Philip Ackerman-Leist

I'm an educator, farmer, and author with four decades of experience building sustainable food systems. I spent 23 years as a professor of sustainable agriculture, establishing organic farms and the nation's first online graduate program in food systems. Now I work internationally from my off-grid homestead in Vermont, bringing that hands-on farming experience alongside my background in environmental biology to help homesteaders, farmers, and communities develop regenerative practices and resilient local food systems through consulting, workshops, and courses.

My expertise spans farm and homestead design, food systems transformation, and educational program development. I've written three books on sustainable living and food systems, explored agricultural practices across the Alps and North Carolina, and worked with diverse groups to blend practical farming knowledge with collaborative approaches to building the kind of foodsheds that strengthen communities.