An Estate Sale Opened The Door to Farming

Mia Gregersen spent her career in social work. In 2021, together with her husband Steen, who has a background in IT, they bought Klarksov Frugt, a 5.5 hectares orchard with 4,100 apple and pear trees at an estate sale. Located 150 kilometres from Copenhagen, the orchard had been run conventionally for decades.

While they had no farming background, Mia and Steen had always been very aware of how what they eat has a direct impact on nature and emails. “For us, it was never a question on if we would convert the orchard to organic. It was just a matter of how.” Mia explains. “It made sense for us to promote biodiversity and do something good for nature.”

Defying Conventional Wisdom

The 4,000 apples and pears that form Klarskov Frugt were all planted in the 1990s. Conventional wisdom would have any farmer replace them, but Mia and Steen decided to keep them anyway. "In a conventional orchard, you typically replace the trees every ten years. But we felt that was a waste.” Mia shares.

They decided to experiment and see if they could get a decent yield by transition to regenerative. “When we first converted, our yield dropped by 40-50%, but we didn’t give up. We had hope.”

They stopped spraying, stopped tilling, and made sure to let the land find its own rhythm. This includes letting cut branches decompose back into the soil. Chickens move through the rows, fertilizing the soil as they go. Slowly, the orchard is beginning to show signs of healthy recovery.

“By creating a circular system, we can now see much more microbial life. There are many more small wild birds, wild bees, insects and bumblebees. The leaves are also growing greener without showing any signs of deficiency in, among other things, nitrate.” Mia notes.

Mia and Steen are very much on the path of regeneration recognizing that it takes time and patience to support an ecosystem in coming back to life. They are in it for the long haul and happily accept the challenge.

Powered by the Sun

Klarksov Frugt sells what they grow mostly at farmers markets. They have a direct relationship with their consumers. They also work with bakeries and cafés who turn the fruit into cakes and pastries.

In 2023 a grant from the LAG foundation helped them convert an old cold storage room at the farm into a juice and cider production facility. This enabled them to start producing ice pops made from their own fruit. “What's brilliant about the Apple Pops is that it’s all powered by renewable energy. The sun provides nourishment to the trees so they can deliver apples. We then use solar energy to juice and freeze our Apple Pops. It’s circular and clean.”

By 2025, they will be able to process 50 percent of their harvest. “We are not able to live off the orchard yet, but we believe we will soon. We are continuing to process more, innovate, and make the most of the incredible raw materials the orchard gives us.” Mia shares.

Welcoming Community

Mia believes small organic orchards could make a huge difference, not as a niche but as a network. “With our examples of innovative solutions within sales and products, we can show the way for new products in a traditional industry and perhaps make it more attractive to work with and in small regenerative farms.”

Mia and Steen frequently host events on the farm, give talks, bring school classes in. This year alone they welcomed two EU delegations, the World Farmers Markets Coalition, and Fondazione Campagna Amica. On social media they share the journey. They can feel the curiosity growing.

While the trees are still recovering and the stress of the harvest months when it is just the two of them and the fruit won't wait, Mia and Steen find hope in nature. They see the impact of their work.

The bumblebees are back. The birds have found the trees, and something that wasn't supposed to survive is beginning to thrive. What keeps Mia going is not just the orchard itself but the belief that the story is worth sharing. “We are happy to be part of Top 50 Farmers and meet other small scale farmers who we can keep learning and developing alongside.”

Written by Top 50 Farmers and Mia-Marie Olsen