Live Oak Farm looks like the pastoral dream. Its seven pastures are the home to cattle, sheep, goats, chickens and turkey, all of heritage breeds. Allison's father started the farm two years ago in an effort to pass down the farming experience to his grandchildren. Today, Allison and her husband manage the farm and are making large strides to change the way agriculture is performed and looked at in South Carolina.
     In raising their livestock, Charles and Allison Schaum are also working to preserve rare breeds of livestock. This concept spilled over into an even larger mission, when the Schaums took the opportunity to acquire 17 of only 200 endangered San Clemente goats in 2007. These goats now live in a wooded lot, to mimic their natural habitat, and have taken to breeding very well. The Schaums have taken a hands-off approach with most of their animals, as it allows the breeds to maintain their natural integrity, without the impact of domestication. This process has proven highly successful by letting these animals thrive through their own natural regulation. Of the 11 Red Devon cows currently on the farm, there is only one bull, and so far, he's happy to keep it that way. This impressive bull is the pride of the farm - he is massive. And his offspring are incredibly beautiful and healthy.
      Another awesome way the Schaums are improving local agriculture is through the use of a pasture rotation system for their poultry that is both humane and sustainable. The key to this system is the egg-mobile, a chicken coop on wheels that allows the layers to move freely across the pasture for fresh grass without disturbing their eggs. The egg-mobile also makes the retrieval of eggs much easier for the Schaums and much less stressful to the birds.
      Live Oak Farms is Certified Naturally Grown and offers rare-breed meat products as well as eggs and vegetables. They also package raw dog food, a popular seller due to its nutritional value and taste (dogs love it). In essence, supporting the Schaums is like supporting a new wave of agriculture in SC that will not only improve our food sources, but will also improve the sucess rate of heritage breeds, which are important in their own right.

Charles and Allison are in the process of opening a farm store to sell their products, and currently sell wholesale to restaurants and farm stores. You can also find their products at the Hub City Farmers' Market in Spartanburg.

Live Oak Farm is run by Charles and Allison Schaum as well as their four kids, and Homer the dog.