Hart Ford
HomeFeaturesZettel orchard a family affair

Zettel orchard a family affair

By Christine Swiderski
WEST BRANCH – West Branch native Dan Zettel is a dentist by day.
His ‘formal’ day starts several hours later with his wife, Melinda, at the West Branch Dental Office, Zettel & Zettel.

However, he said his work day actually begins about 4 a.m. when he starts cruising his 10-acre, Edwards Township orchard, just outside of West Branch.

Despite his work on the farm and at the dentist office, Dan and Melinda found time to develop another project. They bought an old storage building from West Branch Regional Medical Center and turned it into the West Branch Recreation Center. He said the building was a necessity.

‘Everywhere I had ever worked there was always a YMCA or a community center. A place for kids to go,’ he said. ‘And as kids came through the office I started asking them what they were doing after school and they would say, ‘Nothing.’ The building was centrally located and a good fit for the community. Now they have somewhere to go.’

But the farm is still his passion. Three years ago he planted 6,000 blight-resistant Dwarf Apple Trees. He went with that breed instead of traditional trees because the root stocks are disease resistant.

‘Blight can destroy an orchard quickly,’ he said. ‘We waited 10 years for our trees to come because they came from rootstock developed with some naturally blight resident trees in North Dakota. It’s very hard to come by.

‘But it also means we don’t need to use nearly as much pesticides and herbicides on the dwarf trees as much as with traditional trees.’

The orchard has a wide variety of apples including Red and Golden Delicious, Ada Reds, and Cortlands, all varieties you will find in local stores. He noted that Michigan is the third largest apple producing state behind Washington and New York.

Dan said each row is paired for successful pollination by honey bees, which naturally arrive in the area each May. He may bring in some beekeepers to help with pollination next spring now that the trees are more mature.

Although he uses an underground irrigation system to water the trees and protect the from bugs and mold, it can’t protect them from wild animals. He said deer and bear can raise havoc on an orchard, destroying 20-30 trees per night. A 7.5 foot electric fence keeps them out.

Aside from the orchard, Dan also has 50 head of Angus and Short Horn Beef Cattle. He grows his own hay and doesn’t use any hormones or antibiotics.

When harvest time comes it’ a family affair. Friends, neighbors and the couple’s children: Adam, Aaron, Alec and Adrienne, all help out. Eighty percent of pruning and picking is done from the ground, unlike full-sized apples trees, where you routinely climb a ladder to harvest the fruit. Most apples are ripe by the end of October.

He currently sell apples to Save-A-Lot as well as Nieman’ in Tawas. And to keep up with demand he is preparing to plant an additional 3,500 trees.

Dan said he appreciates the fact his kids are involved in the farm, as well as his extended family.

‘They are all good kids. They can run all of the equipment by themselves and they take a lot of pride in their work.
zettle-orchard-pic-w

‘I love the fact my brothers are around a lot to help out and give them guidance. It’s that whole multi-generational thing. I’m very proud of what the kids do and how much effort they put into this.’

Dan said having a farm teaches the kids to have a sense of responsibility they may not get any other way. And this is his way of teaching them how to do things properly.

‘When their friends come out they can’t believe the work they do.’ he said. ‘They asked me what we do when it rains. I tell them, ‘We get wet.’ When it gets cold we dress warm. And when it’s dark we use a flashlight. Things just need to get done in the time they are supposed to.’

Despite his contributions to the community, Zettel said the farm is what keeps him going.
‘This is my outlet’ he said. ‘After seeing patients all day, nothing is more relaxing for me to dump a round bale and watch the cows come in to eat it.’

He said during the winter the family brings their horses in. Feeding them is a family event as well, with steel folding chairs set up around the barn. It’s a time for everyone to catch up and just take time to get back in touch.

‘If I could stop my life today it would be amazing. It’s a beautiful day. All I need are my kids and my wife.

‘And I just like seeing stuff grow.’

Contact Christine Swiderski at csfreelance@juno.com for comments and story suggestions
You can follow Christine on Facebook http://www.Facebook.com/ChristineASwiderski



Leave a Comment

###

UpNorthVoice.com is Northern Michigan's source for community news.

We cover seven counties including Crawford, Roscommon, Oscoda, Ogemaw, Iosco, Arenac and Montmorency counties in print and / or online.

We are also a full-service commercial design and printing house. Our specialty is custom commercial printing, as well as the creation of clothing, cups and other marketing products.

To submit information for publication, or for questions regarding promotion of your business through web or print, as well as promotional items such as hats or cups, please email info@UpNorthVoice.com, or call 989-275-1170.

Advertisement