Olivia and Erik met at a Permaculture Course in 2014, fell in love, set off on a cross-country road trip to learn from farmers, herbalists, seed-savers, and community builders, and returned home ready to sow the seeds for Fern Hollow Farm. We are forever grateful to the innumerable people who, over the years, helped bring this community-centered farm to life. Most especially to our dear grandparents, Phyllis and Rodney Spohn, who have supported us from day one, and without whom this wouldn't have been possible. We hope this farm and our work can be a reflection of their legacies of service, hard work, and love.
Co-Founder
Olivia Miller-Peterson
Olivia is a permaculture designer, farmer, and founder of Fern Hollow Farm, a place rooted in family land, regenerative practice, and community. Her work extends through Provecho, the farm’s kitchen, and Cura Collective, where retreats, coaching, and creative wellness experiences take shape. Drawing from a background in environmental studies and social work, along with years as a somatic and nature-based therapist, Olivia’s work is centered on reconnecting people to land, food, and themselves—creating pathways toward more intentional, resilient ways of living.
Co-Founder
Erik Peterson
Erik Peterson is a co-founder and Steward of Fern Hollow Farm, a working permaculture designer and educator, natural builder, and advocate for community food security and resilience. After college, he continued to live in the Athens, Ohio area working in the non-profit realm with Community Food Initiatives, developing local food security through farmers’ market programs, and school and community gardens. During this time, Erik first came across the idea of permaculture, and undertook the PDC training at Solid Ground Farm in spring of 2014, where he also met Olivia, his then-future wife and co-founder of Fern Hollow Farm. In the spring of 2015, Fern Hollow Farm was launched on family land just outside of Somerset, Ohio. Beginning that same year, Erik began 5 years of teaching apprenticeship with Midwest Permaculture, studying under long time permaculture teachers Becky and Bill Wilson. Erik currently runs the permaculture design and installation wing of the farm business, and to date has taught or co-taught in 19 Permaculture Design Courses across the US and Canada at various farms, colleges, and other sites. As of October of 2023, Erik has primarily focused on his role as the Resilient Communities Program Director at Rural Action, a regional non-profit. In this position, Erik works on community scale resilience through small business development, management of a rural community makerspace (the Builder’s Club of Somerset), increasing sustainable agriculture education and practices, watershed work, and bringing alternative energy to Appalachia.
Many hands and hearts have come together over the years to build this community-centered farm where people can come together to connect with the natural world, practice regenerative agriculture, and learn, heal, sing, dance, and celebrate. They have been with us through all seasons, literally and metaphorically. Their time and energy have touched every major project on this farm and their effort will pay forward for many, many seasons and for many people to come. Thank you to our team, our friends, and ever-growing family for making this possible.
