If you live in an urban apartment (where $12 lunch-time salads are the usual), dreaming about #farmlife is a common phenomenon. Growing your own leafy greens, scoring organic sweet potatoes, running through the fields with your own shaggy farm dog—it’s all enough to form a mental Instagram tableau.
For Michigan-based blogger, interior designer, and IRL farmer Liz Marie Galvan, it’s actually reality. Since moving into her 1800’s fixer-upper farmhouse The White Cottage Farm two years ago, she’s mastered the art of living farm-to-table—and is a total role model for curating an organic life, even if you’re hitting up the farmer’s market rather than your own backyard.
“We love that we’re able to run out to the garden to get greens for our salads,” says Galvan, who sticks to a widely organic and gluten-free diet because of the health benefits (she was diagnosed with hormonal disorder Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS, a few years ago). “I’m on my fifth year being gluten-free,” she says. “Over the years, we’ve transferred a lot of our diet to a more organic form.”
“We love that we’re able to run out to the garden to get greens for our salads.”
Not surprisingly, she carries these practices over to what she feeds her furry friends—Great Pyrenees Winnie and Shih Tzus Bear and Bella—opting for Castor & Pollux ORGANIX®, specifically the Grain Free Organic Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe. “We look for grain-free products,” explains Galvan. “It has kept our dogs happy and healthy.”
Scroll down for a peek at her crazy gorgeous down-home oasis—and how she feeds her family and beloved pups.
On including your pets in your organic goals…
“This spring, we harvested honey from our bees (we have two beehives) and are currently growing tomatillos, acorn squash, pumpkins, green beans, lettuce, and cauliflower,” says Galvan. “It has made me very aware of what we put into our bodies,” says Galvan. “I realize how hard it is to keep plants free of pests without using chemicals, so we also seek organic treatment to keep our crops good and safe.”
That farm-fresh mentality extends to their dogs, too. Castor & Pollux ORGANIX®—America’s #1 organic pet food brand—is certified USDA organic and free of GMO ingredients, chemical pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, and artificial preservatives. “Winnie loves it,” says Galvan. “We have noticed a big difference.”
On manifesting your own farm-to-table menu…
After a day spent curating items for her home-decor shop The Found Cottage, bottle-feeding lambs, and tending to the garden, Galvan eats dinner with her husband.
On top of a host of organic fruits and veggies (including summer squash to grill lightly with parmesan), she’s particular about protein, favoring organic poultry and wild-caught salmon or tuna. “I do eat fish and meat,” says Galvan. “Sourcing is important to me being a farm owner myself.”
As for her fave snacks for when she’s lounging in her calming, quaint living room (with all the homey vibes) or Pinterest board-worthy kitchen? “Hummus, sweet peppers, tuna, and gluten-free crackers.”
On curating a farmhouse dog pantry…
“We got Winnie on my birthday this year,” says Galvan, sharing how she joined Bella and Bear. “She has been such a fun blessing to the farm. We have wanted to add a farm dog to our family and she’s fitting in perfectly.”
And because this is a farmhouse (complete with white crockery, wide-planked floors, and lots of space for storage), the fam has a full dog-food pantry just for canines. Inside, you’ll find bags of Castor & Pollux ORGANIX® Grain Free Organic Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe, which is an easy choice—considering it has the same type of quality ingredients inside Galvan’s retro SMEG refrigerator.
How does Galvan feel about the setup? “We bought the farmhouse in June 2016,” she says. “Fast forward two years, six sheep, two bee hives, three dogs, and two cats later, and we are in love with it.”
Go full farm-life with Galvan’s downloadable shopping list, loaded with organic foods for you and your furry BFF—and shop Castor & Pollux ORGANIX®.
In partnership of Castor & Pollux
Photos: Liz Marie Galvan
Sign Up for Our Daily Newsletter
Get all the latest in wellness, trends, food, fitness, beauty, and more delivered right to your inbox.
Got it, you've been added to our email list.
