Category: farming

Location: Northern Michigan, USA
Farming Model: Greenhouse + Vertical Farming
Annual Revenue: Over ₹3.5 crore ($400,000+)
Blog Category: World Farmer

Introduction: A Family Dream Rooted in Soil

In the heart of Northern Michigan, nestled between cold winters and short summers, the Willans family has cultivated something extraordinary—an empire of greenhouse farming that’s defying climate limits and redefining sustainable agriculture.

What started as a modest venture has now blossomed into a high-tech farming operation generating over $400,000 annually. But their journey is not just about numbers—it’s a tale of passion, innovation, and persistence.

The Beginning: A Small Greenhouse, a Big Dream

It all began in 2001, when John and Martha Willans, a teacher-farmer couple, bought a small piece of land. Their goal was simple: grow clean, fresh vegetables for their family and neighbors.

With no background in commercial agriculture, they relied on online tutorials, farming books, and countless trials. Their first small greenhouse was built using salvaged materials. They started with just tomatoes and cucumbers.

The response from the local community was unexpectedly strong—people loved their produce. That encouragement lit the fire to expand.

Expansion & Innovation: Embracing Greenhouse and Vertical Farming

By 2008, the Willans family decided to go full-time into farming. They invested in commercial greenhouses and adopted vertical farming systems to maximize output in limited space.

Key steps they took:

Installed climate-controlled greenhouses to grow crops year-round despite Michigan’s harsh weather.

Shifted to vertical hydroponic towers, saving water and increasing plant density per square foot.

Began growing leafy greens, herbs, cherry tomatoes, peppers, and even strawberries.

They partnered with local restaurants and farmer’s markets and eventually launched a subscription-based vegetable delivery box in nearby cities.

Family Involvement: Farming with the Next Generation

The Willans’ four children became an integral part of the operation. From seeding trays to managing online orders, each family member took charge of different tasks.

Their daughter, Emily, introduced the idea of selling their produce online, while son Jake, a tech enthusiast, built automated watering and nutrient systems using Arduino and sensors.

This intergenerational collaboration became the backbone of their farm’s growth.

Revenue and Profit: Smart Scaling Brings Success

Today, the Willans family’s greenhouse farming setup includes:

10,000+ sq. ft. of greenhouse area

Multiple vertical farming racks, enabling 4x more yield

Organic certification and local delivery network

Their annual revenue now crosses $400,000 (approx. ₹3.5 crore), with a net profit margin of around 30%, thanks to direct sales and low waste production.

Challenges Faced

The journey wasn’t smooth. They faced:

Harsh winters that damaged infrastructure

Initial lack of farming knowledge

Marketing and customer retention struggles

But their willingness to learn and pivot made them resilient.

Inspiration for the World

The Willans family’s journey is a shining example of what passion, unity, and innovation can achieve—even in an unconventional farming region.

For aspiring farmers globally, especially those with limited land or harsh climates, their model shows that greenhouse + vertical farming is not just viable, but profitable and sustainable.

Quote from the Family

“Farming gave our family not just food and income—but a shared purpose. It taught our kids responsibility and gave us all a reason to work with the land, together.”
— Martha Willans

Conclusion: A Seed Planted with Purpose

From salvaged greenhouses to a sustainable farming empire, the Willans family’s story proves that farming isn’t just for rural lands or large farms—it’s for anyone with vision, dedication, and the will to grow.

Their journey continues to inspire farmers not only in the USA but around the globe.

In the heart of Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh district, a remarkable farmer named Binod Kumar Mahato is redefining agriculture by blending traditional farming with cutting-edge technology. Once a marketing officer at a bank in Pune, Binod chose to return to his ancestral land during the COVID-19 pandemic and transform farming into a smart, sustainable, and profitable venture.

From Corporate Life to Smart Farming

Binod Kumar Mahato, a physics honors graduate and MBA, was working in the corporate world when the pandemic struck. In 2020, he decided to leave his job and return to his village in the Churku block of Hazaribagh. Despite his farming background, he did not initially own land and started farming by leasing 20 acres spread across three farms: Sundarban, Vrindavan, and Madhuban Agriculture Vatika.

Binod believed that modern technology could dramatically improve farm productivity and sustainability. So, he set out to adopt smart farming techniques rather than relying solely on traditional methods.

