The people behind the pizza.
Nothing is more important to us than using the absolute best, freshest ingredients available, and we count ourselves lucky that many of them are grown locally by people we're proud to call not just our neighbors, but our friends. Our relationships with our producers run deep; without them Park Street Pizza as we know it simply wouldn't exist. So we'd like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the people behind the pizza. If you're lucky enough to be in the neighborhood and you happen to see them, thank them for thoughtfully tending the earth, growing awesome food, and helping us make good pizza great.
Sweetwater Farm
Owners, Bert and Mary Hostetler
Pizza without tomatoes? Inconceivable! Same goes for peppers, onions, and fresh herbs. Thank heavens, family-run Sweetwater Farm is only a mile from our restaurant. Every winter we sit down at Mary's kitchen table to discuss what seeds she'll be ordering, planting, and harvesting for us in the upcoming year. We source lots of varieties of tomatoes( grapes, heirlooms, Romas); lettuces for our salads including "Grandma's," a heritage breed that Mary grows from her own seeds; a whole lot of seasonal produce including eggplant, cucumbers, rainbow carrots, broccolli, peppers, onions, squash, garlic and herbs; flowers for our tables; and blue and brown eggs from the farm's happy, free-range chickens. One of our favorite things about Sweetwater is that all of their plants are grown from Non-GMO seeds and raised using old-school organic practices and natural farming techniques instead of harsh chemicals. Sweetwater may not be certified organic, but Bert and Mary take great pride in the way they raise their crops.
Sweet Meadows Farm
Owners: The Kimpel Family
Fifty-five years ago, Charles and Mary Kimpel drove away from their rented property in Glenford, Ohio and started living their dream on their own 88 acres of beautiful, rolling pasture just outside Roseville, Ohio. There they raised three sons, as well as cattle, sheep, hogs, and chickens.
When their son Tim graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in Animal Science, he and his wife Martha purchased nearly 100 acres next door to his parents' farm, where he put his interest in energy conservation and alternative forms of agriculture to work. He built a passive solar home and started a grass-based dairy farm operation, which his sister Katie managed until she completed college.
Tim raises all of his crops and livestock without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or antibiotics of any kind—a practice that's kinder to both the animals and the land. In 2009 the farm was the first in Muskingum County to be certified organic.
In order to market the humanely-raised meat and eggs from Tim's farm, Katie and her husband Shawn started their own small company and began selling the farms product's at the Zanesville Farmers Market, including the Sweet Italian Sausage we feature on our pizzas.
One of the goals of the Kimpel family was to not only grow their business, but also help others in the community who shared their vision. Sweet Meadows is proud to say that they have supported over 25 local farms in their community.
Bosler’s Bees
Owners: Jason & Angie Bosler
The Bosler Bee story starts in 2007 when Jason Bosler started reading books on the topic at the Dover Public Library. This led to purchasing books about beekeeping and research that lasted nearly a year. During that time Bosler branched out and met with the Tri-County Beekeepers. “The more info the better,” Jason Bosler shared. “I wanted to know all that I could.”
Reading led to six classes and soon two hives, bees, safety equipment were in his possession. In April 2009, the bees came home and a month later they added a third hive. Things got buzzin’ in 2010 when Bosler purchased seven more hives. And upon a dear friend and mentor’s retirement, the family acquired four more hives. By the end of 2010, the Boslers had amassed a total of 33 hives. During the winter months, they split most of those hives, giving them a whopping 60. Those hives found homes in Baltic, Dundee, Wilmot and Dover to pollinate far and wide in Holmes, Tuscarawas and Stark counties.
“We really found that we enjoyed the people we were meeting along the way,” Bosler explained of meetings with the Ohio State Beekeepers, Buckeye Queen Producers asnd others. “We really enjoyed getting to know folks at the Tuscarawas Valley Farm Market as well as Family Farm Field Day where we could interact with customers and teach them the reality of bees and the benefits they bring to the garden and the table.”
One thing that really sparked Bosler’s interest was that of queen rearing or creating queen bees. “A queen controls the hive,” Bosler said. “By creating new queens, you can alter a hive in terms of their gentleness, ability to survive the winter and withstand disease, not to mention honey production.”
Fast forward to 2015 and Boslers began a relationship with Country Bee Supply that allowed the business to have two locations. That relationship ultimately allowed Boslers to purchase the inventory of the business and become what is known as Bosler’s Bee Stuff.
The business was long known for quality beekeeping supplies that were sourced locally from Amish shops and those connections and commitment remain intact. “The hives, for instance, are constructed right here in Holmes County,” Bosler said. “They are made by real people. The quality is impeccable.”
Boslers Bee Stuff carries a full line of beekeeping equipment. They feature hives and hive parts, tools of the trade, protective wear, queen rearing components, novelty items such as signage and labels, harvesting and marketing items including a full line of jars and bottles as well as supplements and speciality feeds for bees. In addition, Boslers Bee Stuff offers live bees for sale as well as NUCS and a broad range of educational materials from books to posters. While most items can be shipped, it should be noted that NUCS are only available for pick up in Dundee, Ohio.
“If you need pollen patties, we’ve got them,” Bosler said. “We have things in stock to get someone started in beekeeping or to get hives through the winter.”
Boslers Bee Stuff also has raw honey sales. “We have wax, honey combs, honey, candy and honey sticks,” shared Jason’s wife, Angie Bosler. “This is honey from bees right here, so it tastes different from something you purchase at the store.” The couple noted that the taste is one that has layers of flavor that includes clover.
Honey sales. Seminars. Pollination services. Education. Honey bee removal. Whatever your need is, if it’s bee-related, Boslers Bee Stuff has you covered.
For more info, email us at boslersbeestuff@gmail.com
Hillcrest Orchard
Owner: Merle J. Hershberger
Right down the road in Walnut Creek, family-run Hillcrest Orchard grows fruit and produce on 50 lush acres. Known for their fresh sweet cider, pumpkins, berries, and squash, they're our go-to guys for the apples we use in our salads. And their butternut squash makes special guest appearances each fall and winter in a number of our seasonal specialties.