"Pizza Farm" Idea Catches On

"Pizza Farm" Idea Catches On 27-5-8 After reading about a "Pizza Farm" in California, Walt Gregory and Lynne Weis decided to replicate the idea on their Dow, Illinois farm (see FARM SHOW's story in Vol.24, No.4). A Pizza Farm is a 150-ft. diameter circle divided into "slices," each of which produces one of the ingredients needed to make a pizza. People pay to tour the mini farm. Gregory and Weis were already in the direct-to-consumer business selling meat and vegetables directly to local customers. They decided that a small farm that actually produces all the ingredients for pizza would be a good way to teach children about agriculture. The farm is composed of eight "slices," four for raising meats and dairy and four for crops. Chickens are raised for eggs used in the pizza dough. Goats are used for the cheese, a beef cow is used for meat, and pigs are used for sausage and pepperoni. Tomatoes, peppers, onions, herbs, and wheat for the crust are raised on the other slices. Pizza was chosen because it is especially popular among children. "Most kids don't have an idea where the food they eat actually comes from," Gregory says. Groups have come from as far as two hours away to tour the pizza farm. Most are on field trips from elementary schools. Also on the property is a General Store where one can buy goods from the farm including meats and sauce. There are plans to expand the pizza farm idea around the Midwest. Future sites include Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and even inside the city limits of Chicago. "Because of its small size you can set one up almost anywhere," Weis says. "All you need is parking." Walt Gregory and Lynne Weis give tours March through October, seven days a week. Admission for kids and seniors is $4.50 and adults $5.50. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, R Pizza Farm, 25873 State Highway Route 3, Dow, Ill. 62022 (ph 618 466-5950; email: rpizzafarm@sbcglobal.net).

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