Integrating AI and Digital Tools in Farming

On his farms, Binod installed solar-powered lighting, cameras, and automated irrigation systems. His Sundarban farm, in particular, uses AI-enabled sensors and a digital app to monitor soil moisture and control irrigation valves remotely via his smartphone. This innovation helps conserve water while ensuring the crops receive optimal hydration.

He also adopted mulching, covering the soil surface to retain moisture, reduce erosion, and improve soil fertility—methods typically overlooked in many rural Indian farms.

Smart Irrigation and Disease Management

Collaborating with companies like Ifco Kisan Finance Ltd and Cultivate, Binod equipped his fields with IoT sensors that track soil moisture, temperature, and other vital parameters. Using automated irrigation, he managed to reduce water usage by nearly 50% while increasing crop yield by 20%.

Experts from the Indian Vegetable Research Institute emphasize that such technology helps in early disease detection and management, especially important in Jharkhand’s shifting climatic conditions.

Automated Weather Forecasting for Precision Farming

Sundarban Vatika also features an advanced weather forecasting system from Philo company that provides accurate 10-day weather predictions. This allows Binod to precisely time fertilizer application, irrigation, and pesticide spraying. By adjusting pesticide use based on wind speed and direction, he achieves better pest control with reduced chemical usage.

Challenges and Potential in Jharkhand Agriculture

Jharkhand boasts 3.8 million hectares of arable land, but 92% of it lacks irrigation facilities, leaving vast potential untapped. The average income of farmers here is nearly half the national average, and many are smallholders with limited access to digital technology.

However, with examples like Binod’s, it is clear that technology adoption can significantly boost productivity and incomes, even in resource-constrained environments.

The Future of Farming in Jharkhand

Binod Kumar Mahato’s journey demonstrates how the right combination of technology, resources, and farmer initiative can make agriculture more profitable and sustainable. Support from institutions like NABARD and Ifco helps farmers gain access to modern tools and financing.

One Earth. Many Farmers. Countless Stories.

Nestled in the heart of Derbyshire, England, there once stood a traditional cattle farm known as Bradley Nook Farm, inherited by Jay Wilde—a man born into the dairy business, but never truly at peace with it. Today, that same patch of English countryside tells a new story—not of slaughter and sorrow—but of soil, sustainability, and second chances.

A Legacy of Livestock

Jay Wilde grew up shadowing his father, learning the rhythms of dairy farming from a young age. From feeding calves to milking cows, farm life was his destiny—or so it seemed. Yet even as he followed this path, Jay felt an inner conflict that only deepened over time. He harbored an unusual connection to the animals—a sense of respect and kinship that stood in contrast to their fate as farm commodities.

Despite becoming a vegetarian over two decades ago, Jay continued working on the dairy farm after his father passed in 2011. But the emotional toll of forcibly separating calves from their mothers—a standard practice in the dairy industry—was too heavy to bear.

To take the cow’s milk, you have to separate her from her baby. The cows get very upset when they are separated. It takes them a long time to get over it,” Jay said. “It was soul-destroying.”

In a bid to keep the farm afloat, Jay shifted from dairy to beef farming—thinking perhaps it would be more bearable. Cows were allowed to stay with their young for a while longer, but ultimately, they were still sold for slaughter. The emotional burden remained.

From Beef to Belief

The tipping point came with a conversation—an unplanned moment that changed everything. Jay met representatives from The Vegan Society, who introduced him to the concept of stock-free organic farming—agriculture without any animal exploitation. Inspired by the idea, he connected with Iain Tolhurst, a pioneer of veganic (vegan-organic) farming, and David Graham of the Vegan Organic Network. Together, they assessed the soil and concluded that Bradley Nook could be transformed into a sustainable plant-based farm.

But what about the cows?

Jay couldn’t bear the thought of selling them for slaughter, nor passing them on to another farmer. He wanted a clean break from the cycle of suffering. The Vegan Society stepped in, and in an unexpected stroke of kindness, Hillside Animal Sanctuary in Norfolk agreed to take Jay’s entire herd—over 70 cows. They were spared.

This moment was immortalized in the award-winning short film “73 Cows”, which won a BAFTA Award for Best Short Film in 2019.

