Meet the Farmer
and the Builder

Hello there! We're Caleb and Heather, the co-owners of Apple Acres Farm. Thanks for your interest in learning more about our little farm located all the way up in the northern end of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

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We are both several generations removed from farming and we both never imagined we would become farmers one day (even if reluctant farmers in Caleb's case). ​The idea of starting a small-scale, regenerative family farm was slow to germinate but really took root after finding almost 14 acres of amazing land just minutes from downtown Houghton. Most people wouldn't look at our mostly wooded and sloping piece of land dominated by ridges and swales and think "what perfect farming land". We however, are not your typical farmers!

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We believe that small is not only beautiful but also sustainable and inspiring. Our farming practices are guided by what our land needs and can support. With training in permaculture design, our farm design and operations are based on permanent + agriculture principles to improve our topsoil to help sequester carbon, infiltrate rain water, prevent erosion and runoff, and increase our farm's overall resilience to a changed and changing climate. Rather than focusing on growing bigger, each year we look for ways to grow better and more ecologically diverse. This not only helps us reduce risks from a total crop failure, but it also makes our farming operation more resilient to the inevitable ups and downs of any growing season. 

To further improve the health and vitality of the land, we continue to look for ways to incorporate the natural behavior of livestock into our farming practices. We aim to leave our soils healthier and more productive than we found them while also raising happy and healthy animals on pasture. A nice outcome of our efforts is nutritious and delicious local foods grown, foraged, and raised without chemicals or synthetic inputs.

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​Currently, Apple Acres Farm is home to our resident honey bees (along with native pollinators) that are essential for pollinating our crops, including our heritage apple orchard. We are also pretty smitten with our free-range chickens that not only lay beautiful orange-yolked eggs but are also fantastic nutrient recyclers + manure spreaders. Our mixed laying flock love to spend their days foraging around the farm under the watchful eye of our friendly roosters. Finally, we have three goats, Niko and Nibler (Nigerian dwarf goats) and Jasper (Nubian). These cute little dudes help us manage less desirable vegetation found in the old abandoned pasture that is in the process of returning to a forest. We are looking forward to adding ducks to the farm to help us manage slugs!

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Despite our desire to remain small while sustainably diversifying our farming operations, we have some big dreams! In the future we hope to to expanding our fruit orchards and perennial food crops, adding a forest garden, growing grain crops, and constructing a root cellar.

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We love to share the happenings around the farm with others, so feel free to swing by to grab some of our homemade or homegrown products, take a tour, or enjoy your very own farm stay!

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xoxo,

Heather and Caleb