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Who We Are
Presque Isle Farm is a small family farm owned and operated by Molly and Dion Stepanski in northern Michigan. Deemed a Centennial Farm by the Michigan Historical Society, this homestead has been with the same family for over 100 years.
In 2014, we began working to transform the land into a thriving market vegetable farm. Our mission is to grow nourishing food, a healthy community, a vibrant local economy, and a restorative environmental system.
What We Need and Why We Need It
We recently received a $10,000 grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and a $15,000 zero interest loan from Hoophouses for Health and the Michigan Farmers Market Association. Hoophouses for Health "increases access to Good Food for vulnerable families while at the same time expanding the Good Food infrastructure and season extension capacity of Michigan farmers." Through this program we will establish relationships with local schools to develop farm to school programs and work with community social networks to increase farm to table access.
We are more than halfway to our goal, but need another $20,000 to implement our ambitious $45,000 healthy food access and conservation plan. The plan includes building greenhouses, establishing an apiary and permanent bee habitat, and developing an environmental restoration soil fertility plan.
The high tunnel greenhouses will increase healthy food access and allow for a year-round growing season to produce more food for local schools and families while utilizing fewer resources .
The establishment of permanent bee habitat and an apiary will encourage healthy pollination, essential to the entire planet’s food production system and ecosystem.
The development of an environmental restoration cover crop and soil fertility plan will increase the nutritional value we can provide to the community, solidify the farm’s future in the local economy, and balance the local ecology.
Where Will Your Contributions Go?
The cost of implementing our complete healthy food and conservation plan is approximately $45,000. With $10,000 covered by the NRCS, and $15,000 covered by the Hoophouses for Health loan, we are asking for support towards the remaining $20,000.
Your IndieGoGo funding will support:
$8,000 - the remaining funds needed for two 30’ x 96’ high tunnel greenhouses (built by Nifty Hoops)
$5,000 - one 14’x 72’ heated propagation greenhouse, greenhouse heater, propagation benches, and irrigation system (built by Nifty Hoops)
$5,000 - begin the establishment of permanent bee habitat and an apiary
$2,000 - begin developing an environmental restoration cover crop and soil fertility system
Our stretch goals include:
establishing more bee habitat
building a more efficient washing and packaging facility
build more greenhouse space
Your Generosity's Impact
Supporting us necessarily means supporting a local business, bringing true wealth to our regional economy, and helping our communities grow happier and healthier. Local and sustainable food helps combat a food system that floods our grocery stores and schools with nutrient-deficient food. Our agricultural practices act as a regenerative force against climate change and the extinction of bees and other invertebrate pollinators.
In a world where big agriculture and detrimental farming practices continue to destroy the health of our planet and its people, we know your generosity will help begin moving our communities in a different direction.
