- Our Farm -
Friendly Farmers, Caring Consumers
At Stone Coop Farm we are friends with the earth and all its inhabitants down to the microorganisms in our soil. We are dedicated to being better stewards of the land and sharing our knowledge with others. Stone Coop Farm is a neighborhood farm supported by folks that care about the long term health of our planet and future generations.
At Stone Coop Farm we are friends with the earth and all its inhabitants down to the microorganisms in our soil. We are dedicated to being better stewards of the land and sharing our knowledge with others. Stone Coop Farm is a neighborhood farm supported by folks that care about the long term health of our planet and future generations.
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Stone Coop Farm is a certified organic farm in Brighton, Michigan. We specialize in mixed vegetables and fruits with many heirloom varieties. We NEVER use GMO seeds! We have a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) membership, sell at farmers' markets and to several different local stores and restaurants. Our farm is active in the community, donating produce to local organizations and supporting efforts to increase awareness of the importance of eating locally and organically. We strive for sustainability in our farming practices, maintaining a vibrant ecosystem of mixed annuals and perennials, with cover crop and animal rotations to foster the development of healthy soil and an environment for beneficial insects.
-Our Beginnings-
The old stone chicken coop built in the 1880's that inspired our name - Stone Coop Farm.
Joannée DeBruhl and Shannon Rau met via email in 2009. They shared a passion for organic farming, and in 2010 when Shannon graduated from college, she helped Joannée with the Gleaner's Community Garden Project. While on a run with her father, Tom Rau, Shannon mentioned Joannée and that they both had a desire to start a farm. Tom ran with the idea and soon proposed the idea of helping them start their own organic farm. In November 2010, with generous support from Shannon's father and encouragement from family and friends, they started Stone Coop Farm, LLC!
Stone Coop Farm was given it's name because of the large, stone chicken coop built in the 1880s at what is now Hamburg Fitness Center, where the farm was started in 2011. It seemed appropriate that we should come full circle to recreate the farm that was started there so many generations ago.
In that spirit, we have moved two old barns to our farm and restored them. They look like new from the outside, but once entered you can see the hand hewn posts and beams, bark on the pole rafters, pegs, and mortise and tenon joinery. You may read more about that project here.
We love to give farm tours, so if you would like to see the farm, please call (810)599-5017 to schedule a visit.
To learn more about the farm and how you can become an active member, visit any of the following links:
-Meet Your Farmers-
Joannée DeBruhl
My journey to farming was an unusual one. After 21 years working for the insurance industry I was laid off in early 2009. During that summer I coordinated a small community garden project for Gleaners Community Food Bank with 2 other women from my church. It was the most fulfilling summer of my life.
In order to pursue my new passion I attended Michigan State's Organic Farmer Training Program . I worked on their 10-acre farm every day for 9 months to learn all aspects of organic farming, including pest management, crop management, and winter growing in hoop houses (passive solar greenhouses). It gave me the hands on experience I needed to start my own farm.
I love owning and living on the farm with my family. I believe everyone should have access to healthy, fresh, and tasty produce. During the last several years, we have created a fantastic community on the farm and I am privileged to be part of it. Wonderful and joyful people surround me and help support all we are doing at Stone Coop Farm. I can’t ask for a better place to be!
My journey to farming was an unusual one. After 21 years working for the insurance industry I was laid off in early 2009. During that summer I coordinated a small community garden project for Gleaners Community Food Bank with 2 other women from my church. It was the most fulfilling summer of my life.
In order to pursue my new passion I attended Michigan State's Organic Farmer Training Program . I worked on their 10-acre farm every day for 9 months to learn all aspects of organic farming, including pest management, crop management, and winter growing in hoop houses (passive solar greenhouses). It gave me the hands on experience I needed to start my own farm.
I love owning and living on the farm with my family. I believe everyone should have access to healthy, fresh, and tasty produce. During the last several years, we have created a fantastic community on the farm and I am privileged to be part of it. Wonderful and joyful people surround me and help support all we are doing at Stone Coop Farm. I can’t ask for a better place to be!
Gina Aguilar De La Cruz
Nature has always been my rock and in it I feel balanced and at peace. The environment at the farm has allowed me to thrive and grow on my journey to the sustainable lifestyle I seek.
Nature has always been my rock and in it I feel balanced and at peace. The environment at the farm has allowed me to thrive and grow on my journey to the sustainable lifestyle I seek.
Nydia Agulair De La Cruz
Three years ago, my husband with the help of family friends and my father in law, surprised me with an amazing gift. I came home to find a corner of the back yard fenced and rototilled, ready to start a garden. Even though we knew nothing about gardening we manged to get a lot veggies from the garden that year. I also fell in love with seeing it grow, then getting the joy of harvesting from the plants. Our garden has taken me into a wonderful journey of learning, appreciation and concern of the environment.
Today am grateful to be part of Stone Coop and its vision of abundance. I'm excited to learn not only about sustainable farming but also from all the wonderful and inspiring members and volunteers at the farm.
