Build Wrought Iron Farm with us!

Ann Holtz is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Hello, my name is Annie, and I own Wrought Iron Farm. I operate this farm and business with my disabled husband, Dennis. We are raising funds to build badly-needed infrastructure on our regenerative farm. Please share this GoFundMe link with as many people as you can! Thank you so much.

Backstory: We began turning our residential property in Steger, IL into a micro-farm in 2018. We grew organically-raised vegetables and flowers. We also turned our garage into a blacksmith studio and began selling our crafts in 2019. We realized quickly that the 1.5 acre lot wasn't going to cut it. In 2022 we expanded to a 10.5-acre parcel in Beecher, IL. We are turning this conventional mono-crop field into a regenerative farm, using permaculture principles as the foundation.

Present: It is completely undeveloped and off-grid. There is no house, barn, water, well, electricity, or fences. We had a successful first season on the land, selling flowers and vegetables. In order to accomplish that, we commuted 4-5 times a week to the farm to take care of our crops and trucked in all our water to run our irrigation off a small solar generator. Anyone who came to our first annual harvest party could see that it is not yet visitor-friendly!

While creating this restorative farm, we are also working to create a place where all are welcome to learn about regenerative agriculture and pre-industrial craft.

And for this, we need infrastructure. The two most important things are building a pole barn for a workshop and digging a pond or well.

With the pole barn and pond/well we can:

offer classes in blacksmithing, floral design, glass-blowing, and regenerative agriculture, among other things
have a sustainable water source for crops and livestock; with animals we can begin to close the nutrient loop on the farm (manure) and build topsoil faster
host events to bring people together and build community

My passion project is creating this abundant food system, mimicking natural patterns, incorporating wildlife and conservation as part of the whole, and sharing skills focused on food independence. I envision our farm welcoming anyone who wants to reconnect with the land, offer a place to revive the soul, and discuss decentralizing agriculture and economy. In order to accomplish this, we need the pole barn for teaching and gathering.

Dennis has been physically disabled since age 5. Doctors thought he would be wheelchair-bound by his 30s. Though he has many physical limitations, he has defied the odds and is still walking at age 47. His passion project is to teach other disabled folks the lost arts of blacksmithing and glass-blowing so they too can find a creative outlet and make amazing art. He would like to work with veterans and people with all kinds of disablilities. In order to accomplish this, we need to build the pole barn and make it ADA accessible.

It is hard to ask for money, but we are asking because we truly believe that we can make a difference. With your help, we can repair the land, create nutrient-dense food, share skills, and contribute to our rural community.

If you would like to see what we are doing please check out our YouTube, Instagram and Facebook pages along with our website in the links below.

If you are not able to assist us financially, we totally understand. You can help us by sharing this fundraiser with your friends and family, subscribing to our YouTube channel, and following us on Instagram. We appreciate you taking the time to read this! Cheers! Annie and Dennis

Instagram!