About this episode

Garrett and Isabelle Heydt discuss their journey in regenerative farming and the challenges that led them to simplify their operations for family health and well-being.

Garrett and Isabelle Heydt of Solstice Beef Company join Amy Fewell to share how their love of outdoor education, community, and real food grew into a thriving regenerative farm in Central Virginia—and why they eventually had to simplify it. At their busiest, the Heydts were raising 3,200 broiler chickens, 50 pigs, 200 turkeys, and 40 beef cattle in a single season, all while raising young children. Then a succession of family health emergencies, backlogged orders, and one late-night breaking point forced them to ask a difficult question: Is the farm working for our family, or are we working for the farm? Garrett and Isabelle explain why they narrowed their operation to beef, made the painful decision to leave a multigenerational family farm, and began managing cattle across leased land. They also share how they have redefined success around faith, family culture, community, and stewardship rather than endless growth. Isabelle opens up about her personal experience with rheumatoid arthritis, the elimination diet and lifestyle changes she credits with changing her health, and the connection she sees between healthy soil and a healthy gut. She also introduces Paced Healing and her…

People in this episode

Host: Amy Fewell

Guests: Garrett Heydt, Isabelle Heydt

Topics covered

• regenerative farming
• family health
• simplifying farm operations
• outdoor education
• community
• healthy lifestyle

Keywords

• regenerative farm
• broiler chickens
• family farm
• rheumatoid arthritis
• healthy soil
• lifestyle changes
• Paced Healing

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Solstice Beef Company

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