Ground Up Vermiculture LLC

Meet Matt Palfi: From Island Waters to Indiana Soil Raised in Covington, Indiana, Matt Palfi’s journey has taken him from the heartland of the Midwest to the sunny shores of Sanibel Island, Florida—and back again. After moving to Florida shortly after adulthood, Matt became a wastewater management operator on the island, where the water quickly became his second home. But it wasn’t just the ocean that captured his heart—Florida is also where he met the love of his life. Together, Matt and his wife— a Hoosier by birth but raised in Southwest Florida—built a beautiful blended family of three sons. In 2018, driven by a desire to escape the rat race and rising cost of living, they traded palm trees for pastures and moved their family back to Northwest Indiana to live a slower, more intentional life on a small homestead. Now rooted in rural living, Matt is passionate about teaching his children the values of self-sufficiency, stewardship, and simplicity. Hunting, fishing, growing their own food, and learning how to live off the land are just part of everyday life. With a strong family foundation and deep respect for the environment, the Palfi household is focused on raising kids who understand where their food comes from, the importance of agriculture, and how to give back to the earth. In 2020, Matt’s lifelong interest in gardening took a deeper turn when he discovered vermiculture—the art of composting with worms. What started as a small curiosity has grown into a thriving passion and business. Through his work with composting worms, Matt now advocates for regenerative soil practices and educates others on the benefits of worm castings, vermicompost, and the powerful role that microorganisms play in building healthy, productive soil. His wife recently joined the gardening world too, diving into it for the therapeutic benefits and starting her first flower garden this year with a vision for unique blooms and bouquet creations. Together, the Palfi family is on a mission to cultivate a lifestyle that’s grounded, grateful, and green—where sustainability meets family values, and every day is a step closer to a better planet.