Kinloch Farm Regenerative Leather
Kinloch Farm Regenerative Leather
Official Edible Partner
SPECIAL SPONSORED EDITION
Encompassing 3,000 acres of protected forest and farmland in Piedmont, Kinloch Farm pursues regenerative and adaptive management principles, operating at the intersection of agriculture and conservation.
Sustainable Farming
Regenerative farming promotes biodiversity and focuses on the health of a landbase for generations, not just season to season. Kinloch promotes biodiversity in all facets, from planting native species, to focusing on providing abundant habitats to birds, pollinators, and other wildlife. Their historic line of Aberdeen Angus cattle have been bred to consume Virginia forages and thrive symbiotically within the grassland system. The grazing herd regenerates the land by improving soil microbiology, increasing water retention, storing carbon, and promoting a diversity of forages.
In line with their mission to farm sustainability, Kinloch believes in using the whole animal once harvested. At small abattoirs, hides are most often disposed of, doing a disservice to the animal, and adding excess material to our landfills. With a little work and planning, Kinloch turns what is otherwise a wasted material, specifically hides, into beautifully crafted products utilizing partners within their region.
Kinloch cures the hides of the animal and then Pergamena Tannery, in New York, performs a vegetable tan process to turn the cured hides into leather. Vegetable tanning utilizes plant derivatives that provide natural tannins instead of a more common and chemically laden chromium tanning, which utilizes very hash chemicals and is harmful to the environment and surrounding communities. Pergamena has been in the Meyer family in continuous operation, albeit in different countries, since 1550.
The tanned hides are then sent to Larkins in Marshall, VA to create one of a kind Kinloch Regenerative Leather pieces that include wallets, key chains, bags, clutches, book marks, journal covers, and more. These pieces make for perfect holiday gifts, honoring the land, the animal, and age-old processes.
