At Stella Manor, our goal has always been to develop agricultural systems that heal the land while supporting healthy livestock. As the founder of Stella Manor and Deluisio Angus, I’ve spent the past several seasons experimenting with pasture mixes that provide long-term soil health, nutritional diversity for cattle, and year-round ecosystem benefits. This spring, I seeded a long-term herbal pasture using the Hayflower mix from Strictly Medicinal Seeds, custom-blended to fit our regenerative goals.
You can read the full technical breakdown of this project over at RegenerativeSeed.com, but below is a detailed overview of what we planted, why we planted it, and how it fits into our long-term grazing strategy.
Starting With a Medicinal Seed Base
The Hayflower Herbal Pasture Mix came packed with more than a dozen species — all 100% organically certified. Key components include:
- Timothy and oats for bulk forage and fast establishment
- Red and crimson clover as nitrogen-fixing legumes
- Chicory and plantain for deep-rooted mineral cycling and natural deworming properties
- Yarrow, chamomile, dandelion, and poppy for soil health, biodiversity, and pollinator attraction
This mix was seeded using a grain drill, along with organic rye and oats as cover crops to help establish the stand and protect bare soil during early growth.
Why I Added More Clover and Coneflower
While the original mix was strong, I wanted to ensure better nitrogen economy and year-round forage value, so I added extra red clover and alfalfa. These species not only fix atmospheric nitrogen — they also maintain high protein levels throughout the summer slump.
In addition, I incorporated a roadside band of echinacea (coneflower) to boost visual appeal and enhance pollinator activity. While aesthetics weren’t the main goal, having something that blooms prominently near the road offers a small way to engage the public in the values of regenerative farming.
Low-Input, Long-Term Design
This is not a seasonal pasture. It’s designed to stay in place for at least 5 to 10 years with no further soil disturbance. After the one-time tillage event to establish it, grazing cattle will maintain the system — cycling nutrients through manure, promoting regrowth through hoof action, and suppressing weeds through canopy competition.
By leveraging deep-rooted herbs and perennial legumes, this pasture should steadily increase organic matter, water infiltration, and soil microbial activity. And thanks to the biological nitrogen fixation, no synthetic fertilizer will be required — which aligns with our standards at both Stella Manor and Deluisio Angus.
The Role of Animals in Regenerative Systems
At Deluisio Angus, I focus on raising high-performance registered Black Angus cattle with elite maternal and carcass traits. These cattle aren’t just grazers — they’re active contributors to the land’s health. Rotational grazing through pastures like this allows us to support fertility, suppress weeds, and improve forage density year over year.
With careful planning, animal movement, and plant species selection, we aim to produce beef that’s as ethical and land-positive as it is profitable.
See More of This Project
If you’d like a deeper dive into the specific seed breakdown, establishment process, and long-term benefits of this herbal pasture, I’ve written a full piece on RegenerativeSeed.com.
This blog post — and others like it — are part of my ongoing effort to share real-world strategies that connect regenerative agriculture with profitable cattle operations. If you’re new to my work, feel free to explore my other writing at:
- StellaManor.com – Our home farm, focused on regenerative systems
- DeluisioAngus.com – Registered Angus cattle with elite maternal genetics
- Deluisio.com – Main site for updates, essays, and technology crossover
Cody Deluisio is a regenerative farmer and network engineer from Western Pennsylvania, committed to building resilient agricultural systems that work with nature — not against it.
