about us
Who we are
Uphill Farmers is a humble two-person operation located in Chimacum, Washington, on the northeast edge of the Olympic Peninsula, on land leased as part of The Glendale Farm. Ren specializes in heritage turkeys and meat and fur rabbits, while Dimitri’s focus is on specialty geese and chickens. Together, the two of us have merged our passion for local agriculture, humane livestock husbandry, and accessible local foods to create Uphill Farmers. We pride ourselves on producing animals that are healthy, happy, high-quality, and with friendly temperaments.
We are proudly queer and trans and hope to demonstrate that agriculture is a more diverse field than many give it credit for and that unique perspectives can be a valuable asset to building the future of farming in a rapidly-changing world.
What makes heritage different?
To quote The Livestock Conservancy, “Rare farm animals represent an irreplaceable piece of earth’s biodiversity and offer incredible variety that may be needed for future farms – robust health, mothering instincts, foraging, and the ability to thrive in a changing climate. These farm animals are a vital part of ensuring food security for our planet – now and for the future."
Many of our modern-day farm animals have been bred - sometimes to extremes - to produce the most food at the lowest cost. This often sacrifices welfare, disease resistance, overall health, climate tolerance, and other desirable traits, as well as turning farm animal species into genetic monocultures. The future for these production-breed animals is not a sustainable one; they are not resilient in the face of epidemics, changing climate, and evolving farm methods. You can view Ren’s write up on heritage turkeys specifically on his Substack.
how to support our work
We are always in need of and grateful for financial or material contributions. Bulk grain, bedding, supplies for infrastructure, and more are welcome donations, including secondhand. Our work is mission-oriented, not profit driven, so financial contributions or infrastructure gifts are deeply appreciated and incredibly helpful.
Additionally, while we love our Glendale Farm community, we have faced land and housing instability for many years. We hope to eventually find farmland that we can live on and that can better meet our needs for biosecurity and infrastructure. If you are interested in land succession or a similar arrangement and think we may be a good fit for your space, please reach out through our contact page or social media.