By Michelle M. Sharp, Founder and Content Creator of Meet the Minnesota Makers
Alex Green and Vanessa Gillman are the hardest working lazy people you’ve ever met. 
That’s why Alex and Vanessa believe in the power of regenerative agriculture.
“See, I have you listening now,” laughs Alex. “Once you finally convert your way of farming to regenerative practices, you rely on the system that’s already there of Mother Nature doing what it’s developed over millennia. Then the whole process is lazy, because you just let nature do its thing. It’s already figured out.”
Alex and Vanessa, along with their budding baby naturalist Perrine, steward the 68 acres of land that make up Windhaven Farm. At Windhaven they raise eggs, chickens, and miniature grass-fed Hereford cattle following regenerative practices in central Minnesota, near St. Cloud.
FROM HOBBY FARM TO SMALL BUSINESS
Vanessa’s parents, Deb and Jerry, purchased the farm in 1994. They sowed the foundation for a sustainable farmstead. Deb and Jerry were early adopters of sourcing green energy such as solar panels, a windmill generator, and groundwater heat pumps.
Alex and Vanessa are in the midst of a transition from a hobby farm to a small business serving more of their local community. Now a fixture at the Annandale Farmers Market, Alex and Vanessa welcome everyone to visit the farm. They are eager to share how raising all their animals outdoors improves the welfare of the animals themselves, increases the biodiversity of their soil, and, ultimately, provides a healthy and delicious product for 
their customers.
“I love it when people tell me that our eggs are the best they’ve had,” smiles Vanessa. “I’m proud of that. I’m a proud egg mama, a proud chicken mama, and a proud beef mama. There’s pride in making this good food possible and having enough to share with others.”
The decision to transition from a hobby farm to a small business is, in large part, a question of economics. “We want to keep this land in agriculture, to protect it from building development,” shares Vanessa. “We wanted to keep the beautiful trout stream. We needed to find a way to help the land pay for itself.”
As a part of their five year plan, Alex and Vanessa are working with the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Stearns County Soil and Water to implement multi-species rotational grazing. Securing an Environmental 
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) grant and an AGRI Livestock Investment Grant from MDA provide support for Windhaven to determine the smartest ways to integrate conservation into their working pastures. An additional grant from the Conservation Corp enables Windhaven to restore the bank of their beloved trout stream.
READY TO EAT LOCAL?
Windhaven Farm raises rotationally-grazed, grass-fed, Miniature Hereford cattle, and offers both custom processed shares as well as 
individually-packaged retail cuts. Deposits are now open to reserve their 2025 custom processed beef shares.
Every summer they raise and process two varieties of chicken for meat; Cornish Cross broilers, which are the fast-growing breed typically found in the supermarket with distinctively robust breast meat, and various Heritage Breeds—slower growing birds with a richer taste and more dark meat per pound.
Individually packaged beef cuts including filet mignon, T-bone and skirt steaks, chuck roasts, and specialty cuts are currently available in addition to the two breeds of chickens, and eggs sold by the dozen.
Visit www.windhaven-farm.com to place an order and learn more about Vanessa and Alex’s practices and priorities for themselves and their animals.
Contact Alex at alex@windhaven-farm.com and Vanessa at nessa@windhaven-farm.com
Follow their online adventure on Instagram and Facebook.
Visit meettheminnesotamakers.com or follow @meettheminnesotamakers on Facebook and Instagram to discover the farmers and innovators working to strengthen 
Minnesota’s local food networks. Meet the Minnesota Makers is a news site that connects you to the local food, farms, artists and artisans that make Minnesota thrive.
This farm feature is published in partnership with Greener Pastures.
Read the full article on the Greener Pastures website. Greener Pastures is a blog, community, and activism hub in the upper midwest here to make everyday support of humane, sustainable agriculture easy and seamless with your lifestyle.
Photography by Sarah Carroll of Greener Pastures
