Natural Approach - Wyoming Family Uses Organic Methods In Growing Vegetables 

June 16, 2007  Peoria Journal Star

JOHN O'CONNELL 

On their farm in rural Wyoming, Ill., Brian and Anita Poeppel are growing a small vegetable business using organic farming practices similar to those of early settlers. The Poeppels, both in their mid-30s, operate Broad Branch Farm, four miles east of Wyoming, where they produce organic vegetables, herbs, pasture-raised broiler chickens and eggs from free-range chickens. They sell their produce at a farmer's market in Naperville and through subscriptions.

"We use organic methods in growing our produce," said Anita Poeppel, who has a master's degree in agriculture economics. "We don't use chemical pesticides or herbicides or any artificial fertilizers. And we put a lot of emphasis on our soil fertility. A healthy soil produces healthy, nutritious plants." 

Their farm consists of 11 acres with a house, barn, shed, garage, corn crib and bin on three acres and an eight-acre garden. The couple uses only two acres each year for growing vegetables. "Part of the organic approach is not to wear out the soil," Anita Poeppel said. "We plant a cover crop of alfalfa and clover on the acres we aren't using for vegetables. That is turned over to build up the soil naturally." The couple also uses compost and organically accepted fertilizer products to further enrich their soil. Resting certain acres each year also reduces pest problems, according to the Poeppels. 

The couple began their vegetable business eight years ago while living on a five-acre farm in Woodstock. Anita Poeppel started the vegetable business there. Brian Poeppel, who has a bachelor's degree in history and political science, worked for a computer consulting company and helped his wife in the family business on a part-time basis. After a couple of years, he began devoting full-time to farming. 

"We started selling our vegetables in the farmer's market in Naperville," Anita Poeppel said. "We were the only chemically-free grower there. We started selling greens. We couldn't bring enough salad greens. Organic vegetables are in big demand. Many people are afraid about the chemicals that go in and on their food so they are looking for organic foods." In January of 2004, the Poeppels relocated to Broad Branch Farm, close to where Anita Poeppel grew up on her parents' farm. This is their third year of growing vegetables locally. 

The couple starts all their plants from seed. Early in the year, their basement was full of thousands of seedlings. All their vegetables are seeded or transplanted in the garden by hand. In the garden and inside two large, plastic-covered hoop houses are more than 60 varieties of vegetables, including 575 tomato plants, 10,000 onions, 750 peppers, 800 broccoli plants, 300 cabbages, 1,800 potato plants, 2,000 garlic plants and rows of five varieties of lettuce. There are seven different types of tomato plants, including two heirloom varieties. "We do a lot of succession planting," said Brian Poeppel, who was reared in Glen Ellyn. "We are continuously planting something in our garden until the first of September. We will do six plantings of our salad greens." 

In addition to vegetables, the couple has some 50 egg-laying chickens that have the run of the farm. They also raise about 1,000 broiler chickens annually. The broilers are enclosed in mobile pens and raised on pasture land, where they eat bugs, seeds and clover. In keeping with the organic theme, the Poeppels don't use antibiotics or growth hormones in raising their chickens. They also supplement their diet with a custom blend of corn and bean meal and an organic vitamin mix. 

The Poeppels are proponents of a new socio-economic model of food production called Community Supported Agriculture. "The idea behind CSA is to create a connection between the consumer and the farmer growing their food," Anita Poeppel said. "We sell subscriptions to people in Peoria and throughout the area for weekly boxes - half bushels - of vegetables. For a prepaid $340 subscription, we provide a box of vegetables for 20 weeks in a row." Boxes start out the season with cool season crops like greens, radishes, green onions, cabbages and broccoli. By July and August, the boxes are filled with tomatoes, peppers, beans, fresh basil, potatoes and more. This year, the couple has 90 subscribers. While some subscribers pick up their boxes at the farm, the couple also delivers 62 on Wednesdays to designated spots in Peoria and Peoria Heights. "The subscribers get fresh picked, higher quality vegetables that aren't transported across the country," Anita Poeppel said. "They know who is growing their food and how it is done. We encourage subscribers to visit our farm. This year we are having an official field day on Aug. 13, when subscribers can tour our gardens and enjoy some food." The couple hopes eventually to have 200 subscribers for the weekly vegetable boxes. Persons can subscribe for this service through the couple's Web site at www.broadbranchfarm.com. 

On the Web site, Anita Poeppel has a line of natural body care products including 12 different natural soaps that she makes at home. "I also make awesome homemade organic granola (which can also be ordered through the Web site)," she added. Despite the burden of dealing with a drought last summer, the Poeppels still managed to increase their revenues. Last year, revenues increased 40 percent compared to the previous year. Brian Poeppel hopes the business will grow another 15 percent this year. The Poeppels admit the business is a challenge, but there are many rewards. 

"We feel we are doing good work and providing a service that our customers appreciate," Brian Poeppel said. "It's especially satisfying to us when customers thank us for doing this." 

And Anita Poeppel sees benefits that go beyond revenues. "One of the things we talk about is that we don't have a long commute to work," Anita Poeppel said. "I can bike to our garden in two minutes. We are our own bosses, which can be both good and bad. And we are both at home with our children (Lucy, 4, and Susannah, 2). And that's very important to us. "I grew up on a farm. It's a lifestyle that I know and love. And Brian and I wanted that for our children." 

John O'Connell can be reached at 686-3264 or joconnell@pjstar.com. 

ABOVE: Brian Poeppel tills a fallow field in preparation for a new planting on Broad Branch Farm, which he owns with his wife, Anita, in Wyoming. Although not certified organic, the couple run the farm in accordance with organic principles. BELOW INSET: Green leaf lettuce is one of several crops the Poeppels grow. CAPTION: Brian Poeppel holds his youngest daughter Susannah, 2, as Matt Braker, 17, helps tend to a garlic crop at Broad Branch Farm. CAPTION: Lucy Poeppel, 4, carries a mischievous New Hampshire Red hen that had ventured into her back yard back to the farm where she belongs at her family's Broad Branch Farm in Wyoming. CAPTION: Anita Poeppel tends to her crops behind a row of kale in one of three hoop houses at Broad Branch Farm, which she owns with her husband, Brian, in Wyoming. Similar to a greenhouse, the hoop house enables the couple to farm through most of the year and on rainy days.