Our Farmers
Meadowlark Farm & Mill
Meadowlark Farm and Mill, under the stewardship of Halee and John Wepking, continues the legacy of Paul Bickford in advancing organic and regenerative agricultural practices. The farm is committed to regenerating the land and providing high-quality food to their community, fostering sustainable farming and biodiversity. Meadowlark Farm and Mill is a 1,000 acre certified organic of grain and grass-fed cattle farm. Additionally, John and Halee Wepking operate the Meadowlark Community Mill, which purchases regionally grown grains from other organic farmers in the Driftless Area to produce thousands of pounds of flour weekly.
The Healing Soils Foundation awarded its first ever Paul Bickford Legacy Grant, under its Healthy Soils, Healthy Grains initiative, to Meadowlark Farm and Mill. The grant, totaling $145,000, will support Halee and John in the continuation and strengthening of the organic and regenerative agricultural practices implemented on their 1000-acre organic grain and livestock farm.
Salvatierra Farms
Salvatierra Farms is an evolving 75-acre farm founded by Regi and Amy Haslett-Marroquin that seeks to become a place to learn and experience first hand the beauty of regenerative poultry production in a permaculture model as well as connect people to the land through live community events. As part of a larger regional and national ecosystem, Salvatierra Farms will operate as a central regenerative poultry demonstration and training farm, highlighting indigenous understandings of regenerative agriculture and supporting indigenous farmers in earning a livelihood through practices that respect communities and the earth.
Healing Soils Foundation supported the construction of three poultry production units at Salvatierra Farms that will be at the heart of the regenerative model.
Locavore Farm
At Locavore Farm, Rachael and Chris Jones have made it their mission to bring healthy food and community to Kankakee County. They have operated a CSA program and hosted dining events on their 5-acre regenerative farm since 2015. In 2022 , the Jones family purchased Sumac Creek Farm to expand their Dine on the Land events, educational experiences as well as overnight retreat, glamping and farmstay offerings.
Alongside Potlikker Capital, Healing Soils Foundation helped to provide grant funding for critical infrastructure projects and building repairs in order to obtain the occupancy permit for the new farm site.
Sharing Our Roots
Sharing Our Roots in Northfield, Minnesota advances a resilient agriculture system that demonstrates the power to heal our lands, nourish our communities and prepare aspiring farmers. Given that immigrants, people of color and low-income families are disproportionately affected by lack of access to affordable healthy food, Sharing Our Roots supports farmers and communities in growing nourishing foods in a way that restores soil and water.
Healing Soils Foundation supported Sharing Our Roots by helping to pay off the current land mortgage and to prepare to secure the additional land needed to expand its mission and impact.