Help Us Preserve and Restore Our Family Farm
Donation protected
Hi, my name is Rena Haus, a 10th Generation Farmer. You can help fund the ongoing restoration of the picturesque, historic 74-acre Hartmann Homestead in St Michael, MN. Homesteaded in 1881 (9 years before the village was incorporated), this small family farm is a rare remnant of America's rural past. Our family history was recently traced back to its roots in the 1600s in the Alsace-Lorraine region of Europe, making the current 4th generation descendants 10th generation farmers!
Changing times: The farmstead has changed little over the last 140 years. The original, sturdy, well-built farmhouse and outbuildings are nestled at the foot of a high hill where the Minneapolis skyline can be seen from over 30 miles away. Adapting to the changing landscape and the changing faces of American agriculture, the farm has transitioned from dairy to vegetable gardens. Over the last 23 years, we've welcomed dozens of new immigrant farmers, who supply local families, farmers' markets, restaurants and food shelves with fresh, organic produce throughout the growing season.
The Present: The Hartmann barn still stands straight and true today, gleefully undergoing the transition from an empty dairy barn into a vibrant farm market and community gathering space. While many of our smaller goals have been accomplished, much needs to be done. This is where you come in! We are gratefully accepting any and all donations to fund this process. Our goal is $350,000, which will be used to make improvements to the barn and the entire farm.
History shaping the future: The Hartmann family embodied the qualities that still guide the holistic, whole farm vision today. Their carpentry skills were well known throughout the area, as Ignatius Hartmann and his sons belonged to the Barn Builders Union. Their kerosene-powered Mogul engine powered the entire farm, including a sawmill that turned out thousands of boards, used to construct hundreds of barns, granaries and other structures.
Their talent for and love of music formed a family bond that entertained at house parties, weddings, barn raisings, chivarees, as well as singing in the church choir. They employed their multiple skills in metalwork, welding, blacksmithing, mechanical engineering, herd and flock management and soil stewardship. They had a particular respect and love for trees, skilled in arboring and grafting apple trees. Nothing short of renaissance men, they clearly envisioned a multi-generational homestead built to last.
The vision: The vision incorporates the principles we value most; building a stronger community by providing nutritious, locally grown food, environmental stewardship, and social and economic justice through food security. Improving the on-farm infrastructure empowers family growers in a way that models sustainability and creates financial stability.
We now have 33 acres in gardens, 20 acres in hay, and 15 in rotation. The gardens are in 5-acre strips with a wide driving trail between. We devised a 1000-gallon rainwater harvest system and bring in tons of organic fertilizer annually, which we offer at cost to our growers. Fieldwork is done by Rena Haus, using 1957 D-14 and 1961 D-15 Allis-Chalmers tractors with a small fleet of tilling equipment.
Why Restore a Barn? The barn has historically been the essential economic heartbeat of the farm. An enduring icon of Americana, symbolizing family values, hard work and a reminder that some things are too precious to lose. Reminding us of how fragile our food systems have become in an uncertain world and the need to value our farmers and our living links to the land, this beautiful structure couldn't be built in today's dollars, making restoration a sound economic choice. By restoring the heartbeat of the farm, every use of the renovated barn/greenhouse complex will benefit the entire property, creating more gainful economic opportunities for the dedicated and talented farmers who farm here. The farm has been enrolled in the Ag. Preserve program since 1988.
The goals:
To provide a space for people to grow and sell their own food.
To establish a Community Supported Agriculture where members can pick up their weekly box of produce here.
To create a community gathering space for master gardening classes, host farm-to-table banquets featuring all locally sourced foods, hold harvest parties for members, etc. The possibilities are endless, and all fall under the category of "Agritainment." These activities all benefit the farm's day to day operations.
To create an amenity that any community would be proud of by planting native trees and shrubs on banks and hillsides too steep to farm, providing food and shelter belts for birds and small wildlife
To educate the community on sustainable practices. The entire area benefits by helping them recognize the importance of maintaining small farms as wildlife and pollinator habitats, green space, and better air and groundwater quality. By its very nature, a small farm saves the city money, requiring no expensive infrastructure.
The needs: Cement floor in the main barn, Electrical and security system upgrades. Well, plumbing and sanitation upgrades. Conversion of milkhouse to summer kitchen and staging area for catered events. Conversion of calf barn to cool storage area for veggies. Complete greenhouse/pole barn/barn complex. Improvements to drainage, driveway and parking areas. Better farm equipment that enables me to serve my gardeners in a more timely and efficient manner.
This is a plea from my heart. Have you ever eaten something so delicious that it seems to touch your soul? Thank a farmer. If you value strong community, healthy food, green space, clean water, healthy soil, barn cats, goats or really cute dogs, please donate today. A Farmer thanks you!
If you wish to donate directly;
Haus Family Farm
4742 Maciver AVE NE
St. Michael MN 55376
Organizer
Rena Haus
Organizer
St. Michael, MN