Identity
Regenerative farming in Michigan
Regenerative farming builds soil health instead of drawing it down: less tillage, living roots in the ground for more of the year, animals moved across pasture, and fewer synthetic inputs. On Chivle, every farm tells us which of these practices it uses, and buyers see exactly how far that claim has been checked.
The practices we ask about
- No-till or minimal tillage
- Cover cropping
- Rotational or managed grazing
- No synthetic fertilizers or pesticides
- Certified organic, or currently transitioning
A farm needs at least one to apply, and tells us about any others it uses.
How far each claim is checked
- Self-attested
- This farm told us how it grows; we haven't independently confirmed it yet.
- Chivle-reviewed
- Our team personally reviewed this farm's growing practices.
- Certified Organic
- Independently certified organic by the USDA National Organic Program.
Every grower page shows its level, so a claim is never dressed up as more than it is.
Certifications, compared
Certification is one way to show practices, not the only one. Plenty of excellent small farms aren't certified; the review exists for them.
USDA Organic
The federal standard, run by the USDA National Organic Program and certified by accredited agencies. Prohibits most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Chivle checks USDA certification numbers automatically.
Certified Naturally Grown
A peer-reviewed certification built for small, direct-market farms, based on organic practices with lower cost and paperwork.
Regenerative Organic Certified
Builds on USDA Organic and adds requirements for soil health, animal welfare, and farmworker fairness.
Regenified
Verifies regenerative practices and measures outcomes on the land over time.
Support for Michigan farmers
Where to get technical help and cost-share for regenerative practices.
- MSU Extension ↗Cover crop, grazing, and soil-health research for Michigan conditions.
- MOFFA ↗Michigan's organic and sustainable farming network.
- NRCS EQIP ↗Federal cost-share for cover crops, reduced tillage, and prescribed grazing.
- North Central SARE ↗Farmer grants for trying new sustainable practices.
- MAEAP ↗Free on-farm environmental verification from the state.
More in the Michigan resources directory.
Farming this way in Michigan?
The first 50 Michigan farms join as Founding Growers, with a year of zero platform fees.
Apply as a Founding Grower