It All Started with a Five-Year-Old's Ambition

In 2006, at just five years old, a determined young entrepreneur, Troy Walsh, set out to start a home-school project at his local Farmer's Market. But Troy had bigger ideas for this home-school project; he intended to turn it into a full-time business. 

From that day forward, he has stayed true to his vision, and today, with Troy still at the helm, his focus and dedication have grown into our family business: Chickapea Farms, LLC.

We are a Michigan-based artisan company committed to sustainability and eco-friendly practices, providing our customers with products that are worth the cost and a conscience of being a good steward of the Earth. 

Since 2006, Chickapea Farms has grown to offer a diverse range of green lifestyle products, which have been sold in over 300 retail locations and have been shipped to 48 states.
 

We always have, and still do, handcraft in mass-volume production, but without machines or "on" buttons, just lots of elbow grease and strong backbones. All of our products, packaging, and shipping materials follow eco-friendly lifecycle management. This means they are made with a focus on the care of the environment from seed to back-to-earth lifecycle, using time-honored generational artisan methods with locally sourced, renewable, compostable materials, and environmentally responsible practices.

Our ethical sourcing and processes at Chickapea Farms have evolved beyond product creation; they have become a lifestyle, deepening our connection with the environment. Our products and lifestyle dedication have made us a trusted name for those who value both quality and the Earth.

Troy is widely known not only for his product quality but also for his genuine care, enthusiasm, tenacity, and authenticity in his business relationships and customer experiences. At both Chickapea Farms and Mi Farm Network (Chickapea Farms' sister business), every relationship matters. While some say, “It’s just business, don’t take it personally,” we do take it personally, and always will. Authenticity, quality, heart-driven care, and a great deal of tenacity are not just lifestyle values for us; they define our business style.

Enriched by the wisdom and knowledge shared with us by the Lakota and Amish, and as we reside in the vast wilderness and beauty of northern Michigan beneath the Milky Way, we are ever mindful of the deep respect we must hold for our Uni Maka (Mother Earth).

Both cultures have an innate biocentrism, which, in their understanding, means all living and non-living beings, as well as all the elements, are interconnected, each as important as the other, with none above or below. Therefore, every choice we make today impacts not only everything in the present but also the next seven generations.

Drawing from Indigenous and Amish teachings and skills, we are constantly working to reclaim and adopt their practices into our lifestyle, work, and products. We encourage and teach like-minded individuals how to make daily choices, no matter how small, that empower them to be their best stewards, positively affecting the healing of Mother Earth. 

As our journey deepens, it has become clear that the path forward is not just one of personal practice but also of shared learning and community building. We are actively setting a course to invite and welcome like-minded individuals who wish to embrace this knowledge to our land in northern Michigan. Here, in partnership with our Lakota and Amish family, we plan to create hands-on experiences and workshops. By learning and teaching together, we hope to further integrate these profound teachings into the daily lives of others, strengthening the community's connection to the land and to each other. 

"Troy's Treats" was Troy's original chosen business name, but as he and his little business grew and began to expand, he wanted a name that could also grow and hold sincere heartfelt meaning, the same as what he put into his intentions and products.

In tribute to his Grandmother, and her Mother, Granny, he chose our family word of "Chickapea". This word came about on account of Granny's thick southern drawl, as we all thought that was what she had nicknamed all us young ones. 

But, you see, the original word she was using was an old southern slang word, one would call something that represented love or created endearment. We just never got the correct pronunciation, as we were unfortunately too young and too full of energy to stop long enough to get it right. We just accepted and fell in love with what we heard come from her smiling lips.

Over time, this misinterpretation became part of our family’s language, and now, for us, 'Chickapea Farms' embodies that same sense of love and endearment, especially as we remember our late Granny.