1523 E. M-36 Pinckney, MI 48169 (734)-878-2920
* We are located about 40 minutes northwest of Ann Arbor*
~~~We do not conduct business on Sundays~~~
About Us, Our Animals, Helpers, Members and Products
*Certified Naturally Grown through:
*Affiliated with Michigan Organic Food & Farm Alliance (MOFFA):
In 2007, we have been mandated by government laws and regulations to make our farm a Membership Farm. What this means is that folks who want to purchase anything on our farm have to be members of the farm. The exception: --purchasing produce--you may do so without being a member.
Garden Patch Farm is a small family owned and operated farm that had grown certified organic produce from 1998-2008 for Farm Members and the general public. (We started our offerings in 1997, but were not certified organic then). Tim, Robin, and Heather (dad, mom, and daughter) operated the farm on 36 acres in Pinckney, Michigan There were many helpers throughout the season--up to 15 people some years! How thankful we are for so many hands that helped carry the work load and made it a joy as well.
As health-conscious farmers, Tim and I have always been dedicated to providing our members, customers, employees, volunteers, and ourselves with only the freshest organic products. No chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides. No GMO's. No hormones, vaccines, or antibiotics. No animal by-products. We use alternative medicines such as homeopathy & herbs for illness prevention and treatment, and minerals such as Diatomaceous Earth for parasite prevention. Kelp was an added nutrient we used for the goats. We also use raw, organic apple cider vinegar in our animal's water for an aid in digestion and nutrient assimilation. In winter, the goats, when we had them, (and now just the chickens) used to get kale and other winter greens from the garden. They loved it! The chickens also get organic vegetable scraps in winter that are not too strong, and the ducks get fresh herbs from the garden in season. None of our poultry is "vegetarian" because they live outdoors where they naturally eat bugs! If you are eating products from a chicken that has been claimed to be "vegetarian", be afraid! That means they probably do not live outside and their only food is grain and water! ALL domestic birds eat bugs!
From 2004 -2007, about 4 more acres were dedicated to our beautiful animals. We raised chickens, turkeys, ducks and goats certified organic and on pasture for meat, milk and eggs. We still have chickens for eggs and ducks for eggs in season, but we no longer have the turkeys or goats and we no longer raise chickens for meat. In 2004-2007, we raised and sold beef from 12 cows. We have dissolved our herd.
As of 2008, we are offering chicken and beef from another certified organic, USDA inspected and approved farm in Rosebush, Michigan--Graham's Organic Farm. Jim & Pat Graham, and their son, Matt operate their farm without chemicals, and have been our grain feed supplier since 2003. They were also our livestock butchers when we had meat animals.
No soy in our animal feeds! Click here to learn why is this important.
Tim and I also use only personal care and household products that are free of synthetic chemicals and scents. We avoid all products that are toxic to our bodies and house as much as possible. For a list of the products we avoid, as well as alternatives, please click here.
Additionally, we do not use a microwave, as they zap nutrients from food! Try an experiment: purchase some seeds to grow, put some in a container of dirt--a pretty wide one. Make sure you have about 4 rows or areas sectioned off into 2. Now, water the one side or section with tap water. Water the other side with water you've heated in the microwave. Do this for the length of time that it takes for that particular seed to germinate (says on package). What do you see? How are the two sections doing compared to each other? We found that the seeds that were irrigated with tap water were germinating nicely. The seeds that were irrigated with the water that was heated in the microwave did not come up at all! Try it. Then get rid of your microwave, because it's killing your food! You are NOT getting nutrients out of your food if you microwave it!
Tim and I do not use Teflon or non-stick cookware--only cast iron, stainless steel, stoneware, pottery, ceramic, or glass. There are many alternatives to Teflon, or non-stick stuff!
Additionally, we offer raw, lacto-fermented sauerkraut and raw honey from our farm. Ingredients in the sauerkraut: only cabbage from our garden & Celtic brand sea salt. Our goal is nutrient-dense products.
Where do we offer our products?
1) On-farm
2) Some wholesale from time to time.
3) Area local events, such as at the Ann Arbor Weston A Price chapter's events and health conferences.
4) From the small fridge on our front porch of the house. (Farm Members only) See More Nutrient-Dense Products page for details.
