Learn how to render lard using the crockpot method with this simple, family-scale guide. This post covers choosing the right pork fat, managing realistic batch sizes (10–11 pounds), step-by-step rendering, proper straining and storage, and when to re-render lard for a cleaner final product—perfect for cooking, baking, soapmaking, and traditional homesteading.
Made from our own pastured pork 🐖 Scented with organic eucalyptus essential oil Naturally colored with nettle leaf powder 🌱 Learning traditional trades and hands-on skills like soapmaking helps us become less dependent on stores and more connected to our land. There’s something incredibly rewarding about turning what we raise into something nourishing and useful for everyday life. Simple. Homemade. Purposeful. 💚
Today in our farmhouse kitchen blog, we share the heart behind raising a herd of 12+ grass-fed A2 Jersey cows and why real, traditional food matters for families today. Rooted in regenerative farming and old-world kitchen practices, this blog entry explores the nutritional value of raw, non-homogenized A2 milk, the importance of food freedom, and our commitment to giving our children access to clean, nourishing dairy without compromise. We take you inside our butter-making process—from skimming rich cream to churning it the old-fashioned way in a KitchenAid—highlighting the patience, variability, and joy that come with real food preparation on a working dairy farm. Along the way, we explain why butter is a true luxury, how much milk it really takes to make a single pound, and why traditional fats like rendered pasture-raised pork lard still have a vital place in a modern farmhouse kitchen. This entry also dives into the often-overlooked value of real buttermilk—what it is, why it’s nutritionally beneficial, and three practical ways to use it in baking, marinades, and closing the farm’s nutrient loop with animals and compost. If you’re curious about A2 milk, grass-fed dairy, homemade butter, regenerative farming, and cooking with intention, Pasture & Iron offers an honest look at real food, real work, and the rhythms of farm life in Northwest Georgia.
In our first Pasture & Iron: A Farmhouse Kitchen Blog entry, we share the story behind Iron Root Pastures and why we chose to return to simple, intentional, old-fashioned cooking. What began with Ernie’s reaction to wheat turned into a deep dive into ingredient labels, food quality, and misleading marketing claims—ultimately revealing how disconnected our modern food system has become. Our search for real, clean, truly pasture-raised food led us to regenerative farming, a practice that heals soil, supports animal well-being, and nourishes people. Today, we raise our animals on fresh pasture in Northwest Georgia and cook with the same values we farm with: respect, intention, and using the whole animal. This blog is dedicated to traditional cooking—rendering lard and tallow, making broth from bones, honoring every part of an animal, and preparing food the way our great-grandparents once did. It’s a celebration of real ingredients, regenerative principles, and the belief that Healthy Pastures create Healthy Animals, which create a Healthy YOU. From our family to yours, welcome to Pasture & Iron: A Farmhouse Kitchen Blog with Iron Root Pastures.
What Is Regenerative Farming? A Guide to Restoring Soil and Sustainability In recent years, regenerative farming has gained traction as a revolutionary approach to agriculture. But what exactly is it, and why does it matter? Unlike conventional farming methods that deplete soil and require heavy chemical inputs, regenerative farming is a holistic system that restores soil health, enhances biodiversity, and promotes long-term sustainability. The Core Principles of Regenerative Farming Regenerative farming is just about avoiding harm and actively improving the land. Here are the key principles that define this approach: 1. Soil Health Comes First Healthy soil is the foundation of regenerative farming. By focusing on soil microbiology and organic matter, farmers can increase water retention, nutrient availability, and resilience against droughts and floods. Practices like composting, cover cropping, and reduced tillage help build rich, fertile soil that supports plant and animal life. 2. Minimizing Disturbance Traditional farming relies heavily on plowing and tilling, which disrupts soil structure and releases carbon into the atmosphere. Regenerative farms minimize soil disturbance by using no-till or low-till methods, which keep beneficial microbes and fungi intact, allowing for a thriving underground ecosystem. 3. Diverse Crop Rotations and Cover Crops Monoculture farming (growing the same crop year after year) depletes soil nutrients and increases pest vulnerability. In contrast, regenerative farms embrace crop diversity and use cover crops to prevent erosion, fix nitrogen, and suppress weeds naturally. 4. Integrating Livestock for Natural Fertilization Rather than relying on synthetic fertilizers, regenerative farms often integrate livestock in rotational grazing systems. Animals play a crucial role in cycling nutrients, aerating the soil, and building organic matter. When managed properly, livestock can regenerate grasslands and sequester carbon. 5. Eliminating Chemicals and Synthetic Inputs Regenerative farming works with nature, not against it. That means eliminating synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides that degrade soil health and harm beneficial organisms. Instead, farmers use natural solutions like compost, biological pest control, and companion planting to maintain balance. 6. Encouraging Biodiversity A healthy farm is a diverse farm. Regenerative farming encourages biodiversity both above and below ground. Pollinator-friendly plants, hedgerows, and natural habitats for beneficial insects and wildlife all contribute to a resilient ecosystem. 7. Carbon Sequestration and Climate Benefits One of the most powerful aspects of regenerative farming is its ability to capture carbon from the atmosphere and store it in the soil. By increasing soil organic matter and plant biomass, regenerative farms can help mitigate climate change while improving food security. The Impact of Regenerative Farming By adopting regenerative practices, farmers can: ~ Increase soil fertility and water retention ~ Reduce input costs by eliminating synthetic chemicals ~ Improve animal health and welfare ~ Enhance food nutrition and safety ~ Restore natural ecosystems and biodiversity ~ Sequester carbon and combat climate change At our farm, we take pride in these principles. We are committed to producing food that is not only organic, soy-free, corn-free*, antibiotic-free, and vaccine-free but also farmed in a way that regenerates the land for future generations. Join the Regenerative Farming Movement Regenerative farming is more than just a trend, it is the future of sustainable agriculture. Whether you're a farmer looking to transition your practices or a consumer wanting to support regenerative food systems, every choice matters. By choosing to buy from regenerative farms, you are investing in a food system that prioritizes health, sustainability, and environmental stewardship. Together, we can build a better future for our soil, our animals, and our communities. Your support for Iron Root Pastures you are joining our mission to restore the land one field at a time.
