Grown Naturally & Respectfully

Growing food the way it was meant to be. We believe in raising livestock in a way that mimics Mother Nature. We strive to have as few "man-made" interventions as possible, yet a watchful eye from our family to make sure our livestock have the resources they need such as bountiful food, enough roaming space, and clean water. 

Family Owned & Care from Our Family

Our family has been farming and ranching in Sonoma & Marin Counties for six generations. We take pride in caring for our land and livestock using modern knowledge to monitor quality paired with our ancestors values to respect this earth and our animal for future generations.

Cattle Lifecycle

Cattle are born on our family ranch. Most of our calves are born in the fall, but we do have a small number born throughout the year. Yearlings are typically weaned in early summer, usually around 9-11 months. We select the "cream of the crop" of yearlings to enter into our direct-to-consumer beef program. These are cattle that we believe will have the best health, rates of gain, marbling and, ultimately, palatability. These yearlings are then moved to another pasture with access to the best forage. We will harvest when cattle have gained the appropriate amount, usually around 20-24 months. We do not feed supplemental feeds to increase weight gain, but instead let cattle gain at their own natural pace. We use old-world harvest methods of one-at-a-time to do our best, at all times, to reduce stress and provide maximum humane care through the entire lifecycle. 

One Owner

All of our livestock are raised from birth to harvest under our family's care. We NEVER outsource to purchase livestock from other ranches to sell under our family ranch label. It is important to us that we know everything about each animal's care from day one. Know your farmer. Know your food origin.

Certified Natural

We do not cut corners. Doing things the old-fashioned way makes a difference in quality. And, don't just take our word for it. We are third-party certified by Where Food Comes From, Inc., for all-natural, no hormone and one owner (age/source verification). No antibiotics. Ever. While we will use antibiotics for rare life-saving situations, treated animals will not enter our meat supply chain.

Certified Grassfed and Grass Finished

A species appropriate diet means healthier animals and eliminates the need for human-made health interventions. Animals graze on native grasses on our ranch their entire lives. Cattle and sheep are ruminants; their bodies are designed to convert fiber-rich forages into protein. No GMOs. No grain, ever. Grass fed and grass finished.

Slow Food Approved: 

Honored to be the only active full-life-cycle beef ranch between both Sonoma and Marin County to be awarded the Snail of Approval Award from Slow Food Sonoma County! Slow Food in Sonoma County awards the Snail of Approval to local restaurants, farms/ranches and producers who are making a significant contribution to improving the food system. By celebrating these model providers, Slow Food in Sonoma County highlights the importance of the Slow Food philosophy of good, clean and fair food for all people. Snail of Approval is an international program that we run locally in partnership with Slow Food USA. 

Heritage Breed

Our herd of Angus cattle has been being carefully bred for quality under our family's watchful eye for decades. Angus, a heritage breed, originated in Scotland. These cattle are known for thriving on native grasses and being hardy to explore rolling hillsides. Our breeding program prioritizes marbling/flavor, health, and environmental efficiency.

Regenerative

Without healthy soil, we can't have healthy livestock. Without healthy livestock, we can't raise a quality and all-natural product. A thriving eco-system is our priority. We are part of the Marin Carbon Project and continuously reinvest in our natural resources with soil and environment enhancing management tools. Check out our ag education center for more info: www.tomaleshaven.com