Good Food and Good People: A Journey to Organic Certification with Theodora Farms

In this episode, we’re joined by Jeff Adams, Manager of Theodora Farms in Godfrey, Illinois. Theodora is the first USDA-certified organic farm we’ve covered on the show. Jeff discusses the sustainable and innovative farming practices employed on their 30-acre property, their unique land management methods, overcoming soil challenges, adapting their business model towards sustainability and wholesale distribution, and the importance of work-life balance in farming. We also explore the impact of COVID on their business, their crop variety, and insights into the operations of their farm store.

Theodora Farms grows USDA Certified Organic vegetables and herbs for the Illinois Riverbend Region and St. Louis Metropolitan Area. Their onsite FarmStore is open to the public and stocked with fresh produce and other local food.

Most people only see the beautifully packaged, final food products at farmer’s markets and specialty grocery stores, but the Tangled Taproot podcast will showcase unique stories from small-scale midwestern farmers, entrepreneurs, and other thought leaders in regenerative agriculture. Guests will share their successes, challenges, and future goals for their own companies and for the sustainable farming industry. The podcast is brought to you by St. Louis-based sustainable food startup Mylk and Hummus, and hosted by M & H Founder John Cowan, Kitchen Manager and Recipe Developer Christin Jameson, and Jackson. 

Founded in 2020 by John Cowan, Mylk and Hummus makes on-the-go, chickpea-based snacks that focus on flavorful hummus varieties and ready-to-drink plant-based lattes. Mylk and Hummus products nourish the physical and mental endurance needs of today while considering environmental goals for the future. At Mylk and Hummus, plant-based food is made with ingredients proudly sourced through sustainable and regenerative agriculture where farming principles and practices enrich soils, restore watersheds, and lead to healthy ecosystems. The company operates on these principles to significantly reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to the reversal of global trends in climate instability, habitat loss, and the vitality of the natural world.

Discussion Points:

• Overview of Theodora Farms' sustainable practices and land management
• Farm manager Jeff Adams discusses overcoming soil challenges
• Theodora Farms' transition from CSA model to wholesale distribution
• Insight into the farm's diverse crop variety and cultivation
• Impact of COVID on Theodora Farms' business model 
• Importance of work-life balance for the farm crew
• Discussion with Adelynn, the Field Frep Coordinator at Theodora
• Insight into the farm store's wide variety of local products
• The historical timeline and community events at Theodora Farms
• Transition from conventional farming to USDA-certified organic farming
• Exploration of small-scale farming and soil health
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