Three years ago, my husband with the help of family friends and my father in law, surprised me with an amazing gift. I came home to find a corner of the back yard fenced and rototilled, ready to start a garden. Even though we knew nothing about gardening we manged to get a lot veggies from the garden that year. I also fell in love with seeing it grow, then getting the joy of harvesting from the plants. Our garden has taken me into a wonderful journey of learning, appreciation and concern of the environment.
Today am grateful to be part of Stone Coop and its vision of abundance. I'm excited to learn not only about sustainable farming but also from all the wonderful and inspiring members and volunteers at the farm.
Frank Bednarczyk
Frank has been working on the farm since he was 13 years old. He loves the outdoors, especially backpacking and hiking. He is currently attending Schoolcraft College with hopes of going into Law Enforcement.
Frank has been working on the farm since he was 13 years old. He loves the outdoors, especially backpacking and hiking. He is currently attending Schoolcraft College with hopes of going into Law Enforcement.
Matt Conahan
Matt came to farming later in life, having watched good friends and colleagues in the San Francisco Bay area on their journeys from farm apprentice to full on farmers. Always admiring their work, he often found himself quite happy and fulfilled when volunteering on their farms.
Family circumstances brought Matt back to Michigan (where he was born and raised) in 2016 and Matt began working at Stone Coop in August of that year.
Matt plans to start his own farm in the next several years.
Matt came to farming later in life, having watched good friends and colleagues in the San Francisco Bay area on their journeys from farm apprentice to full on farmers. Always admiring their work, he often found himself quite happy and fulfilled when volunteering on their farms.
Family circumstances brought Matt back to Michigan (where he was born and raised) in 2016 and Matt began working at Stone Coop in August of that year.
Matt plans to start his own farm in the next several years.
Daniel Moffatt
Ask anyone from my childhood and odds are not a single person would guess that I would someday become a farmer. To equip me for full-time farming, I completed the MSU Organic Farmer Training Program in 2016 and joined Stone Coop in January of 2017 to gain experience, employment and education in small-scale organic agriculture.
My future plans include owning and operating a diversified farm in northern Michigan with my wife who is currently earning a Masters of Social Work degree from Michigan State University. We are expecting our first child in March of 2017.
Ask anyone from my childhood and odds are not a single person would guess that I would someday become a farmer. To equip me for full-time farming, I completed the MSU Organic Farmer Training Program in 2016 and joined Stone Coop in January of 2017 to gain experience, employment and education in small-scale organic agriculture.
My future plans include owning and operating a diversified farm in northern Michigan with my wife who is currently earning a Masters of Social Work degree from Michigan State University. We are expecting our first child in March of 2017.
-Growing Practices-
We keep it simple.
At Stone Coop Farm we have chosen not to use pesticides or sprays of any kind,
even those that are approved for certified organic farms.
We believe that it is OK to share some of our produce with the bugs, mice, voles and birds.
We also know that if we can keep our plants healthy and happy, they are less likely to get pests and diseases.
At Stone Coop Farm we have chosen not to use pesticides or sprays of any kind,
even those that are approved for certified organic farms.
We believe that it is OK to share some of our produce with the bugs, mice, voles and birds.
We also know that if we can keep our plants healthy and happy, they are less likely to get pests and diseases.
This is how we do it.
FERTILIZER
Compost
Animals
Cover crops
WEED MANAGEMENT
Hands, tools, tractor, and lots and lots of hard work
Cover crops
PEST MANAGEMENT
Search and Destroy
Perennials - A safe home for good bugs
Crop rotation
Cover crops
Fencing & barriers
Dogs
DISEASE MANAGEMENT
Plant Spacing
Observation and removal
Multiple plantings
Crop rotations
Drip irrigation and water management
FERTILIZER
Compost
Animals
Cover crops
WEED MANAGEMENT
Hands, tools, tractor, and lots and lots of hard work
Cover crops
PEST MANAGEMENT
Search and Destroy
Perennials - A safe home for good bugs
Crop rotation
Cover crops
Fencing & barriers
Dogs
DISEASE MANAGEMENT
Plant Spacing
Observation and removal
Multiple plantings
Crop rotations
Drip irrigation and water management
FOOD WASTE AT FARMS & IN OUR HOMES
Did you know that around the world we waste over 30% of our food (from the store to our table)? Waste at the farm level is often even higher than that! Sometimes as much as 75% is wasted because many stores, restaurants and consumers expect “perfect” crops in size, shape, and appearance. Perfection does not always equal taste or nutritional value.
Expect to see various shapes, sizes, a few holes, and maybe a caterpillar in our some of our crops. Regardless of appearance, the taste will blow you away! Help us minimize how much food we all waste, by looking for ways to reduce how much food you throw away.
-Organic Certification-
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We are certified through OEFFA –Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association. They visit the farm annually to inspect the farm and our records. We have to be able to trace all of our crops from seed to sale. It can be a time consuming task, but all that recordkeeping helps us be better farmers. We review this information annually to determine which crops and varieties have the best yields, least amount of pest and disease issues, and which sell the best. It helps us plan for the next season. If you would like to see our current certification, please click here.
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