Hello and welcome to our Farm Market!
Pfeister Farms is a small, family operated farm. The land has been in our family since the 1870s, and our children Luree and John are now the sixth generation of Pfeister's to live on the farm. We are now in the process of transitioning this heirloom back into a working family economy for our future generations.
Our Philosophy
Our mission is to care for and improve the land through a natural, holistically managed agricultural system in order to produce genuinely wholesome food for our local community.
We strive to manage our farm for optimum production by modeling it after a natural ecosystem. A natural ecosystem supports many diverse species of plants and animals within the same space. Each species has its own niche or purpose that supports other species, contributing to the health of the overall system and making it, along with the individual, stronger.
Our focus is first on the soil. Within a single handful of healthy soil are billions of living organisms, bacteria, fungi, insects, worms, etc. These tiny organisms break down organic matter and minerals, making them bio-available to plant life. The soil, in effect, is the plant's digestive system. Therefore, we strive to put nothing on our soils that would harm these lifeforms in any way, and do not subscribe to the use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides. We believe every living thing was created for a specific purpose, and therefore, an unnatural level of "pests" are an indication of an unnatural imbalance within the ecosystem. If we encounter problems with "weeds" or "pests", we attempt to identify the root of the problem and address it with a holistic and natural solution, rather than just treating the symptom.
With healthy soil, we are able to grow
healthy plants. Through the natural application of animal manures,
compost, and, if needed, balanced supplements such as kelp/seaweed
and minerals, we strive to make sure plants have access to all the
elements they need to be healthy and strong instead of just focusing
on the few that make them grow big. We do not grow any Genetically
Modified Organisms (GMOs). We believe that plants and animals were
created to reproduce after their own kind and it is not healthy to
use, for example, the genes of a fish in a soybean in order to make
the bean able to survive in an unhealthy and unnatural environment.
We believe these plants, while able to grow, are not as healthy as
the real thing, while our natural, healthy plants give
our animals, and ourselves, a great supply of nutrient dense food.
Our animals are all raised outside, on pasture, in the sunshine and fresh air. They are moved frequently to fresh, clean areas giving them access to fresh grass, clover, and other plants and soil life. They are not given regular antibiotics, chemicals, or vaccines and are fed only a species-appropriate diet. We believe each creature should be respected as a an integral part of Creation. We believe that to respect an animal is to allow that animal, as much as possible, to express its purpose within Creation, ie. chickens need to scratch, cows need grass, pigs need to wallow and all animals need space and exercise. Allowing our animals to express their purpose, makes them happier, and happier animals, just like us, are healthier animals, as stress hormone production is limited, immune response is elevated and they are free to act and eat in a more natural way.
All by-products from our food production are either naturally applied back to our pastures or composted and then spread back on the land. This feeds the soil, replacing the nutrients used to produce the food, and starts the process all over again.
Our Promise
We hope you believe that it is important to know where your food comes from and how it was raised. We believe you should know and trust your farmer as much as you do your doctor; just as your doctor prescribes drugs to put in your body when you are sick, your farmer is putting good nutritious food in your body everyday so you won't become sick!
On our farm:
Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have or to set up an appointment to come see us!
Thank you,
Brian, Danielle, Luree, and John
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