About Broad Branch Farm
Broad Branch Farm is a 10-acre non-certified organic farm owned and operated by Anita & Brian Poeppel. The farm is located in Stark County 4 miles east of Wyoming, Illinois.
The farm is deeply committed to organic growing practices. Brian and Anita are firm believers in locally produced, organically raised food that benefits both the farmer AND consumer and has no negative impact on the environment. The garden soil that is so vital to healthy plants is treated as the living thing it is and no chemical fertilizers, synthetic soil amendments, herbicides or pesticides are ever applied. Pastured laying hens, broilers, pigs and grass fed cattle provide fertility on fallow ground helping to improve the quality of the soil. Animals are raised with the utmost attention to grazing, fresh air, clean water, and good low stress living. Animals never receive growth hormones, antibiotics, vaccines – none of it! Pasturing the animals and meeting their very basic needs without stress keeps the animals healthy.
The vegetable growing season begins in early February when the first onion seeds are started in the warmth of the basement. All vegetable transplants are grown on the farm to ensure organic growing practices and quality of the plants. This includes hundreds of tomato plants, peppers, eggplant, cabbage, broccoli, and much, much more.
The farm maintains two 20x96’ plastic covered hoophouses used for season extension of root vegetables, salad greens and tomatoes. Early spring tomatoes are set out as early as April 15th sometimes giving us the first cherry tomatoes by Father’s Day in June.
Our farm’s vegetables, meat and eggs are marketed through our CSA program added in 2003. In this program, you purchase a share of vegetables, meat and/or eggs. Read more about our CSA program if you would like to receive our food.
We are proud to own and operate a chemical free family farm where our kids can roam and play, where they can eat anything straight from the vine, and knowing where their food comes from is just part of everyday life.
The primary goals of the farm are:
- To produce healthy great tasting food with a positive effect on the environment.
- To practice family friendly farming where children are encouraged to participate and learn about growing food and caring for the environment.
- To serve as an example that small scale organic agriculture can be both financially and personally rewarding.
- To demonstrate agriculture without chemicals is not only possible but necessary to produce real food that actually nourishes us, keeps us healthy, and revitalizes our local food supply.
- To encourage and educate children and adults interested in producing their own food, for home use or as a farming venture. A strong local food supply requires a large diversified group of farmers and gardeners working together to produce real food.