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Our guest this week is Jimmy Spencer from Pond Hill Farm.
Jimmy is the founder and visionary behind Pond Hill Farm, an agricultural destination in Harbor Springs, Michigan that blends sustainable farming, food, family experiences, and community. What began as a teenage experiment with vegetables has grown into a beloved farm offering seasonal produce, a restaurant, winery, brewery, farm animals, and year-round activities. Jimmy’s decades-long journey from novice farmer to entrepreneur highlights his commitment to sustainability, education, and reconnecting people with the source of their food.
Episode Description:
In this inspiring episode of the Larson Health Podcast, host Kim Larson speaks with Jimmy Spencer, founder of Pond Hill Farm, about his 30-year journey from a struggling vegetable patch to a thriving community hub. From the hard lessons of failed crops to creating a full-scale agri-tourism destination, Jimmy shares his insights on sustainable living, resilience, and the healing power of real food and nature.
Whether you're growing your own food, trying to eat closer to the land, or simply seeking more purpose and balance in life—this conversation will ground you, inspire you, and maybe even spark a garden dream of your own.
Key Takeaways:
Healing starts with what's on your plate: The health of people and the planet begins with growing and eating whole, unprocessed foods close to nature.
Struggle builds sustainability: The early failures at Pond Hill were essential lessons in resilience, adaptation, and long-term vision.
Real food doesn’t have a label: If it needs a long ingredients list to stay edible, it’s likely not the fuel your body needs.
Farm life mirrors health: Plants and animals thrive (or fail) based on their nutrition—just like humans. Food is always the first solution before medication.
Agritourism is about reconnection: Pond Hill creates space for people—especially children—to engage with farming, animals, and the land, often for the first time.
Balance, not restriction, is the goal: Pond Hill offers cider, wine, and delicious meals, proving health is about intention, not deprivation.
Seasonal and local food matters: Choosing in-season produce grown nearby supports community health and environmental sustainability.
Living well = Purpose + Nature: Jimmy’s daily fishing trips and immersion in nature are what keep him centered, energized, and fulfilled.
You don’t need to do it all at once: Start by cooking one real-food meal a day. Skip the processed boxes. Make one intentional change and build from there.
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