After leaving the Midwest with a biology degree in hand, Katie Prochaska found herself in western Africa, in Mali, serving with the Peace Corps for two years focusing her energy on women’s groups and sustainable agriculture.  Mike Prochaska graduated with degrees in psycho-biology and philosophy, and following a life-long interest in health and the well-being of people, he joined up with Katie in Mali, where they both worked to share their knowledge with local families.  After leaving the Peace Corps, they returned to Iowa to continue their interest in agriculture by working for the Seed Saver’s Exchange, preserving heirloom seeds for the seed bank.

In 2004, Katie and Mike were married.  They soon moved to Maine where they managed a five acre homestead, working to educate the public on growing food, sustainable living, and social activism.  In the two years following, they managed Eliot Coleman’s Four Season Farm, growing vegetables for New England chefs and local markets. Moving back to the Midwest, Mike and Katie were looking for a family farm closer to their roots.  After a short interlude at the Chicago Botanic Gardens, in 2007 Katie and Mike brought their knowledge of health, nutrition and year-round organic farming to Heritage Prairie, where they are “farmers in residence.”

At the Heritage Prairie educational farmstead, kitchen, and market in Chicago’s western suburbs, they are putting into practice the principles of Four Season Farming and are an integral part of the recently chartered Slow Food City’s Edge Convivium.  In October 2008, Katie and Mike represented Slow Food Chicago as delegates to the Terra Madre Congress in Turin, Italy.

2N308 Brundige Rd.
Elburn, IL 60119
630-443-8253
Email: Mike & Katie
www.hpmfarm.com