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With parenthood comes suddenly caring about things you never did before, like, say, acquiring a Christmas tree, and facing problems you’re surprised you haven’t encountered before at the ripe age of 28, like, say, Christmas tree disposal. I think it was Christmas 2022 that I was bugging my farmer friends about what to do with my old, dry evergreen, shedding its pine needles all over my living room floor, when a friend said hey, Apple Acres Farm takes them for their goats, and we’re so glad we did! Now Felix and I make the windy drive and snowy trek out to the goat house every January, where the goats show off their thick winter coats and munch gratefully on their piney “treets” of Christmas trees past.
This connection led us back to the farm this summer to help Heather advertise some of the many, many things going on at Apple Acres Farm. We were pleased to find that the winding, whimsical drive up to the farm is just as lovely in the green vibrance of summer as it was in the snow.
Heather and Caleb Wendel own Apples Acres farm - one of the most remarkable things about the farm is that all structures were built from scratch by co-owner Caleb Wendel. The goat house, farm stay, and even the couple’s home were built by Caleb, led by his love for high-performance green building design. The farm is also entirely solar-powered, living truly off the grid!
The small-scale regenerative farm came to be from Heather Wendel's search for happiness and meaningful work. After earning her PhD and working as an engineer, Heather still felt something was missing, and made a big life switch to full-time farming, enjoying a simpler lifestyle while helping the community feel more connected to its food.
But Heather's engineer brain shows out all over this farm.
If you know Heather, you know that she is remarkably informative, always happy to teach others about the natural world around us, and you’ll find a wealth of her knowledge sprinkled throughout all the fun offerings at the farm.
Spend a day mushroom foraging for wild mushrooms, hiking with the goats, or a goat happy hour. Pick Heather’s brain about the medicinal properties of wild shroomies while you bond with friendly goats outside of the goat house.
Beehive tutorials. The farm keeps bees and sells honey (when they can keep it from some hungry bears) and loves to share the knowledge with fellow beekeepers or people interested in keeping these buzzy, fascinating pets.
Chicks, chickens and roosters happily roam the property, and love to greet and be fed by visitors, each one displaying her unique personality.
Farm stay. A newly built bungalow sits on the property just behind the garden, where visitors can comfortably enjoy a trip to Houghton, yet still escape to the tranquility of the farm and forest.
In addition to community gatherings and skillshares, the farm offers homemade honey, apple cider vinegar, herbal and mushroom tinctures, as well as eggs, produce, a small CSA, and a delightful escape into a world where nature, sustainability, and community come together in harmony.
Whatever it is that brings you to the farm, know that you might leave feeling a little more in tune. ✨
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