Eric: Visionary, foreman, mastermind.
He might crack the whip on occasion, but at the end of the day he is what gives the rest of us strength and drive to achieve our dreams.
We believe there is power
Welcome to our third-generation
regenerative farm!
At Cottage Farm Heritage Butchery, our focus is on returning vitality to the food we eat, guided at every step by our commitment to raising healthy animals, cultivating fertile soil, and upholding unwavering integrity.
We take care of all the work behind the scenes to bring you food that is simple, honest, and without compromise. Each piece is naturally rich in minerals and nutrients, never relying on additives or shortcuts.
That’s why:
- Our chickens are raised on pasture in spacious, high-ceiling mobile coops and moved to fresh forage every day. They are fed a locally grown, non-GMO grain mix to support healthy growth.
- Our beef and lamb are 100% grass-fed and grass-finished, just as ruminant animals were designed to eat.
- You won’t find antibiotics, hormone implants, pesticides, or chemical shortcuts here.
Instead, we rely on careful stewardship of our animals, our pastures, and the natural systems that make healthy food possible.
Our Farm Story
For us, farming has become a way of life. In 2005, we moved from Michigan to the farm where Eric grew up. The land hadn’t been worked for over 20 years, and the hay fields were rented to another farmer, continually depleting nutrients as the hay was shipped off-farm.
When we took over management and reestablished Philsons’ Bushel & a Peck Farm in 2010, we began restoring the soil and producing healthy food. Along with our seven children, we started with a market garden, laying hens, and pastured chickens, later adding small-batch maple syrup, grass-fed sheep, and Dexter cattle.
As the next chapter unfolds, we are building an on-farm abattoir and establishing Cottage Farm Heritage Butchery, allowing us to steward the entire process from birth to harvest. This also provides meaningful livelihoods for our youngest children who have chosen to stay on the farm.
By processing animals here, we can ensure they are handled calmly and respectfully in a familiar environment, while maintaining complete transparency in how your food is produced.
Everything we do is rooted in the same simple idea: caring for the land and raising food that we are proud to serve at our own table and share with our community.
Meet The Crew
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Amy: Strategist, bookkeeper, sheriff.
She is the water to Eric’s fire; cooling it off when he gets a little too ambitious for what we have time for. ;) We are the cogs and Mom is the crank, keeping everything running smoothly.
Elisheva: marketing coordinator, motivator, culinary heart.
She keeps us focused when the days get long and the to-do lists never end, reminding us why we do what we do. As soon as she has a little time she’ll be starting up the bakery at Cottage Farm!
Elisha: Workhorse, livestock-wrangler, hot shot.
Self-motivated and unstoppable, he doesn’t need anyone to tell him what to do. With a soft heart and endless determination, he doesn’t quit until the job is done. A real go-till-you-drop kind of guy.
Eleanor: Livestock attendant, snoozer, bug.
Ever-attentive, she has a knack for monitoring the animals’ health and wellbeing, always catching on to the small details. Chore master and sheep physician, silly goose and human tease.
Pepper: Protector, hired gun, 24/7 Sweetie Pie.
Pepper is devoted to her sheep, and loyal to the core. Nicknames include: Peppa, Pepperina, Pookie, Pepperoni.