Welcome to Gone Country Farms

If you'd told me a few years ago that I'd be waking up at dawn with my two young sons to feed chickens, caring four our highland bull, and rescuing bee colonies from suburban walls, I probably would have said "sounds about right"—because the country life has always been calling me home.

Welcome to Gone Country Farms, our dream-turned-reality sustainable homestead nestled in the rugged hills of Dulzura, California in East County San Diego. This isn't just a farm; it's where I'm raising my boys—Brent (7) and Bohdyn (3)—teaching them the value of hard work, the joy of connecting with animals, and what it means to provide quality food for your family with your own two hands.

Why I Started

I've never been a city person. I've always been drawn to wide open spaces, dirt under my fingernails, and the honest work of tending to land and livestock. Growing up with animals taught me something precious: the deep satisfaction that comes from caring for other living things and the connection you feel when you truly understand where your food comes from.

No matter where life took me, I always found myself running back to the country. It's where I belong. It's where my boys belong.

I wanted to build something beautiful—a place where I could be self-sufficient and provide my family with real, quality food. Not food pumped full of hormones, antibiotics, and who-knows-what-else. I wanted to know that what we're eating came from animals that had amazing lives, raised with love and respect on our own land.

How It All Began: Chicken Math

Like so many homesteaders, it started innocently enough with chickens. You know the plan: "Just a few hens for fresh eggs." But anyone who's been down this road knows the truth—chickens are the gateway animal.

Before you know it, you're calculating coop space, researching heritage breeds, and convincing yourself that six chickens aren't really that different from twelve. And if you're going to have chickens, well, you might as well get a rooster. And some ducks. And maybe a few turkeys. That's just good sense, right?

That's what we call "chicken math"—and it's how a small backyard flock turned into a full-scale homestead with cattle, dairy goats, pigs, game birds, and over a dozen bee colonies. Turns out chickens really are a gateway drug.

Building Something Real

What started as a few birds has grown into something far bigger than I imagined. Every morning, Brent and Bohdyn help with chores—collecting eggs, filling water troughs, and learning to move quietly around the animals. They're growing up understanding that food doesn't just appear on a plate; it comes from hard work, patience, and respect for the land.

This farm isn't just about me. It's about building a legacy for my boys, teaching them skills that will serve them their whole lives, and creating a place where they can see the results of their labor in tangible, meaningful ways.

What We Do Now

Today, Gone Country Farms serves our local community in East County San Diego with a range of services and products:

Live Bee Removals in San Diego County: We provide humane bee removal and relocation services throughout East County San Diego. We safely remove bee colonies from homes and businesses, giving these vital pollinators a safe new home on our Dulzura farm.

Goat Grazing & Vegetation Management Services: Our herd provides eco-friendly land clearing in East County San Diego, reducing wildfire risk through targeted grazing. An environmentally sustainable alternative to heavy machinery and chemical herbicides for fire prevention and weed control.

Highland Cattle Breeding Services: Sampson, our gentle giant highland bull, and our quality bucks are available for stud services to help local ranchers and homesteaders in San Diego County improve their herds.

Farm-Fresh Products: From pastured chicken eggs and raw local Dulzura honey to handcrafted sourdough bread and pure beeswax candles, we offer premium farm products made with care right here on our sustainable homestead in East County San Diego.

Our Philosophy

At Gone Country Farms, we believe in doing things the right way—not the easy way. That means:

Sustainable practices that respect the land and prioritize soil health, biodiversity, and long-term stewardship.

Humane animal care where every creature—from Sampson the bull to our smallest chicken—is treated with dignity and respect. These animals deserve amazing lives, and we're committed to giving them exactly that.

Quality over convenience because I refuse to feed my family food that's been loaded with chemicals and raised in factory farms. We know our animals, we know our land, and we know our food is clean.

Community connection because farming isn't just about feeding ourselves; it's about feeding our neighbors and building resilience in our local food system.

Join Us on This Journey

This blog is where I'll share the highs, the lows, and everything in between. You'll find stories about our animals (they all have personalities, trust me), how my boys are learning to be little farmers, tips for aspiring homesteaders, recipes from our kitchen, and honest reflections on what it's really like to raise a family on a working farm in Southern California.

Whether you're a fellow farmer, a curious neighbor, or someone dreaming of your own homestead someday, I'm glad you're here. Pull up a hay bale, stay a while, and welcome to Gone Country Farms.