Roots in the Highlands

In the mountain-ringed valleys of northern California, Starwalker Organic Farms has been stewarding land through organic agriculture for more than four decades. Today the farm is run by third-generation farmers Kristina and Jason Walker, who took over the operation in 2012 and continue a family tradition rooted in soil health, animal welfare, and community connection.

Located in Scott Valley, Starwalker spans roughly 3,500 acres of pasture and cropland surrounded by mountains. Highland cattle, hogs, and poultry move through a diversified landscape while alfalfa, wheat, and peas are grown on the farm to feed livestock. Together these crops and animals form a closed nutritional loop that returns fertility back to the soil.

Animals play a central role in the Walkers’ regenerative approach. Livestock move across the land, cycling nutrients, building soil carbon, and helping maintain resilient grasslands.

Organic farming has been practiced on this land for more than 40 years. For the Walkers, organic agriculture is essential for maintaining soil health and producing high quality food while protecting the long-term vitality of the farm.

In recent years, the farm has expanded this commitment through its work with the Regenerative Organic Alliance and the Regenerative Organic Certified® standard, which builds on organic agriculture by emphasizing soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness across the supply chain.

Starwalker Organic Farms raises cattle, hogs, and poultry while producing hay and grains used to feed livestock on the farm. Through programs like EQIP and continued investment in regenerative practices, the Walkers are working to strengthen the ecological resilience of their land.

The farm has always maintained a direct relationship with its community through farmers markets. In 2020 the Walkers expanded their reach by launching an e-commerce platform that allows them to sell directly to customers nationwide. This growth led them to purchase a processing plant, giving them full control over their products and allowing them to label their meat organic and Regenerative Organic Certified.

The short film Rooted in the Highlands offers a glimpse into the rhythms of life at Starwalker Organic Farms, where family history, regenerative practices, and a rugged mountain landscape shape the future of food.

This film was created in partnership with the Platform for Agriculture and Climate Transformation. Learn more about Mad Agriculture’s Cultivating Conservation series.