About Us: The Farm-to-Table Chef & The Seasonal Farmer
We’re Kirsten and Don—a farm-to-table chef and a seasonal farmer creating a Pure Simple Farm Life in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Our Lives:
Kirsten prepares foods that honor the land and the body, weaving together nutritional healing, seasonal abundance, and a touch of intentional cooking. Her passion also extends to creating botanicals, non-toxic home scents, and intentionally handmade gifts using clean ingredients, many of which come directly from the field, farm, forest, and garden.
Don is a lifelong grower and steward of the land, known for his deep-rooted care for both plants and animals. He believes in raising livestock with the philosophy that each one should live their best life—free to express natural behaviors, experience comfort, and thrive with minimal stress. For over 45 years, Don has also carried a deep passion for making maple syrup, tapping trees, and tending fire with the same patience and care he brings to all his work.
In partnership with Fox Paw Farm Market, Don is now lending his wisdom and work ethic to the cultivation of a vibrant market garden—an extension of his land stewardship that brings fresh, nutrient-rich produce to the community. Every bed reflects the same intentionality: soil health, regenerative practices, and reverence for nature. Whether it’s heirloom tomatoes or medicinal herbs, Don tends the garden with quiet devotion, nurturing plants that nourish both body and spirit.
His dedication extends to handcrafts and hard-won skills, including chainsaw chain, tool, and knife sharpening, offering practical service and precision to the local community.
Together, we believe in regenerative farming, clean food, ethical practices, and embracing old wisdom through self-sufficiency. We use what we grow and raise—not only for nourishment, but to strengthen our soil, fuel our creativity, and support our community. We’re committed to moving away from a culture of convenience and unchecked consumption. Instead, we choose—and offer—products that are made with intention, sourced close to the land, and designed to last.
Follow our journey as we cultivate connection, explore intentional living, and share recipes, tools, and teachings from our ever-evolving patch of earth.
Farm
We’re also learning how to feed our animals right, keeping their diets soy-free, non-GMO, and as natural as possible. It’s important to us that they’re healthy from the inside out. We believe that what goes into our animals (and us) matters, and that real nutrition starts with clean, honest food. And just like everything here, it all loops back into the land—we use what the animals give to help build better soil and keep the cycle going strong.
Field
Don is applying permaculture practices to build healthier, more balanced ecosystems across the farm—using compost, crop covers, and rotational strategies to enrich the soil. These methods not only improve nutrition for the animals but also create stronger, more resilient gardens. It’s all about working with nature to grow food that’s truly nourishing from the ground up.
Looking to the Future
In this journey of eating clean, we are eliminating the toxins we were eating, generally consumed from eating processed foods. We are also eliminating the daily exposure to toxins in our environment. External toxic exposures, such as cleaning products, candles, laundry products, and other chemicals, find their way into homes every day. Our regenerative farming practices also take the place of chemicals and artificial supplements in the garden. We will be sharing natural alternatives that you can use in your homes in place of store-bought products.
We believe in clean, intentional living and food responsibility. Follow us and we will take you along and share what we have learned. We will also be sharing what we are learning on this adventure of self-sustainability.
-Don & Kirsten
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