Nurturing Kinship: Just This Farm’s Restorative Work

Sustainability, conservation, and resilience aren’t just buzzwords at Just This Farm — they’re lived values. In this inspiring interview, Simply Living Member Kevin Eigel shares how he and his wife Marcia Miller are restoring native ecosystems, cultivating biodiversity, and educating others from their home base in western Franklin County, Ohio.

An Interview With Kevin Eigel and Marcia Miller for Simply Living

Catching Up With Kevin Eigel and Marcia Miller

• Kevin Eigel and his wife Marcia Miller are restoring native habitats on their local farm, formerly a certified organic farm called Just This Farm.
• Their approach to sustainability includes native plantings, renewable energy, seed saving, and reducing invasive species.
• Kevin views land conservation and ecological education as a vital form of community service and long-term resilience.

Restoring the Land: What’s Happening at Just This Farm

Q: Please tell me what you and your wife, Marcia, are up to these days on your farm. I understand you used the name “Just This Farm” when you were selling produce as an organic farmer. Tell us about this name.

“I was a full-time organic farmer from 2000–2008, and the name I gave to the farming operation was Just This Farm, which was a reflection of my background as a Zen Buddhist. In Zen, we accept reality as it is. That is how I came up with the name ‘Just This Farm.’ Every time I used the farm name I got to remember the wisdom of ‘just this’ as it is in the moment.”

“After my years of farming, I started Ecohouse Solar in 2008. Ecohouse Solar designed and constructed many solar electric systems in Central Ohio. I sold this company in 2022. Since then, Marcia and I have been actively trying to restore the land where we live in western Franklin County. We are trying to return the land back to what it was like before colonization and modern agriculture.”

“This has involved restoring a 100-acre wetland, planting 25 acres of native prairie and native plant gardens, and planting many native trees and bushes, including edible plants such as pawpaw, American persimmon, American plum, and hazelnut. We also work at removing the persistent invasive species, so they don’t compete with the native plants. We are also involved with conservation work at the Arc of Appalachia and the Nature Conservancy.”

A Philosophy Rooted in Reverence

Q: How would you describe your philosophy of sustainability? How does that show up in the day-to-day rhythms of the farm?

“We are trying to reset our relationship with the plants and animals, to consider them as our relatives. In the indigenous worldview, the plants and animals are our older brothers and sisters. They have been here long before the humans showed up, so we want to treat them with respect and learn from them.”

“We think about what will benefit the insects, birds and wildlife and the native plants. We want to undo some of the damage our industrial, profit-driven culture has done to the land.”

“My wife and I have put our land in a conservation easement, so that it will never be developed. We are hoping the changes we are making will create an ecosystem that will continue long after we are gone. We also know that what we are doing is a drop in the bucket, but it does make a difference. We want to encourage many other people to care for their land responsibly, whether that land is a yard in the city or suburb, or thousands of acres.”

Low-Impact Practices that Restore and Sustain

Q: What are some of the most important systems or practices you’ve put in place to keep the farm both ecologically and energetically sustainable?

“We have greatly reduced the amount of mowing we do — now just mowing walking paths around the farm. We have put up birdhouses and bat houses, and try to provide very good habitat for pollinators, moths, butterflies and for the birds and other animals that feed on the insects.”

“We have planted many, many native plants that evolved in this ecosystem and will take care of themselves going forward.”

Regenerative Agriculture is Simpler Than You Think

Q: What’s something you wish more people understood about organic or regenerative agriculture?

“It’s not that difficult, it just takes a little knowledge and effort. Although I am no longer actively selling organic produce, I still grow lots of food for my family and never use any harmful chemicals.”

“I always try to improve the soil by growing cover crops, applying compost, and minerals. I grow food that we can save and eat year-round. We are also learning how to save many of the seeds we use in the garden.”

“We also have perennial plants such as asparagus, horseradish, blackberries and pawpaws that you only plant once, and then you get the food year after year. We compost all our food scraps and garden residue. Composting is something that is very easy and nearly everyone can do to keep food waste out of the landfill.”

Community, Education, and Service to the Earth

Q: What role does community play in your work? Do you see farming as a kind of activism, education, or service?

“I think the land conservation work is very important and it benefits the community of people along with the community of insects, birds, mammals, trees, and the list goes on.”

“Marcia and I want to educate others about the details of this work, such as how to successfully plant and manage a native plant garden or prairie, or how to collect your own native plant seeds.”

“I see this work as a service to the living earth, conserving the biodiversity in our area, and preserving this diversity for the benefit of future generations.”

Solar Power and Energy Efficiency in Action

Q: You’ve integrated renewable energy and waste reduction into your farm. What are you most proud of?

“I built a super energy-efficient home on the farm that was finished in 2002, and in 2008 I added solar panels to generate clean, renewable electricity. This was a great lesson for me to learn about all the wonderful benefits of energy efficiency and solar energy.”

“Since 2008, I have added more solar panels, and battery backup. Marcia and I both own electric cars, and we love being able to charge these cars with solar power. I would like to show people how easy all of this is.”

Resilience Through Ecological Recovery

Q: We often talk about “resilience” in sustainability. What does resilience look like to you — on the farm, and in your life more broadly?

“I like that word ‘resilience.’ Nature seems to be incredibly resilient if just given a chance. Marcia and I have been amazed at how quickly nature has recovered on our farm once we created the conditions for it to thrive. We planted native plants and reduced the amount of invasive species.”

Reconnecting with Nature — No Matter Where You Are

Q: How can people reconnect with the land even if they don’t have space to farm or garden themselves?

“If anyone has even a little bit of land, they can care for the soil and plant native plants, especially if they plant some of the keystone plants, like Oak trees.”

“If not, go out in the woods — the wilder the better — and understand yourself to be a part of it all.”

A Guided Experience at Just This Farm

Q: What do you hope visitors take away from their time at Just This Farm during the Sustainable Home and Garden Trail this year?

“They can see what we have done with our work-in-progress to create thriving prairies and forests, wetlands and managed gardens for the benefit of the natural world, which includes us and our own food production.”

Want to see regenerative sustainability in action?
Visit Just This Farm during the Sustainable Home and Garden Trail and witness a living example of resilience, harmony, and deep ecological care.

Join Kevin Eigel and Marcia Miller for a guided tour of Just This Farm on Sunday, July 20th from 10 am – 12 pm. Explore restored wetlands, native prairies, edible forest plantings, and renewable energy systems while learning how you can apply regenerative practices in your own space.

📍 Location: Western Franklin County — exact address will be shared with ticketholders.
🎟 Reserve your spot here: A Regenerative Farm Tour – July 20

Space is limited — don’t miss this chance to connect with the land and learn from local leaders in sustainable living!