Marvin Ross
Age: 42.
Resides in: Dorchester.
Claim to fame: Restaurants across the Carolinas and Georgia source their pork from Ross’s ethically raised hogs at Peculiar Pig Farm. He also participates in hog slaughters, a centuries-old tradition among Black farming communities.
Pig out: Schedule catering from Ross’s Peculiar Pig Eats or order your own pork or beef straight from the farm at peculiarpigfarm.com.
Farm to table; pig to pork
There’s always been something about pigs.
“My grandfather had a farm,” says Marvin Ross. “He had everything. Every animal you could think of, he had. And I always took a liking to the pigs. And everybody asked me this question: ‘But why the pigs?’ I have no idea.”
Ross began his own farm on his grandfather’s land and named it Peculiar Pig Farm. Pigs, chickens, geese, cows and goats roam Ross’s 12-acre plot in Dorchester. After 14 years, Peculiar Pig has become a regular supplier of restaurants in the Carolinas and Georgia.
Ross’s family history of farming stretches back five generations, and many of his grandfather’s farming methods are still alive on his land.
“You know, my grandfather told me how to drive a tractor,” he says. “The same way he farmed, the same way I farm today. I learned what I know how to do from him.”
Ross continues to use his grandfather’s method of rotating grazing pens for the pigs. He also implements sustainable and ethical practices, such as sourcing feed from local grocery stores and breweries.
One of Ross’s goals is to maintain the traditions of Southern Black farmers. He participates in traditional hog slaughters, in which a large pig is butchered, cleaned and cooked. Almost none of the pig is wasted, and the resulting food is shared with the community. Ross views this tradition as crucial.
“It created a camaraderie in the community, where people work together,” he says. “And it’s self-reliant.”
He has plans to expand, too. One goal is to purchase a meat processor, which would allow the farm to be self-sufficient. Another is to replicate the farm’s model in other locations. Establishing more farm-to-table operations could help rural economies, Ross says.
“The most economical way to revive rural areas is to have a true farm-to-table concept,” he says. “And that way you can be self-sufficient and generate a living for your family.”