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| PREGITZER FARM MARKET, LLC "Like your own garden without the work!" 6870 Territorial Rd., Munith, MI 49259 (517) 769-2768 yourfarmmarket.com email shannon@yourfarmmarket.com |
According to the Michigan Department of Agriculture, if each family in Michigan started spending $10 per week of their grocery bill on Michigan products, we would keep more than $37 million in Michigan, EACH WEEK. |
We started in the greenhouse in late February with
warm outside temps, which got transplants up faster
than I’ve ever seen. We also started using coal along
with wood in our outdoor burner thus cutting down on
propane. The plants growing faster caused some logistic
issues. We began to move out our cole crops and got 3
nights of 25 -28 degree weather, which froze a third of
the young plants off and had to be seeded again.
We also finished our 5th greenhouse which allowed us
to separate the plants we sell from those used in our
CSA and farm production, giving them more space and
less chance of selling the wrong varieties, which maybe
were only for a trial production.
warm outside temps, which got transplants up faster
than I’ve ever seen. We also started using coal along
with wood in our outdoor burner thus cutting down on
propane. The plants growing faster caused some logistic
issues. We began to move out our cole crops and got 3
nights of 25 -28 degree weather, which froze a third of
the young plants off and had to be seeded again.
We also finished our 5th greenhouse which allowed us
to separate the plants we sell from those used in our
CSA and farm production, giving them more space and
less chance of selling the wrong varieties, which maybe
were only for a trial production.
With the favorable warm and dry conditions we spread over 100 five-yard loads of manure from
our farm and others, thus adding nutrients and building organic matter. We also removed the
previous years used plastic mulch that we planted in to prevent weeds. We used less plastic in 2012
by increasing plant density which also allowed us to water more plants with one drip line. We had
great success planting, but plants just stood still due to the lack of rain water. So we purchased
more supplies and hooked up more drip irrigation. We were hauling 4000-5000 gallons of water a
day from our pond to our holding tanks which fed the drip tapes over night. This saved our crops
while giving us some very nice melons, tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers.
One set back was three of our greenhouses were damaged in May by a freak dust devil wind which
pulled the roof off the lean-to housing our outdoor burner, and then tumbled over the plastic of
other greenhouses, tearing holes in all of them. We did repair work late into the night. We finished
out the season with a warm spell in November when we recovered the worst two greenhouses.
See pictures on Facebook (Pregitzer Farm Market). We are using this social media more to post
pictures and happenings at the farm and would encourage you to “like” our page.
We delayed the start of the CSA by one week in 2012, giving us a better box to start with and more
bounty later when we extended the CSA by two weeks. We averaged 8-12 items per box last year
with tomatoes in almost all of them, which has been a goal of ours. We also had some of the best
melons - the heat creates high sugars and allowed us to get them in shares at least 7 times. One
thing new in 2012 was the added volume of certain items to be free choice. This meant that you
could help yourself to what you wanted that week, giving even a greater value to your CSA because
the items were more than what was already in your pre-packed box. I felt this worked well and
would encourage feed back from members. However, due to busy schedules, especially for
parents with children in sports events, CSA finished up with less people picking up. A change in
dates will come about in 2013.
In 2012 we attended four farmers markets which included: Stockbridge, Chelsea, Westside
(Zingerman's Roadhouse, Ann Arbor), and East Lansing. For the 2013 season, the Chelsea Market
on Wednesdays will be back at the hospital! We also had our home market open all season. All
were a great success with wonderful patrons that purchase their products with us and keep the
farm growing.
As fall approached we found ourselves with a huge pumpkin crop and hayrides to the pumpkin
patch increased with the kids overjoyed at the terrific selection of big pumpkins. Field trips also
increased.
Overall, 2012 had more support from you and we provided a great supply of veggies in spite of the
drought.
Wade Pregitzer
our farm and others, thus adding nutrients and building organic matter. We also removed the
previous years used plastic mulch that we planted in to prevent weeds. We used less plastic in 2012
by increasing plant density which also allowed us to water more plants with one drip line. We had
great success planting, but plants just stood still due to the lack of rain water. So we purchased
more supplies and hooked up more drip irrigation. We were hauling 4000-5000 gallons of water a
day from our pond to our holding tanks which fed the drip tapes over night. This saved our crops
while giving us some very nice melons, tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers.
One set back was three of our greenhouses were damaged in May by a freak dust devil wind which
pulled the roof off the lean-to housing our outdoor burner, and then tumbled over the plastic of
other greenhouses, tearing holes in all of them. We did repair work late into the night. We finished
out the season with a warm spell in November when we recovered the worst two greenhouses.
See pictures on Facebook (Pregitzer Farm Market). We are using this social media more to post
pictures and happenings at the farm and would encourage you to “like” our page.
We delayed the start of the CSA by one week in 2012, giving us a better box to start with and more
bounty later when we extended the CSA by two weeks. We averaged 8-12 items per box last year
with tomatoes in almost all of them, which has been a goal of ours. We also had some of the best
melons - the heat creates high sugars and allowed us to get them in shares at least 7 times. One
thing new in 2012 was the added volume of certain items to be free choice. This meant that you
could help yourself to what you wanted that week, giving even a greater value to your CSA because
the items were more than what was already in your pre-packed box. I felt this worked well and
would encourage feed back from members. However, due to busy schedules, especially for
parents with children in sports events, CSA finished up with less people picking up. A change in
dates will come about in 2013.
In 2012 we attended four farmers markets which included: Stockbridge, Chelsea, Westside
(Zingerman's Roadhouse, Ann Arbor), and East Lansing. For the 2013 season, the Chelsea Market
on Wednesdays will be back at the hospital! We also had our home market open all season. All
were a great success with wonderful patrons that purchase their products with us and keep the
farm growing.
As fall approached we found ourselves with a huge pumpkin crop and hayrides to the pumpkin
patch increased with the kids overjoyed at the terrific selection of big pumpkins. Field trips also
increased.
Overall, 2012 had more support from you and we provided a great supply of veggies in spite of the
drought.
Wade Pregitzer