Quiet Springs Farm/Pearson's Melon Farm

Steffen Farms quite literally represents the marriage of two very different, but also very complementary farms, Quiet Springs Farm and Pearsons Melon Farm. Together, Quiet Springs Farm and Pearsons Melon Farm, grow about 30 acres of produce a season and market the majority of it directly to their customers. We operate two farm stands: 1) Pearsons Melon Farm market stand at 10631 N. 700 W., Howard, Parke County, Indiana; and 2) Georgetown Road market stand at 2019 Georgetown Road, Tilton, Illinois. We are also have a Farm Share (CSA) program are starting a Community Supported Ag (CSA) program with pick-up locations at our Tilton and Howard farm market stands. We offer four seasons that can be subscribed separately, free choice shopping and custom boxes. Quiet Springs Farm (QSF), established in 1996, is a 50 acre family farm, with 35 tillable acres near Tangier, Indiana, and a mission to build local, sustainable food systems. The focus of QSF has been on organic production, season extension (early spring and late fall production) and specialty crops, such as: lettuces, salad and cooking greens, oriental vegetables, spinach, snow peas, radishes, onions, beets, summer squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, potatoes, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, okra, green beans, plus many other vegetables and herbs. Quiet Springs Farm was previously certified as an organic operation and we are currently managing it in compliance with organic certification guidelines. We plan to re-certify with the farmer run, Certified Naturally Grown program, in the near future. Pearsons Melon Farm (PMF), established in 1955, is a 100 acre, second generation, family, farm with 60 tillable acres in Howard (Sandtown), Indiana. The mission of PMF has been, to provide summertime eating, and later fall decorating for west central Indiana and east central Illinois families. The focus of PMF has been conventional production of watermelons, cantaloupes, tomatoes, sweet corn, and ~80 varieties of pumpkins and squashes. Gradually, we are incorporating more organic practices on Pearson's Melon Farm and we expect this to continue. Quiet Springs Farm and Pearsons Melon Farm are 2.5 miles apart, a 10 minute tractor ride, and equipment is shared between operations, with the exception of sprayers. Owner/operators, Ken and Patsy (Pearson) Steffen live on Quiet Springs Farm, while Patsy's dad, John, lives on the Pearson Melon Farm home place with Patsy's sister, Norma, nearby.