A Passion for Nature At Home & In Business

You might know John Kreilich best for his bacon. After all, he’s the founder and CEO of Naked Bacon, Food & Wine Magazine’s choice for Best Tasting Bacon. In food circles, he’s famous for being committed to producing his bacon by adhering strictly to traditional methods— Naked Bacon is hand-cured and slow smoked to impart the most flavor possible without any of the shortcuts that other companies take. But making the best bacon in the country isn’t all he’s about, in fact, it was a natural extension of one of his other passions, nature. And it isn’t just his business that reflects his passion for nature, his home does too. John’s own backyard is a Certified Wildlife Habitat.

A biologist by profession, John focuses on co-existing with nature to create an environment in his garden that benefits Missouri wildlife. For a backyard to be certified as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation, the space must_ provide food, water, cover, a place to raise young, and be maintained in a way that has a positive effect on the health of the soil, air, water, and habitat for native wildlife. It’s necessary for native plants to be present to provide food, cover, and places to raise young, and the land must be cared for thoughtfully and as naturally as possible. John avoids the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, reduced the area that turf grass occupied, and minimized water use in order to maintain the integrity of the soil, air, and water in and outside of the habitat. Some of his regular visitors include wild turkeys, foxes, coyote, bees, hummingbirds, deer, and butterflies.

John has received recognition for his other contributions to the environment. His garden is a certified butterfly garden by the North American Butterfly Association, and he’s been recognized by the National Wildlife Federation for his Missouri Prairie as well. It’s no wonder Naked Bacon is bacon the way bacon should be. Whatever John does, he does intentionally, to benefit the health and wellbeing of others.

Read more about John’s recent feature in the Webster-Kirkwood Times. And to taste the Naked Bacon difference for yourself, place your orders here.