Hi, my name is Randy. I am the owner/operator of Souder Station Farm in Winterport, Maine. I started my farm in 2010 after returning home from active duty with the US Army’s 82nd Airborne.
Integrating back into civilian life was not easy. I didn’t notice it when I first got out. I became a bit of a recluse. Starting eating junk all the time, drinking always, never working out. Basically just lots of bad decisions that led to always feeling shitty, both physically and mentally. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was lacking purpose and direction and a semblance of community again.
In the fall of 2011, I was blessed with the birth of my son, Nathaniel. My perspective pertaining to all aspects of my life changed in an instant it feels like. My focus became dialed in to not just wanting a healthy lifestyle for myself, but also for my family.
I had a ton of questions:
“What do you feed a newborn?”
“ What ingredients are in baby food?”
“Where does it come from?”
“What the hell is BPA?
These questions and more soared through my head while trying to clean myself up. I knew I needed to provide the best opportunity I could for my son and not continue on feeling sorry for myself.
With a desire for more self reliance I grew a small garden. Despite the lack of farming experience, I just started.
I started small. Self reliant homesteading kinds of things.
I planted a garden and purchased several chickens. Then raised a few laying hens for fresh eggs and meat chickens for the freezer. They blended well with the fields and forests around the farm. Shortly after, honeybees arrived to provide pollination, excitement, and sweetness. Tapping Maple trees for syrup in the winter. Before I knew it, the garden had grown to include a four season greenhouse.
About that time, the piglets arrived.
A couple piglets turned into a herd.
The herd grew and before I knew it there were seven sows and piglets everywhere.
I was hooked, and back on track with life.
Today, Souder Station Farm is primarily focused on being the best pasture based pig farm in the world. Nate has taken over the laying hens and sells eggs to our wonderful customers. We still keep a small garden and the bees, but they’re for personal interests and fun.
We’ve since found it’s much more rewarding for everyone to enlist the help of our farming friends who do something better than us,and together that sense of community has returned.
Our family, friends and customers strive for a healthier lifestyle. The root of our health starts with our food choices.
You will find the highest of quality, humanely raised, and ecologically sustainable foods here at Souder Station Farm.
If I would not give it to my son, I would not give it to you.
That’s a promise.
Together we can make true changes within ourselves and each other. I share this great opportunity daily with my son, and we welcome you on our journey to become Happy, Healthy, and Strong.
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