Supporting Locals through Restorative Grazing

We look toward sustainable relations through our sheep. We recognize that although our roads and ways of living look vastly different than those of our ancestors – our lives and motions are repeated ways of living that have remained central to who we are and how we survive in our environments. Our trading routes have become roads and highways, and our resources and services have now adapted to include ranching and sustainable grazing. Our sheep embody both movement and rootedness—our bodies in constant motion as we walk alongside them, yet grounded in our homelands, sustaining ourselves while nurturing the land in return.

Our land has not been exempt from the effects of colonization. Many plants referred to as “invasive” species set roots in our soils as a direct result of colonization. Some of these species are harmful to our environment and our adapted ways of living.  (It is important to note that these invasive species, too, are our relatives and have also been displaced from their own native lands, forced to adapt to new conditions, cultures, people, and spirits.) One of our primary communities of focus is our local farmers. The RGV is known for its nutrient-dense soils and sunny climate, which allow plants to flourish. Today’s methods of agriculture are systems of monoculture and destruction, which have caused our soils to become severely depleted of nutrients. This unsustainable agricultural model combined with the damming of the Rio Grande, caused our soil quality to suffer and deplete steadily over time.

Many landowners and farmers face a series of issues: soil erosion, depleted soil quality, and invasive plant species permeating the land. To target these issues, many resort to machinery, chemicals, and fertilizers. However, these methods are merely a temporary solution to an immediate issue rather than a long-term solution targeting the root of the problem. The real issue lies within the colonized, unsustainable methods by which the vast majority of our agriculture has been founded on. These solutions further contribute to the degradation of our lands and waters. For example, machinery used to cut down weeds and other unwanted grasses is costly as it requires equipment, upkeep, and gas or electricity for it to function. It produces by-products and fumes that pollute the air and are harmful to living beings. Chemicals are often used to kill weeds that compete with produce. Fertilizers are readily used to introduce nutrients, such as nitrogen, a necessary nutrient for plants to grow and to “improve” degraded soil. Fertilizers are known to cause algae blooms as a result of excess nitrogen, which leads to dead zones and causes water environments to deteriorate and be unable to sustain life. These chemicals and fertilizers seep into the ground and our water systems, often resulting in environmental harm.

In response to these challenges, our group embraces a natural, regenerative approach that not only mitigates the spread of invasive species but also revitalizes the land in a way that aligns with our ancestral practices. In response to these challenges, our group embraces a natural, regenerative approach that not only mitigates the spread of invasive species but also revitalizes the land in a way that aligns with our ancestral practices. Our sheep offer opportunities to help restore our soils, with targeted grazing at the heart of our work. Targeted grazing is a sustainable practice in which an area that has been overtaken by invasive or unwanted species is fenced, and livestock are introduced to this piece of land. The livestock eat the invasive species and fertilize the land at the same time. Once the land is cleared of invasive species, a variety of chosen native plants, vegetables, fruits, and grass seeds can be scattered onto the ground, and our sheep will walk across this patch of land, pushing the seeds down – natural tillage. This eliminates any need for invasive and ineffective techniques that further harm the land.

We extend these services to any other individuals, farms, ranches, organizations, agencies, or cities that are looking to remove invasive species on their lands. We recognize the restoration efforts of local government agencies, local cities, private owners, and environmental organizations and offer our services to further this sacred work. Our existing thornscrub forests and native parks are brimming with invasive species, and our sheep are capable of navigating these brushlands and clearing out the land while contributing to the conservation and restoration of such beloved areas. We hope to further bridge our relations with the community and others who share the same vision.