This week on American Family Farmer, Doug Stephan revisits a compelling conversation with Eliza Maclean, the heart and hands behind Cane Creek Farm, a vibrant, diversified family farm in Snow Camp, North Carolina.

Eliza’s journey to farming is anything but ordinary. With a background in environmental science and veterinary practice experience, she brings a deeply rooted respect for animal health, ecological stewardship, and ethical livestock management to every acre of her land. Her approach blends scientific insight with old-world wisdom, emphasizing regenerative farming and animal welfare over industrial intensification.

At Cane Creek Farm, Eliza raises a rich mix of pasture-rotated livestock, including pigs, cattle, sheep, poultry, and more, in a way that nurtures both soil health and animal wellbeing. Rather than confining animals, she practices holistic rotational grazing, giving pigs, cows, and other species room to roam through woods and pastures. This not only contributes to vibrant land ecology but results in healthier animals and richer food for local families and chefs alike.

Eliza also brings her veterinary knowledge to the conversation, discussing how careful attention to animal health, nutrition, and environment can reduce the reliance on medicated interventions and instead support naturally resilient livestock. Whether talking about pig diets rooted in diverse pasture forage or managing flock health in a way that honors each animal’s innate behaviors, her insights are grounded in both compassion and practical experience.

Beyond the fields, her farm’s products, especially pasture-raised pork from heritage breeds like Gloucestershire Old Spots and Ossabaw Island crosses, have earned a devoted following at local markets and specialty butcher shops, where customers seek out meat raised with transparency and integrity.

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