My name is Brittany Cole Bush and Iʼm a 28 year old self-deemed modern day
shepherdess– of animals, people and projects. I am the project manager of Star Creek
Co. Land Stewards, a contract grazing outfit in the Bay Area of California where we use
prescription grazing with sheep and goats as as land management tool.
Our grazing programs are designed to meet the goals of our various types of projects,
from public agencies such as the East Bay Regional Parks and Santa Clara Parks and
Recreation to private land owners to reduce fire hazard, to manage vegetation, and to
build soil to encourage the growth of desirable plants, perennial grasses and wild
flowers.
My work with Star Creek Co. Land Stewards began while I was working on a Bachelors
degree at the University of California, Santa Cruz, developing an Independent Major
titled Sustainable Design and Community Development. My studies took me from
studying the built environments of ancient civilizations to sustainable agricultural
practices and I forged ahead in the New Agrarian movement following my heart and
personal mission to navigate how modern day folks may come to know, love and
respect the natural environment and itʼs complex and interconnected systems through
the vehicle of good, real food.
My first ranch work experience was through taking photo documentation of the grazing
efforts at Star Creek Ranch in Aromas, CA in the hills of Santa Cruz county, where the
Owner Pete Pulis wanted to illustrate that through careful and specific managed grazing
efforts, he could transform the landscape away from the encroaching shrubs into what
were once perennial grass lands. After a decade of diligent grazing practices,
experimenting from year to year, the efforts truly have proven to be a success and I was
the gal documenting years of transformation. It didnʼt take me long to become a
believer in how we, as stewards of the land and animals can work with their systems to
transform landscapes into vibrant, healthy, bio diverse and rich ones while raising a
healthy herd of animals. From learning of the soil types, water systems, plant
communities both native and invasive I was able to gain a knowledge basis of the work
we do now.
We now are contracted annually to graze over 400 acres for about 6 months out of the
year in land stewardship and fire hazard reduction programs in Californiaʼs Bay Area.
We raise Fall and Spring lamb to be sold for meat and we are currently investigating
different ways to bring our product to the local market at a scale that will be
economically feasible for our operation.
I was born and raised in the quickly developing regions of Southern California. I often
wondered how this rapid development could also foster rich culture, like the vibrant and
colorful culture I experienced visiting below the border into Mexico. I later came to
realize that sustainable development neednʼt solely be in the hands of Urban Planners,
Architects and Public Agents but also those who steward the wild on the periphery of
our urban and suburban corridors. Telling the story of these wild and managed lands
through the work the animals as land management tools as well as a healthy and
sustaining source of food I believe is the way I am able to contribute to the New
Agrarian movement, new economies and the encouragement of healthy people, animals
and lands.
