We believe in
Good for the Earth, Good for the Farmers, Good for the People.
The Trifecta of sustainability. Good for the earth: Taking care of the natural world is important, after all, it takes care of us; Good for the farmer: We believe farmers should have livable hours and livable wages; Good for the people: We believe in food equality and bringing our produce to market at an affordable price and keeping it accessible is important to us.
We are building an elite team of farmers that share our vision. Our overall goal is to fill year round, long-term positions with people that share our vision and want to take a responsible role in building Lake Divide Farm and our community. We are eagerly endeavoring towards our goals and seeing success and rewards along the way.
We are building an elite team of farmers that share our vision. Our overall goal is to fill year round, long-term positions with people that share our vision and want to take a responsible role in building Lake Divide Farm and our community. We are eagerly endeavoring towards our goals and seeing success and rewards along the way.
Helen and Jim's farm journey:
We are a first generation family farm. We fell in love with growing food because of the satisfaction of an honest days work and the joy of doing something constructive and tangible for our community and the environment. We believe in food equality, that farming is an essential profession, and that producing food doesn't have to abuse the natural world. We plan on forging a business that affords us, and those who work with us, a living wage, while making nutrient dense, fresh food available to all members of our community.
If you want to read the long version of how our farm got started, you can pan all the details here from this muddy stream of story.
The abridged version : Helen and Jim (that's us!) farmed in New Jersey for four years on leased land before deciding to buy a farm in Michigan. In 2016, we found a farm in Jackson County and began the arduous process of moving everything and making the house livable while maintaining our farm in New Jersey.
We are a first generation family farm. We fell in love with growing food because of the satisfaction of an honest days work and the joy of doing something constructive and tangible for our community and the environment. We believe in food equality, that farming is an essential profession, and that producing food doesn't have to abuse the natural world. We plan on forging a business that affords us, and those who work with us, a living wage, while making nutrient dense, fresh food available to all members of our community.
If you want to read the long version of how our farm got started, you can pan all the details here from this muddy stream of story.
The abridged version : Helen and Jim (that's us!) farmed in New Jersey for four years on leased land before deciding to buy a farm in Michigan. In 2016, we found a farm in Jackson County and began the arduous process of moving everything and making the house livable while maintaining our farm in New Jersey.
Here we are in the greenhouse this spring! Look at all those onions behind us!
Photo by A.E. Scott Designs
Although we made a crash landing in December of 2016, we hit the ground running. We got our organic certification. We built a greenhouse, three hoop houses, two walk in coolers, and a wash station. We joined four farmers' markets (attending five per week), Argus Farm Stop (a grocery with farm direct supply), and developed wholesale connections. We donated a bunch of fresh produce through Food Gatherers. We doubled our production area from 2.5 acres to 5.5 acres.
The farm has continued to evolve. We continue to work alongside the each other and nature to try to participate in the great game of life. It is our deepest hope that we can bring health and joy to our community.