Meet Our Farmers!

The Apple Works began in 1989 when Rick and Sarah Brown began planting trees on what is now the Southern quarter of the orchard. In 1991 the trees bore their first crop. Rick and Sarah put two refrigerators in the middle of the field and their daughters, Alison and Maggie, would run from a picnic table by the road to fill orders from passing cars. Two years later they added the first half of the barn. The Apple Works was officially a business. 

At The Apple Works, they have over 50 varieties of apples plus their crisp sweet Asian Pears. Every summer they clear out the barn to make room for fresh Indiana produce and have Blackberries that are grown right here on our farm!

 All apples continue to ripen on storage and become, sweeter, though proper refrigeration slows this process. That means an apple is it's most tart right off the tree. If a particular variety is too tart for you, store it in the fridge for a couple of weeks and then try it. A good-keeping apple will continue to develop a more complex flavor upon storage. If you are going to be keeping your apples for more than a week, it is a good idea to keep them hydrated by putting a damp sponge or cloth with them in a plastic bag. All apples have a balance between sweet and tart but to varying degrees. A perfect example of a tart apple is a Goldrush. It has a bite that makes some folks pucker, but it's still plenty sweet. A Fuji is a perfect example of a sweet apple, especially a month after it has been picked.

Ferguson Farms Simmentals is a small cow/calf operation with farms in both Bloomington and Spencer, Indiana. The farm was originally established by Robert and Nancy Ferguson and their children and is now managed alongside their son Jacob, his wife Taylor, and their two boys - Henry and Baron. The property is one of the oldest farms in Indiana continuously owned and operated by a single family. 

The primary focus of Ferguson Farms is to provide quality seed stock cattle and potential youth projects for families and farms, along with providing feeder and finished beef options and high-quality hay. The family has a deep connection to youth ag programs, like 4-H and FFA, and are still highly involved in both - with many family members being youth volunteers and program participants throughout the years! The family is also still very involved in the show cattle side of the industry - attending shows across the midwest and helping youth with their projects regularly. 

The primary breed of cattle raised is Simmental, but the family also runs a few head of Angus, Maine-Anjou, Chianina, and Percentage Shorthorn cattle as well. 

Marble Hill Farm is a 150-acre farm located in southwest Monroe County that has been owned and managed by Whitney and Kip Schlegel since 1998. From its modest beginnings of just six Lowline Angus heifers, Marble Hill Farm has since grown to include over 200 animals. Among its residents are Lowline Angus cattle for beef, Shetland sheep for wool, and pasture poultry for eggs. Horses, donkeys, waterfowls, cats, and dogs roam Marble Hill Farm for pleasure and company. 

Over the years, Marble Hill Farm has received USDA grass-fed beef certification issued in southern Indiana and has been awarded three grants from the Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) to improve soil health and forage growth, to implement a multi-species rotational grazing system, and to build a second high tunnel to extend the growing season of produce and specialty crop. 

 Our grass-fed cows are raised on the pasture and rotated regularly to ensure we’re taking care of them and the land. They’re never fed feed with GMOs or growth hormones, given antibiotics, or grazed on artificial pesticides. They graze and roam with big smiles! In turn, this creates the highest quality, nutrition-packed beef for you to enjoy.

Sobremesa Farm was founded in 2013 with the idea of providing organically grown farm fresh fruit and vegetables directly to the local community. They decided upon a permaculture approach because of the flexibility, variability, and regenerative models built into this growing system. They also wanted to create community connections through events, educational programs, farm-to-table gatherings, and collaborations with other land conservation organizations.

 Sobremesa Farm’s mission is to add greater value to the local food link and to create multi-cultural events, and gatherings.

Dates to be served at Summer Lunch Program:

June 20th - raspberries

July 11th - tomatoes (most likely to become a salsa)

More Information Coming Soon!

Twin Springs Creamery is a multi-family dairy operation committed to providing ecologically sustainable dairy products to members of the surrounding community. The dairy is the first carbon-neutral dairy farm in Indiana. 

Twin Springs Creamery started with a decade of planning, but physically took shape in the Winter of 2021, with the purchase of the old Martindale Farm on Starnes Rd. By the Fall of 2023, Twin Springs Creamery re-established a grade A dairy in Monroe County.

Our dairy products start with the freshest cow milk. Our cows are primarily grass-fed so their milk is high in Omega-3s. Our milk is low-grade vat pasteurized (meaning more of the good probiotics are left for your health) and non-homogenized (the cream rises to the top once you let milk sit for a spell), both of which make it better for you. Our cows live outdoors, are on pasture during the warm season, and receive an abundance of forage year-round.

Fischer Farms is located in the rolling hills of southern Indiana, in Dubois County. Their 6-generation sustainable beef farm performs daily on-farm practices that heal the soil, clean their water, and protect their air and farm for future generations to enjoy.

You can find Fischer Farms premium meats in the dining halls of Indiana University, in many of Indiana's best restaurants, and in the homes of cooks across the Midwest. It is the preferred brand for premium, local, natural, and sustainable meats. For more information visit FischerFarmsIN.com 

More Information Coming Soon!