5) Other small markets/restaurants/distributors
6) Donate food to the local (Howell) food bank--typically Mondays.
7) Donate food to needy families that come directly to our farm and ask us.
Tim is really the farmer at heart; he is the one who first learned everything about organic farming as a boy from his parents in the 1950's. He grew to love it. It's been in his blood ever since! When I was a girl, my mother taught me a bit about gardening (she really has a green thumb! Her garden always intrigued me, and I do love flowers and plants--I think they're beautiful and a wonder. I'm still learning so much from Tim as well as experience with these wonders! Now, with this combined experience, we are trying to pass the love of these wonders to Heather (and others) and encourage her to eat for nutrition, not just to feel full.
We operated a CSA from 2004-2007.
Heather is now pursuing her own photography business, Infiniti Photography, which she has been mastering for many years (since she was 3 years old!) Her website will soon be up and running; she takes on small jobs at this time. I enjoy the planting and transplanting in the greenhouses as well as some of the paperwork involved. I especially enjoy providing people with better food choices and talking with them. Tim enjoys most aspects of the farm; probably all except paperwork, so we make a great team! Of course all 3 of us like seeing everything grow and being able to harvest it. But we especially enjoy being able to work together doing something that brings inner satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. I believe we are much closer because of this, but more importantly because of our love of Jehovah God. Additionally, many of our friends come and help here on the farm (paid and unpaid) so we are close to them as well, enjoying their company very much.
Our farm has been certified organic since 1998 through OGM (Organic Growers of Michigan). In 2007, when OGM was no longer certifying, we tried another certifying agent. But, we decided that the $700 that the other agent (the going rate and higher) was more than we could or were willing to pay. So, we have decided to continue with the Certified Naturally Grown organization. Read more about them at www.naturallygrown.orgOur Farm Members and other consumers know us and they know that we never offer products that are toxic and that we use and consume these products ourselves.
A very vital new feature in our lives recently has been the application of the Weston A. Price Foundation principles. www.westonaprice.org This wonderful knowledge is put together very well in Sally Fallon's book: Nourishing Traditions. I encourage you to get and read this book. (We even sell it here at our farm). Since implementing these principles of eating, Tim and I have gained much vitality and physical & mental strength for our work! We are delighted to of found this whole food (I.E. whole milk & cheese--NOT low-fat!) lifestyle of eating. It really supports everything we had been trying to do in the first place, but enabled us to understand how to get MORE NUTRITION from the foods we eat!!! Isn't that the motive we should all have for consumption of food anyway??? To gain strength, energy and vitality? Not sleepiness! Not pain! Not a stupor! I don't know about you, but I will do anything within reason to avoid pain--even just that!
We have found (through a Naturopathic Doctor we have talked to) that jumping on a mini trampoline 2 x per day (up to 200 bounces each time, which only takes 5 minutes!) is one of the things we need! Yes, we are very physical people on a farm, BUT the bouncing/jumping routine has really made a huge difference in our lives! I started jumping 200 x twice per day back in November of 2005 and by October of 2006, I had lost 46 1/2 pounds! I feel so much better! When I have a headache, I jump. When I have a back ache, I jump. When I feel a bit down, I jump. When I feel like I'm coming down with something (or when I already have), I jump. The jumping/bouncing makes MOST of the pain/problem go away! At the very least, this exercising makes all of those problems much more bearable. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO COME OFF OF THE MAT, JUST BOUNCE A BIT, KEEPING YOUR FEET FIRMLY PLANTED ON THE MAT. It still makes a difference. It's so very, very worth it! I encourage you to REBOUND! For your life--your life is worth it! Try it, because it is so extremely easy and NOT time-consuming at all! www.reboundair.com
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I know you will feel better if you try the few things I suggested above--no matter what health problem you are enduring. Go for it! We're doing it...YOU can too! YOU are worth any effort it takes to take care of yourself!!!
Consumer Note About Nutritious Food: Buying direct from your local, health-conscious farmer doesn't necessarily mean the food will be cheap. Using natural methods is costly, labor intensive and time consuming for farmers. Additionally, most farm communities are not rolling in the dough; they do need consumer business. They deserve a good price for a good product, wouldn't you agree? You have a choice: what would you rather do? Pay for quality food and have good health or pay the medical community and pharmaceutical companies when you and your family are in poor health from poor food?