Kelsey Love Zaavedra wearing our This Is Women's Work Tee
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Public Market Good's goal with these farmer features is to offer up our platform to amplify farmers' stories. We want to celebrate and champion farmers all across the globe and make their voices heard in the conversation around climate change and sustainability.
Being "ag-vocates" to us means advocating for the representation of all farmers, growers, and ranchers. Our hope is that #SustainabilityAgvocates fosters inclusivity and recognizing diversity within the farming community.
We are pleased to feature rancher Kelsey Love Zaavedra as our sixth #SustainabilityAgvocate. Kelsey Love Zaavedra runs Heirloomista Farm in Amador, MN.
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Tell us about your farm!
Heirloomista is a woman-owned, woman-run boutique farm. My mission is to heal the earth through agriculture and inspire people to engage with this planet in a meaningful way.
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How did you get into farming?
It started with a handful of seeds and a whole bunch of questions. After a few years of not being satisfied with the answers I was getting, I set off for the U.K. to get my degree in Biodynamic agriculture and horticulture. The rest is history!
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What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a farmer?
The biggest challenges I face as a farmer is the unpredictability that climate change brings in addition to an administration that denies it.
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What are your thoughts and beliefs on farming in the face of climate change?
As a biodynamic farmer, I approach things holistically and with systems. A huge driving force to how I operate in general and also how I build infrastructure and what the impact will be in the future. A better way to phrase this is being “climate prepared.” I need to act on it yesterday and get used to the inconveniences of it as I adapt now. What this looks like on my farm is being off-grid, seed saving, low tillage practices, no single-use plastics or packaging, and having fuel-efficient delivery vehicles. If I can do this, so can you!
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What are some misconceptions you hear about farming and agriculture when it comes to climate change that you'd like to address?
So many farmers think that these weather patterns are “just this year” and that it’s nothing to worry about. It’s terrifying to think that people actually brush this off as there is nothing differently we should or can be doing.
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What future are you farming for and how do you think your farm can make a difference?
I farm for an actual future. I want the coming generations to see and experience the beauty this planet has to offer. The connection to the natural world changes your being and to think about not having that is very scary. Our soil is our biggest asset and we need to protect and find ways to be better stewards to the planet. There is no Plan B. My farm makes a difference by the practices used. There are zero inputs of synthetics. I’m focused on crops being grown, not flown. I use my neighbor's manure for farm fertility, I save much of my seeds and sell all of my produce within 1 hour of the farm. Of course, there is always room for environmental improvement, but it’s always at the forefront of my mind when making decisions. I hope that I can be an example to others wanting to make positive change.
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Where can we follow along and support you?
Website: Heirloomista.com
Instagram: @heirloomista