(Ami Vitale)With a focus on biodiversity and sustainable living, the J Bar L Ranch does things a little differently from your average cattle ranch. The cattle are grass-fed and spend their entire lives roaming freely on pastures, naturally tilling the soil as they go. "Their motto is not to stress the cows and to live in harmony with the nature around them," Vitale said in an interview. That means that all wildlife are welcome and grizzly bears and wolves are frequent guests. "They have range riders who patrol and minimize conflicts with predators," she said. The ranchers' goal is to manage the ranch in such a way that balances the health of the livestock, land, wild animals, and the community. And the result is healthier, better-tasting beef.Raising cattle in this way is extremely challenging, but "the ranchers share a deep love of their livelihood and the land," Vitale said. Below, a peek into the lives of the Centennial Valley ranching community and the bucolic beauty of the middle of nowhere:
-
‘A legacy news brand brings a visibility of its own’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
8 of the best ‘cozy crime’ series of all timeThe Week Recommends Murder mysteries don’t necessarily have to make us miserable, and these shows have perfected a feel-good crime formula
-
Youth revolts rattle Morocco as calls against corruption grow louderTHE EXPLAINER Snowballing controversy over World Cup construction and civic services has become a serious threat to Morocco’s political stability
