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Environmental stewardship from the onset

When Michigan’s turkey processing plant closed its doors more than 15 years ago, one West Michigan farmer got creative finding a new farming venture.

Third-generation farmer John Vanden Houvel of Sandy Ridge Farms and Third Day Produce in Zeeland converted his turkey barns into commercial greenhouses. He tells Brownfield the farm started producing annuals in the greenhouses and eight years ago they added hop propagation.  “The biggest challenge was learning a brand new crop or a brand new way of raising something.”

He says his mom brought 15 years of greenhouse experience to the farm which really has become an asset to the business. The farm now also grows hydroponic produce for area residents, restaurants and a local food distributer.

Vanden Houvel says they used the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) as a model when converting facilities to keep sustainability front and center.  “Three years ago when we transitioned into produce production in the greenhouse, we were already used to keeping track of all of these things and so it really helped us work toward the GAP certification that we have.”

The farm also grazes a small flock sheep to control weeds in the hopyard and throughout the property.  The farm is verified in all three MAEAP systems—cropping, farmstead and livestock.

AUDIO: Interview with John Vanden Houvel