A grasshopper symphony hums its song in the Texas Hill Country. On a green oasis, wild bison, turkeys, ducks, pigs, butterflies, and other creatures live in harmony.
“WHAT GOOD SHALL I DO THIS DAY?” is posted on the inside of a four-wheeler—a reminder to give back to the land and living things that give us so much.
This is Roam Ranch in Fredericksburg, Texas. Founded by Taylor and Katie Collins in 2017, Roam Ranch stands as a multi-species regeneration ranch where all are welcome and every creature is honored and recognized. Taylor and Katie connect people to the land through community events, guided hunts, and Force of Nature meats available in stores nationwide.
BEGINNINGS
Taylor and Katie never foresaw their path in regenerative agriculture. After starting their food brand, Epic, they experienced agriculture, regeneration, and soil health firsthand, which culminated in launching Roam Ranch.
Their first two years were difficult, as the caliche-laden land was desolate. However, through partnering with nature, the earth at the 900-acre ranch has been transformed.
BISON
Bison are a key element in restoring the soil at this sanctuary. Taylor explains, “They are a keystone species—they have a disproportionately positive impact on all of life. Their mere presence here creates an opportunity for more biodiverse species to thrive.”
Bison’s innate behaviors have a strong impact on the ecosystem. The unique microbiome in the bison’s saliva awakens the dormant seeds in the ground, stimulating new growth. Their spade-shaped hooves chip away and aerate the soil, allowing rainfall to effectively infiltrate.
Where the bison wallow, seeds on their coat spread new plants. Their oil creates a patch where grass can’t grow and rainwater pools. “When it rains, water holds, and suddenly—you would not expect a frog to be out in the middle of this pasture—but there’s water, birds, and dragonflies.”
These animals create a highly concentrated manure cycling of nutrients. “The bison give so disproportionally. They are so much more than livestock; they’re truly just these incarnated souls.”
WHAT IS REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE?
This model of symbiotic living is not only changing this sliver of Texas but is also being replicated globally. “It is the only model that will be able to produce food in the future,” says Taylor.
Katie explains regenerative agriculture: “It’s working with nature to create a net positive impact on the environment.” Rather than maintaining or degenerating the land, regenerative agriculture lets natural cycles in nature get oriented without pesticides or fertilizer.
“A big part of regenerative agriculture is being curious and open-minded enough to ask questions such as, ‘Why did that plant grow there and not here?’ It’s about constantly observing … walking in with a mindset of learning from the earth and letting go of preconceived notions.”
Sometimes surrendering to nature can feel unnatural to people. “We want to dominate and control,” says Katie. “We’ve always been in charge, and this is more about letting go. ‘What am I going to do today to make this place better?’” Sometimes less is more.
WHERE DOES HOPE GROW?
As their podcast is titled, hope grows on Roam Ranch. Taylor expounds, “Hope is the greatest act of rebellion. Without hope, people are easily controlled and manipulated. Without hope, you throw up your hands and lose the instinct for action. If you have hope, you unlock creative potential and start imagining and reimagining a future. Positive change is all seated with hope. Without hope, you have nothing.”
In a time when our culture is suffering from chronic disease, lack of time outdoors, unhealthy food sources, isolation, and distraction through technology, Taylor observes, “Humanity is connected to the land, specifically the condition of the soil. There’s an inseparable connection that is screaming at us louder than at any point in history. If we can heal our soil, we can heal our civilization.”
Making change can be as easy as taking time to observe and be grateful for the plants and wildlife you have access to. This is Katie’s call to “rewild” and receive the gift of the outdoors.
GET INVOLVED
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Shake the hand of someone who feeds you.
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Participate in a guided hunt or processing day at Roam Ranch.
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Purchase Force of Nature meats.
“A love for the land is in all of us. We’ve been removed from land as a culture. It’s not counter-cultural at all. It’s incredibly instinctual to get down to the earth," concludes Katie.
RoamRanch.org | @roamranch | Check out “Where Hope Grows” on Apple Podcasts
The bison give so disproportionally. They are so much more than livestock; they’re truly just these incarnated souls.