Meet the Farmers
To say that Michael Kilpatrick is a force in the farming world is a considerable understatement. His love affair with organic agriculture began in 2003, when he and his brother established the Kilpatrick Family Farm, bringing a highly diversified, year-round selection of vegetables to their community in upstate NY. Their business soon grew to several hundred acres with over 20 employees, selling produce to local and regional farmers markets, co-ops, wholesale buyers, and in a CSA program.
In 2012, Michael took a four-month leave to intern at Polyface Farm in Virginia. It was there that he met his wife, Savannah, and they married shortly after in 2013. The couple decided to move closer to Savannah’s family in Ohio, where they could raise their children and provide fresh, nutritious food to the southern Ohio region. Savannah is deeply passionate about toxin-free living, which extends to producing food organically and in ways that replenish the earth. The Kilpatrick family are growing nutrient-dense food that nourishes their customers, community, and their own growing family. Michael and Savannah have two kids, Charlotte and Simon, with a baby on the way.
Michael is a farmer who wears so many hats, you might wonder if he ever really needs a haircut. Growing Farmers, Co. is an online education company Michael started to help other farmers scale their businesses efficiently and strategically, and empower them for greater life balance. Michael also co-founded In The Field Consultants under the Growing Farmers platform, which is a consortium of farmers helping other farmers thrive with expert knowledge on sustainable, efficient, and profitable business practices.
In addition to growing fresh produce and other goods for the community, The Farm on Central serves as an educational training farm, where farmers can research and test innovative methods for sustainable, regenerative farming practices. Michael is also the host of the top rated Thriving Farmer Podcast, and leads the Thriving Farmer Summit series, which has been viewed by over 50,000 farmers worldwide. Michael believes that anyone can be a successful farmer if using the right tools and skills, which he teaches in the Small Farm University.
Being present and engaged in both the milestones and everyday moments in his kids’ lives is what drives Michael to do the work that he does. He is incredibly motivated to help other farmers streamline their farms and businesses to maximize their time with loved ones.
Regenerative & Sustainable Practices
Farming is more than just an occupation for Michael Kilpatrick and his family, it’s a way to ensure that only fresh, healthy food is served on their own kitchen table. They champion growing highly nutritious foods produced in lockstep with the natural environment, and practice this by:
- Growing food that benefits both human and ecological health by avoiding the use of pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides.
- Amending their soil with compost, rock dusts, and prebiotics to grow nutrient-dense fruits, vegetables, mushrooms and transplants. These amendments also enhance the ability for soil to sequester and store more atmospheric carbon.
- Encouraging the presence of beneficial insects, bees, and earthworm habitat for a thriving farm ecosystem.
- Planting cover crops and practicing no-till farming to reduce erosion and increase overall soil fertility.
