Regenerative Farming
Where Land Heals & Food Nourishes
Poppy Ridge is a 185 acre regenerative farm raising grass-fed lamb & dairy sheep on the Central Coast of California. No grain, no chemicals, no shortcuts.
Our Story
A Lifetime of
Listening to the Land
I am Brieanne Rice, co-owner and the face of Poppy Ridge. My passion for rotational grazing began in the 1980s when I was just 6 years old. In 2005, my husband Eric and I started urban homesteading in LA County, and when the economy crashed in 2008, we sold everything, packed a travel trailer, bought 4 goats, and moved to Lake Elsinore to begin our real farming journey.
At Poppy Ridge, we manage 185 acres of overgrown oak forest with sheep — the "golden hoofed animal." We discovered that with proper management, sheep bring regeneration faster and more efficiently than cows or goats.
Our vision extends far beyond selling food. We want to teach others that it's possible — and essential — to grow food without destroying the land. We dream of making Poppy Ridge a healing sanctuary through community, connection, rest, and nourishment.
185
Acres Managed
20+
Years Farming
0
Chemicals Used
From Our Flock to Your Table
Our Products
Grass-Fed Lamb
$10 / lbOur Dorper flock grazes on hundreds of plant species year round. This is the best lamb you'll ever taste — raised as nature intended, with zero grain and no shortcuts.
- ✓ Sold by the whole and half
- ✓ Professionally cut and wrapped
- ✓ Local pick-up or delivery (within 50 miles)
- ✓ Seasonal availability — primarily July
Dairy Lambs
$500Raise your own dairy from our radiantly healthy flock of East Friesian sheep. Easy, fun, and incredibly rewarding — dairy sheep will transform your homestead.
- ✓ Exceptional grazing genetics
- ✓ Excellent dairy genetics
- ✓ Lambs stay on dam 3–4 months
- ✓ 6 months of flock mentoring included
Book: Radiant Dairy Sheep
Coming SoonTap into your inner shepherd and keep your flock robust and thriving throughout the year. Brieanne shares her tips and secrets developed over decades on the land.
- ✓ How to grow your own feed
- ✓ Maximize healthy milk production
- ✓ Use your flock to improve your land
- ✓ Grow more food for your family
Our Land
A Thriving Ecosystem
Rotational Grazing
Daily paddock moves mimic natural predator pressure, allowing pastures to rest and regenerate before re-grazing.
Silvopasture
Our 185-acre oak forest creates multi-layered, productive ecosystems that sequester carbon and support biodiversity.
Nutrient Cycling
Sheep manure feeds our compost, which feeds our soil. We make our own fertilizer — no outside inputs, no chemical shortcuts.
Natural Livestock Care
Zero western medicines, zero pesticides. We breed for health and function, caring for each animal..
Why Regenerative Matters
Not all farms are equal. Regenerative farming doesn't just sustain the land — it actively restores it. Every grazing rotation we implement leaves the pasture more diverse, the soil more alive, and the ecosystem more resilient than before.
Our animals graze on hundreds of plant species year round, producing nutrient-dense meat and milk that reflects the richness of the land beneath their hooves. You can taste the difference.
Whether you buy from us or not, we want everyone to understand what regenerative food production means — and why seeking it out matters for your health and our shared planet.
Testimonials
Kind Words from Customers
"
Poppy Ridge lamb is melt in your mouth delicious. My husband and I have been enjoying Poppy Ridge lamb on a regular basis for several years and it has never disappointed us, no matter the cut of meat or how it is cooked. Aside from the taste, we feel especially good about consuming Brieanne's lamb because of how it is raised. Lamb doesn't come higher quality than what is raised at Poppy Ridge. The grass is luscious and Brieanne has studied the nutritional attribute of every seed planted and why the lamb craves the pasture in which they roam. Brieanne is careful to not overgraze and spends much time moving lambs to fresh pasture on a daily basis. Living on one of the most remote properties on the Central Coast of California, Brieanne has to protect her sheep from countless predators. She does this with her guardian dogs and electric fencing. I cannot recommend Brieanne's lamb more highly.
