In this episode of The Foggy Farmer, Ranger sits down with Chris Giannini, the Ranch Manager at the historic 2,700-acre Pomponio Ranch in San Gregorio, CA. While the ranch is known for elite show-jumping horses, there is a quiet revolution happening in the pastures surrounding them.

Chris shares how Pomponio Ranch is using adaptive grazing and controlled burns to turn the clock back on land management—mimicking ancient herds to restore soil health and native grasses. We dig into the counter-intuitive science of why their ponds are stopping filling up (it’s a good thing!), how cows and goats are working together to fight fire-prone coyote brush, and the truth behind marketing labels like "Grass-Fed" vs. "Pasture-Raised."

Whether you are a producer looking to implement regenerative practices or a consumer wanting to know the story behind your steak, this episode bridges the gap between the fog, the fire, and the food on your plate.

Key Topics & Takeaways:

• Restoring the Land: How moving cattle daily mimics nature (like bison herds) to break parasite cycles and eliminate the need for chemical de-wormers.
• Fire as a Tool: Utilizing controlled burns and goat herds to manage the invasive coyote brush that threatens the San Mateo coast.
• The Water Cycle Mystery: Why improved soil porosity means less runoff into ponds but green grass that lasts longer into the season.
• Consumer Education: Unpacking the difference between USDA labels and the reality of how animals are raised.
• Baby Steps for Farmers: Chris’s advice on how any operation—big or small—can start implementing one regenerative practice today.

Featured Quotes:

"We’re not just raising cattle; we’re healing the land, one pasture at a time."

"We are trying to mimic Mother Nature in every which way... The animal is the byproduct of a healthy ranch." — Chris Giannini

Resources & Links:

• Pomponio Ranch Meat: pomponioranchmeat.com – Order direct-to-consumer beef and pork.
  • FoggyFarmer25 - This code will give you 25% off Pomponio Ranchs' entire website from beef and pork cuts, to jerky, dog treats, bone broth and more.
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