From Dung Beetles to Clean Streams: Weslin Farms Works to Heal the Land and Protect the Soil
From Dung Beetles to Clean Streams: Weslin Farms Works to Heal the Land and Protect the Soil
This 4th of July, celebrate true independence by choosing local farms that put water quality first.
When Caitlin and Wes watch their pigs wallowing contentedly in cool mud under the North Carolina sun, they're witnessing more than just happy animals—they're seeing a thriving ecosystem at work. At Weslin Farms in Saxapahaw, every oink, bleat and flutter of wings tells a story of regenerative agriculture that's healing both land and water.
"Sometimes when you're walking around the farm and you look at the pigs laying around, I'm like, man, I could be a pig," laughs Wes, describing their "pig oasis" where animals exhibit natural behaviors far removed from the concrete slabs of industrial operations.
From Monoculture to Biodiversity
The transformation of Weslin Farms from an overgrown pine plantation to diverse habitat demonstrates the power of thoughtful disturbance. What was once "really dense, overgrown stand of pines" with "only ticks and chiggers" now hosts bobwhite quail, diverse bird populations and thriving edge habitats. "The amount of birds and animals that have shown up is just incredible," Caitlin marvels. The pigs play a crucial role also, as ecosystem engineers, creating the kind of controlled disturbance that many native species need to thrive.
“Pigs on pasture have the potential to cause serious disturbance. You don’t have to be around them long to see how quickly they can make a mess! That understanding shapes our system of rotating pigs through paddocks to spread out their impact, using swales and natural filtration to protect waterways and focusing their activity in areas of the farm that can benefit from that disturbance. It’s a big part of how we approach stewardship of both the land and the watershed.”
Their approach to buffers—maintaining undisturbed zones around their pond and intermittent streams—ensures that beneficial disturbance stays where it's wanted while protecting sensitive water areas.
We All Need Dung Beetles
One of the most delightful revelations from Weslin Farms involves some unlikely heroes: dung beetles. "Every time we see a dung beetle, we're like, yes!" Caitlin said with a grin. These industrious insects are key players in the farm's water protection strategy.
By selecting hardy, parasite-resistant Gulf Coast sheep—a breed descended from colonial-era feral sheep—the farm rarely needs to deworm their flock. This matters because deworming medication makes manure toxic to dung beetles. Without these chemicals, dung beetles thrive, digging holes and carrying nutrients deep into the soil rather than letting them wash into nearby creeks..
"That gets the nutrients down deeper into the soil instead of when it rains, it just washes into the creeks," Wes explains. It's a perfect example of how working with natural systems creates multiple benefits.
Designing Water into the Landscape
Wes brings his landscape architecture background from NC State to the farm in terms of their water management. The farm features an intricate system of swales—shallow channels that slow and filter water flow across the property. "Our goal is that no water leaves our property without running through a series of natural filter systems," he says.
These swales serve dual purposes in their climate. Often used in arid regions to capture precious rainfall, here they intercept nutrients and sediment, giving them a longer journey through natural filters before reaching waterways. "Instead of leaving the property by the shortest route possible, they have to go on this long journey," Wes describes.
Caitlyn says the results are visible: "There's so many frogs along that swale. The frog eggs are crazy."
Making Sustainable Affordable
Perhaps most importantly, Weslin Farms proves that regenerative agriculture doesn't have to be elitist. They participate in the Bethlehem Farmers Market where SNAP benefits are doubled, and they donate near-expiration products to the local food bank.
"We're trying to strike a balance between doing things ethically, producing nutrient-dense, delicious food that people can still afford," Caitlin explains. While they've considered organic certification, they prioritize keeping their products accessible while maintaining high environmental and animal welfare standards.
Your Independence Day Choice
This Fourth of July, as you plan your barbecue, consider the true meaning of independence. Every dollar spent on local, regeneratively-raised meat is a vote for clean water, healthy soil, thriving wildlife and animals that live as nature intended.
Weslin Farms represents just one example of the growing movement of farmers throughout our region who are choosing practices that heal rather than harm. From rotational grazing that builds soil health to natural breeding programs that reduce chemical dependencies, these agricultural pioneers are proving that farming can enhance rather than degrade our shared environment.
When you buy from farms like Weslin or dine at restaurants like The Eddy (also in Saxapahaw) that source from local regenerative operations, you're not just getting superior meat—you're supporting a vision of agriculture that heals rather than harms. Also, you're invited to see these practices in action! Weslin opens their farm every Friday from 4-8 PM all summer long - their farm store is open, the grill is hot and they've got hammocks, a stocked fishing pond and lambs and piglets for people to meet.
The choice is clear: support the farms that are protecting our shared water and soil resources. Seek out the farmers in your community who are implementing regenerative practices—ask about their water protection methods, their approach to animal welfare and their commitment to soil health. Get to know the people growing your food and the land they're stewarding.
Whether it's swales that filter runoff, breed selection that reduces medication needs or rotational systems that support biodiversity, these practices represent agriculture's future. That future depends on consumers who consider the true cost of food, including its impact on the water we all share.
As Wes puts it: "The animals on our land are improving the value of our land and improving the value of our neighbor's land." That's the kind of independence worth celebrating—and worth seeking out in your own community.
Learn more about supporting local farms and watershed protection at hawriver.org.
You can find Weslin Farms:
Farm Store: Fridays 4-8 PM,
1113 Moore's Chapel Cemetery Rd. in Graham
Bethlehem Farmers Market: Tuesdays 4-7 PM
Saxapahaw General Store (retail case)
Online ordering with local delivery available
