Durango's James Ranch, a weekly participant in the Telluride Farmers Market, offering all-natural, grass-finished beef, is a generations-old establishment that truly represents the epitome of "family farming."

Back home on their 450-acre ranch 10 miles north of Durango, the James Ranch clan raises and sells succulent grass-fed beef – and all-natural Jersey Cow cheese, organic vegetables, fresh-cut flowers, and even ornamental spruce trees. The sprawling James family tree stretches wide across their acreage and deep into their land, with James family patriarch David and wife Kay as the roots of the tree, having operated the James Cattle Ranch since 1961. Their five children, four of whom now live on the ranch with their own families, comprise the branches of the James tree, with nearly every member of the James Ranch tribe operating their own sustainable enterprises borne of the very earth they all grew up on.

"Part of deal was that each of our kids had to have a separate business for themselves," explains David James, Sr. "Land is the common denominator that ties us all together, and we are all very conscious about our land being very healthy. We are very proud of all of our kids, and are so happy that our seven grandchildren are all growing up on the ranch and learning this way of life."

As James describes it, his grass-finished cattle enterprise is the start, and the heart, of the family's healthy James Ranch regimen. Not only does grass-fed beef have a high nutrient content: Raising cattle on grass instead of corn or grain assists with the evolution of healthy grasslands.

"When you raise cattle on grass, you help to create topsoil. In effect, you are emulating nature, as long as you don't overgraze, and if you do, you give that land plenty of time to rest and recover," explains James.

Going back to nature's earliest grazing patterns, where grazing animals moved every day or two and did not return to the same grazing location for at least 30 days, is the backbone of the James Ranch philosophy. Their immense ranch is broken up into a number of different zones, each of which is grazed for one-to-two days until the animals are moved to the next zone, not to return to the same zone for at least a month. This gives the grass ample time to re-grow, and also allows for abundant topsoil creation – which helps sustain our western grasslands.

Furthermore, no fertilizer or insecticides are used on any part of the James Ranch, because, as James explains, "We are always conscious of the microorganisms that live here – and by the way, [all-natural farming] makes great beef!"

David and Kay James' children have followed in their parents' footsteps and share their philosophy of caring for the land. Eldest daughter Jennifer and her family operate an organic vegetable garden near their house on the sprawling James Ranch. Jennifer James' 11-year-old daughter has already been initiated into family business, and sells her own organically grown, fresh-cut flowers alongside her parents at Durango's Farmers Market.

Eldest James son Danny is the curator of the family's dairy operation, running the James Ranch cheese business. Danny James says he uses the Jersey cow breed to craft his creamy cheeses because the breed is more likely to produce milk with a healthier balance of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids than any other breed of cow raised on grass alone. The Jersey cow cheeses are sold alongside the James Ranch beef at the Telluride Farmers Market.

James daughter Julie and her husband run the ranch's tree farm, which primarily produces ornamental spruce trees on their small, 16-acre corner of the property. Her brother Justin also lives on the ranch, but works in Durango as a restaurant owner where he often serves his family's grass-finished beef. Justin is also assisting his parents in creating a new smoked beef product (Serious Texas BBQ) that will soon hit the Telluride Farmers Market.

James Sr. stresses the importance and value of community farmers markets to businesses like his.

"If small, family-based agriculture is to survive, we must meet the consumer. We can't be bashful because the consumers are our cheerleaders, they let us know that they support our efforts for open space, family farming and sustainable agriculture."

Telluride consumers also support James Ranch's efforts at bringing grass-fed beef to our local tables, especially since grass-finished beef is a rare commodity around Telluride — as well as most of the country.

"It's a rare time to find cattle finished on grass, and it's a pretty big deal to be able to find it. We feel like we're making a difference here, because we can actually bring to Telluride something that no one else is bringing. We're happy as heck that Telluride can enjoy what we're offering!"

Look for the James Ranch stand at the weekly Telluride Farmers Market. For more information about the James Ranch, visit their website at <www.jamesranch.net>.