that feeds both their community and the soil.

Whether you want to order real food, plan a farm stay, or just get inspired, this family-run farm is worth following.

10 Questions with Crossing Creeks Farm

1. How did your journey begin?
We started farming in 2009 by raising 100% grass-fed beef so we could feed ourselves well.

2. What was your first setup like?
We began by leasing land from a family friend to keep our beef herd on. In 2012, we purchased our farm in Shelbyville, TN.

3. What are you most proud of?
We’re extremely proud of all our regeneratively raised meats and eggs.

4. What does a typical day look like on the farm?
Each day is different! No two days ever look the same. But each one starts outside, caring for the animals.

5. What advice would you give someone starting out?
Start small. Start with something you're comfortable with and that requires the least amount of money to begin.

6. What’s your favorite homestead meal?
That’s a hard one — but probably meatloaf with pinto beans, hush puppies fried in lard, and deviled eggs!

7. What’s the biggest challenge you face?
A big (and constant) challenge is making sure there’s enough grass and space for all the different species we raise. We're still working to overcome it!

8. What’s your long-term vision for the farm?
We hope to be a lasting, generational regenerative farm that can stand the test of time to feed our community real food.

9. What do you love most about Tennessee?
TN is amazing in so many ways — it's absolutely beautiful in nature.

10. How can people connect or support you?
If folks live nearby, we’d love to meet you in our farm store. If not, plan a trip to stay on the farm through one of our farm stays. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube too!

From Tim:
Good soil takes time. Good farms take intention. Crossing Creeks is doing both — and proving that with care, commitment, and a love for the land, homesteading can change everything.

Till next time,
Tim Parker
Start My Homestead