192. Fitness Meets Farming in the Ottawa Valley with Adam Phomin

192. Fitness Meets Farming in the Ottawa Valley with Adam Phomin

Author: Grazing Grass October 15, 2025 Duration: 1:19:16

In this episode, Cal talks with Adam Phomin from Hoof and Beak Farm in eastern Ontario, Canada. Adam shares his journey from fitness coach and gym owner to regenerative farmer, raising sheep, cattle, chickens, and llamas on his 100-acre farm. A first-generation farmer, Adam connects his passion for health and nutrition to raising his own protein and improving the land. He discusses starting from scratch, lessons learned fencing and grazing, using polywire for sheep, the role of llamas as guardians, and the importance of daily progress—both in farming and fitness. Adam also introduces his 5 AM Squat Club, a mindset and movement program he leads live each morning on YouTube.


Topics Covered

  • Transitioning from fitness and nutrition to regenerative farming
  • Building a 100-acre farm from hayed and degraded land
  • Starting with chickens and moving into Katahdin sheep
  • Breeding strategies and learning from experience
  • Grazing management with polywire and limited time
  • Lessons learned from predator pressure and livestock guardians
  • Sourcing and raising cattle for seasonal grazing
  • Marketing protein through his gym community
  • The 5 AM Squat Club: combining mindset, movement, and purpose
  • The importance of identity, consistency, and small daily steps

If you’re just getting started or balancing farming with another career, this episode is packed with relatable insights. Adam’s story proves you can build a regenerative operation from scratch—even without an ag background—by focusing on health, mindset, and progress over perfection. His fitness perspective offers a refreshing reminder that farmers are athletes too, and taking care of your body is key to taking care of your land.

Resources Mentioned

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Original Music by Louis Palfrey



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There’s a quiet revolution happening in the fields and pastures, one that ties the health of the soil directly to the health of a farm’s bottom line. Grazing Grass Podcast | Rotational Grazing, Soil Health & Profitable Livestock Farming is a part of that conversation, sitting down with the men and women who are putting regenerative principles into daily practice. Hosted by Grazing Grass, each episode feels like a candid chat across a fence line, moving beyond theory into the tangible details of managing livestock on grass. You’ll hear farmers recount their own journeys-what prompted their shift in thinking, the logistical hurdles of changing their operation, and the outcomes they’ve witnessed in their land and ledger books. A recurring segment called "Over Grazing" digs into the specific problems and hard-won lessons that come with this way of farming. This isn’t just a science or nature podcast; it’s a practical resource built on shared experience, aiming to strengthen a community where knowledge about profitable, grass-based systems is passed along openly. Tune in for honest stories that get to the root of what it means to work with the land.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Grazing Grass Podcast | Rotational Grazing, Soil Health & Profitable Livestock Farming
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