You knew that you were taking them to what must be a terrifying experience,” Jay recalled. “It was very difficult to do. But I needed to keep the farm working… until I could find what else to do.”

A New Harvest Begins

Today, Bradley Nook Farm is no longer a site of animal farming but a veganic vegetable farm, run by Jay and his wife, Katja. Their land yields nutritious produce using organic composts and green manures, following strict veganic principles. No animal fertilizers. No cruelty. Just clean, regenerative farming.

Their journey has not only inspired countless people across the UK but also triggered serious conversations about ethical food production, climate change, and mental health in farming.

Jay’s mission now is to lead by example—to show that farming doesn’t have to mean cruelty, and that it’s possible to grow food while honoring life.

I hope it will inform people about a more humane and efficient way of feeding the world,” he said. “And that it will encourage other people to do what they feel and know to be right, instead of just following tradition.”

Earnings & Transition Support

While the initial transition to veganic farming was financially challenging, support came from The Vegan Society’s Grow Green campaign, which helped with training, consultation, and public outreach. Jay has since monetized through:

Local vegetable box schemes

Farm tours and educational programs

Media attention and documentary revenue

Community-supported agriculture (CSA)

Average annual earnings have stabilized in the range of £25,000–£40,000, depending on crop yields and weather, with future goals to scale into organic retail supply.

From Farm Animal to Farm Ally

Jay Wilde’s story is not just about switching careers—it’s about moral courage, innovation, and empathy in a world that urgently needs all three. As climate pressures rise and ethical consumerism grows, stories like Jay’s are more relevant than ever.

From beef to beets, from heartbreak to hope—this UK farmer reminds us that the earth is generous… if we let it heal.

“Farming may not fulfill all your wants, but it will fulfill all your needs.”
These are the words of Divakar Channappa, an ex-ISRO scientist who gave up city comforts to chase an unconventional dream—growing organic dates in Karnataka, a crop usually seen in desert nations.

Back to the Roots

Born into a farming family in Begur, Karnataka, Divakar’s life took a turn when Bangalore’s urban sprawl consumed his village. His father, determined to give his children a better future, moved them away from farming and into the city for education.

Divakar did well—he worked as a project scientist at ISRO and taught at Tumkuru University. But everything changed in 2009 when his father had a stroke. Divakar returned home to care for him, and in that moment, he rediscovered his rural roots.

Inspiration from a Japanese Farmer

Reading “One Straw Revolution” by Masanobu Fukuoka, a Japanese natural farming pioneer, inspired Divakar to explore agriculture seriously. Despite initial skepticism from his family and society, he began small—growing ragi, tur dal, and corn.

The returns were modest. “I earned ₹33,000 on an investment of ₹22,000. It wasn’t sustainable,” he recalls.

A Desert Crop in the Deccan?

Then came a bold idea—date farming. After learning from a Tamil Nadu farmer, Divakar decided to grow this desert fruit in Karnataka. “People mocked me. Some asked if I was building a desert,” he laughs.

He invested ₹4.5 lakh to buy 150 saplings at ₹3,000 each. The land was prepared with river sand, neem cake, castor cake, vermicompost, and panchgavya. And then, he waited.

The Reward After Patience

It took four and a half years to see the first flowers bloom. Today, Divakar harvests five tonnes of organic dates from 2.5 acres, selling them at ₹375/kg and earning ₹6 lakh per acre, totaling over ₹15 lakh/year.

Leading the Way in Organic Farming

Using only cow dung, urine, and natural inputs, Divakar became South India’s first organic date farmer. His success earned media attention—and a visit from his skeptical father-in-law.

But the road wasn’t easy. “For the first four yields, I couldn’t even recover my costs. Only in the last three years have I been able to sustain my family through farming,” he says.

More Than Money: A Life of Meaning

Despite his achievements at ISRO, Divakar finds peace in his current life. “Farming isn’t a shortcut to riches. It’s hard, slow, and uncertain—but deeply fulfilling,” he says.

Now, many urbanites seek his guidance. His advice? “Farming isn’t real estate. You may not double your money quickly. But you’ll grow—personally, spiritually, and if patient, financially.”

Divakar Channappa’s story is a powerful reminder that with vision, patience, and hard work, even the unlikeliest dreams—like growing dates in non-desert India—can come true.