176. Building Iron Root Pastures from Backyard Chickens to Raw Milk Dairy with Ernie Mathes

In this episode of the Grazing Grass Podcast, Cal talks with Ernie Mathis of Iron Root Pastures in Rising Fawn, Georgia. Ernie shares how he went from suburban New Jersey roots and metro Atlanta life to traveling the U.S. in an RV and finally settling on a dilapidated cow-calf farm to pursue a regenerative, multi-species livestock operation. He discusses starting with backyard broilers, managing raw milk production from his herd of Jerseys, raising pigs and poultry on organic, soy-free and corn-free feed, and why he’s adding rabbits next. Ernie also walks through his portable milking parlor setup, calf-sharing system, and lessons learned in farm infrastructure, grazing systems, and marketing directly to health-focused consumers.Topics CoveredWhy and how Ernie and his family left metro life for farm lifeStarting with 10 backyard broilers and progressing to pasture poultryTransitioning from RV life to settling on a 225-acre propertyDeveloping a direct-to-consumer market with chiropractic clinicsRaising soy-free, corn-free fed chickens, pigs, and layersBuilding a portable milking setup for 8 Jersey cowsImplementing calf sharing with a custom calf shelterUsing belted Galloways and moving toward more heat-tolerant breedsPlans for integrating rabbits and sheepThoughts on A2 milk, sexed semen, and dual-purpose livestockManaging pastures and daily moves using simple infrastructureIf you’ve ever wondered how to go from urban homesteader to full-time grazier, Ernie’s story will inspire and inform you. His creative infrastructure, practical solutions for milking in the pasture, and strong values around health and transparency in food production make this a great episode for new farmers, aspiring dairy graziers, or anyone looking to build a regenerative, direct-to-consumer business. Whether it’s a discussion on milking schedules or raw milk laws, there’s something here for everyone walking a similar path.Resources MentionedIron Root PasturesKentucky Organics (feed mill)Justin Rhodes YouTube ChannelWhite Oak Pastures (Rabbitat project)Visit our Sponsors:Noble Research InstituteRedmondGrazing Grass LinksNew Listener Resource GuideProvide feedback for the podcastWebsiteInsidersResourcesCommunity (on Facebook)Check out the Apiary Chronicles PodcastChapters Looking for grass-based breeders? Explore the Grass Based Genetics directory.Visit our Sponsors:Noble Research InstituteRedmond Agriculture Grassroots CarbonGrazing Grass LinksWebsiteCommunity (on Facebook)Original Music by Louis Palfrey