Our Story

We are Bret and Michelle. Together with the help of our two boys, Jack and Bennett, we operate our family farm with locations in North Branch and Brown City, Michigan. We are a true ground up operation.  Little did we know at the time, but our path into agriculture started in 2015 when we turned our neighborhood into a makeshift cider mill. As our hobby grew, we built two hydraulic rack and cloth cider presses, and our annual apple smash party was born. The event grew larger and larger every year. Along with our family and friends, we pressed thousands of pounds of apples into fresh cider. It wasn’t long before we began fermenting our left over cider, and hard cider soon became a passion. To make top notch hard cider, you need top notch cider apples. Traditional cider apples are difficult to source, so we decided to grow them.  And so our search began for the right property. It took a couple years, however we finally stumbled upon our Willis Road location during a visit to the thumb after following a “for sale” sign that directed us west off M-53. As soon as we pulled into the dirt driveway, Michelle said, “this is the one”.

We purchased our North Branch farm in 2020 with the sole intent of growing cider apples. We quickly got to work planting and fencing our first block of apple trees.  Our orchard was a fraction of our total land, and we began exploring ways to use our remaining crop land. With no background in agriculture, we looked at every possibility with fresh eyes. Our “uh-oh” moment came the first year we owned the property, when on a dry windy day, we watched our bare dirt blowing across the fields like a dust bowl.  

We realized our land was depleted and tired. We also realized that traditional agricultural practices were not in line with our vision for our farm, and were only going to make our property worse. We contacted our local USDA office, asked for help from the NRCS and MAEAP, and were told, “help is on the way!” 

And help was on the way. Help arrived from our new friends at the MAEAP, NRCS, Michigan State University, and the hundreds of years of agricultural experience that surrounded us with our neighboring farmers. We quickly learned about ways to heal our soil and regenerate our farm. 

We decided to use cattle and other livestock as tools to improve our soil, and turn back the hands of time after years of crop farming took their toll. We invested in a herd of registered Dexter cattle. We sought out the best genetics from around the country, and started the process of fencing our fields and transitioning our bare, uncovered soil into polyculture, perennial pastures. By 2022 we were enrolled in a holistic grazing research program through Michigan State University. With the help of MSU and a variety of mentors in the industry, we learned the art and science of holistic grazing and regenerative management. 

Our focus on regenerative management lead us to acquire Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs, poultry, and goats. We now employ a systems approach to management of our farm, using livestock as tools to regenerate our land, and repurpose and recycle crops such as waste apples. Starting in 2022 we expanded our operations, purchased a home farm in Brown City, left our suburban life and went all in. 

We now farm numerous owned and leased properties, raise beef and pork, and make equestrian hay. Our orchard is just beginning to bear fruit. In just a few short years it’s almost impossible to imagine ourselves returning to the city life we abruptly left behind. Together with our two young sons, our small family has become a real team. Everyone down to our youngest son plays a critical role in this journey. Every day presents new challenges and experiences that we endure and often laugh at together. We are always learning, and have definitely learned to love our new life in Michigan’s thumb!