Just two people, working hard to feed our community, give back to the earth, and spend as much time in the sunshine as possible.
About our Land
StrongHeart Farms is a regenerative vegetable farm located on two rented plots of land in the St. Croix River Valley. We farm about 3 acres of tasty vegetables split between both locations. 2 acres of our farm is located on Big River Farms incubator program in Marine on St. Croix, and the other 1 acre is located just west of Taylors Falls. Both plots are cultivated in a market garden style so we can provide nutrient-dense, chemical-free produce to ourselves and the surrounding community. Check out our Values to learn more about our specific farming practices.
The 2 acres at Big River Farms is Certified Organic by MCIA. Our other plot is not Certified Organic, but all produce is raised under the organic standards. We prioritize raising food that is full of nutrients, flavor, and gives back to the soil and our earth’s ecological systems.
About the Farmers
Pearce
Pearce spent his childhood in the country just outside of Hutchinson, MN where he earned his Eagle Scout award and spent lots of time playing in the woods. In 2011, his family moved to Thailand where he graduated High School. He came back to the U.S. for college and graduated from St. Johns University in 2017 with an Environmental Studies degree. Immediately after graduation he worked as the Sustainability Fellow for SJU where he realized the office life just wasn’t for him. In search of a deeper connection with the land and work outside, he spent 2 1/2 years farming in Central Oregon. He completed the internship and apprenticeship program through the Rogue Farm Corps at Rainshadow Organics. When the midwest called him back, he road-tripped home with Eleanor to start their farm dreams where their roots are deepest.
Eleanor
Eleanor grew up in Minnetonka, MN. She spent her free time playing in the lake and practicing ballet. Eleanor also graduated with an Environmental Studies degree from the College of St. Benedict in 2018. She moved to Missoula, MT where she taught nature camps and field trips for kids for about 6 months. In the fall of 2018, Pearce brought her to Rainshadow Organics where she was hired to manage the outreach and communication streams on the farm. She learned how to manage a CSA, social media, website design, farmers markets, and learned lots of other farming skills. In the summer of 2020 she came back to the midwest with Pearce to pursue their dream of starting a farm together.
