This innovative couple raises Animal Welfare Approved pigs in Maple Hill, North Carolina. They are truly an example to other farmers in the region, winning the North Carolina Small Farmers of the Year award in 2006 and 2008 in recognition of their extensive outreach efforts and their promotion of sustainable farming techniques. One example is their use of rotational grazing, which is an integral part of their holistic approach to farming. Mary says,

“We don’t have to buy fertilizer-[the animals] put what we need into the soil.”

Nelson and Mary have also helped launch NC Willing Workers, a 12-member African American cooperative whose goal is to raise awareness of sustainable farming. Mary is currently the president of the nonprofit cooperative. Based in Maple Hill, North Carolina, the James family markets their Animal Welfare Approved pork through a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, area restaurants and word of mouth. They are seeking organic certification, as well as Animal Welfare Approval for the other species on their farm. Their goals are to diversify their operation even more, and to share their knowledge of sustainable farming with the next generation.