Lindy Birkholz
Jersey Joy Farm
"
Brieanne is wise and intuitive beyond her years with regard to silvopasture, land management, permaculture, and animal husbandry. She has taught me to have my animals work for me; for example using my sheep and cattle to plant seed, my pigs to root and till rugged or overgrown terrain, and my chickens to work and till the compost pile. She has commented that the animals are happier when they have a job and I have witnessed that to be true. She has helped us with species specific behavioral problems with our dairy cow, Great Pyrenees guardian dogs, etc. Brieanne has taught me the importance of specific minerals for our animals, proper grazing height for pastures, and a multitude of other topics including: mushroom farming, use of fodder trees, fermentation, and more.Most importantly, Brieanne inspires me to get in touch with my animals and the land and return to traditional, intuitive, natural farming.
Candy Welch
Haven Hill Ranch
"
What a joy to have access to the world's best lamb! I've been up to Poppy Ridge farm and the lambs and sheep wander on extensive acreage, eating beautiful green grass and living a happy life. It's kind of a miracle that nothing but green grass and fresh water, plus the farmer's care, creates this wonderful meat. I especially love making hearty stews to enjoy every last bite.
Thea Bodger
"
I was lucky to get a leg of lamb from Poppy ridge farm! It was amazing and was perfectly packaged with a firm perfect texture with nice marbling. We also got an amazing recipe from her which turned out delicious. The cooked leg came out rich with a perfect slight earthy flavor. My 5 year old son ate a whole portion and then asked for more- he approved!! Thank you Breanne and family for supplying us with this clean delicious meat!
Gillian Gonzales
Farm Consulting
& Education
Eric and Brieanne bring a rare combination of skills to every consulting engagement. Eric holds a Permaculture Design Certification and is a master of heavy equipment, solar power design & installation, and permaculture site design. Brieanne specialises in silvopasture design, rotational grazing planning, pasture plant identification, and dairy animal management — including how to integrate livestock across your entire food system.
Our consulting services are available at $50/hour with a one hour minimum per session.
Rotational Grazing Planning
Customised paddock systems for your acreage, livestock type, and land healing goals.
Silvopasture Design
Integrating trees, shrubs, and livestock into profitable, ecologically rich systems that get better every year.
Permaculture & Site Design
Eric's PDC expertise and heavy equipment mastery transforms underutilised land into a thriving homestead or farm.
Livestock Analysis & Integration
Dairy strategies, pasture plant identification, and integrating chickens, pigs, and turkeys into a closed-loop system.
Homesteading Workshops
Hands-on classes: butchering, milking sheep, fermentation, mushroom farming, fodder trees, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is your lamb available? +
Most of our lamb is ready in July every year, but sometimes we have some available outside of that time. Please reach out if you're interested and we'll let you know current availability.
How long do you let your dairy lambs stay on mom? +
Our lambs stay on their dam for 3–4 months, as we believe this helps the ewe's udder formation later on and ensures the lamb develops a strong immune foundation from natural milk.
Are your products organic? +
Yes — we never, ever use any chemical pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers on our land. When we supplement with hay in the off-season, we only purchase no-spray hay from a trusted local rancher and friend.
Are your dairy sheep purebred? +
No — and intentionally so. We don't place value on purebred or designer livestock because we breed for health and function rather than breed papers. Health issues, behavioral issues, and metabolic problems run rampant in the ag world, and we breed them out by acting as nature's predators: culling any traits we deem unhealthy or detrimental to purpose.
Do you offer delivery? +
Yes! Local pick-up is always available, and delivery is available for a fee within a 50-mile radius of our Central Coast California location. Reach out to discuss delivery options for your area.
Let's Connect
Whether you're ordering lamb, acquiring a dairy lamb, booking a consultation, or simply curious — we'd love to hear from you.
Send a Message
We typically respond within 1–2 business days.