FARM TOURS

Make the most of the summer conference with farm tours offered both Monday and Tuesday. Transportation will be provided so you can sit back and connect with fellow attendees along the way.

MONDAY AFTERNOON TOUR OPTIONS

  • Option One: Grand Traverse Bay Band Gitigaan

    Grand Traverse Bay Band Gitigaan is vehicle by which Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians pursues the ambitious goal of establishing food sovereignty in the future. This community farming operation utilizes unique composting and community farming systems.

  • Option Two: 9 Bean Rows & Bardenhagen Berries

    9 Bean Rows grows diversified vegetables and has a well-loved bakery and market on site. They also helped found MI Farm Co-Op for a creative solution to sales.

    Bardenhagen Berries is well loved for their flavorful strawberries throughout the region. They also grow vegetables and flowers for a CSA program to diversify income streams.

TUESDAY MORNING TOUR OPTIONS

  • Option One: Hallstedt Homestead & Green Bird Cellars

    Hallstedt Homestead grows sweet and tart cherries for you-pick, produces a cherry vinegar, and is always looking for creative ways to diversify income streams.

    Green Bird Cellars is more than a popular wine tour destination. They’re committed to regenerative practices on thier organic vineyard and orchard, including grazing sheep in their vineyard.

  • Option Two: Lakeview Hill Farm & Lively NeighborFood Market

    Lakeview Hill Farm uses high-level heated greenhouse systems to offer year-round access to produce. They also have an on-farm market selling a variety of local items.

    Lively NeighborFoodMarket is a rural Farm Stop style marketplace offering all the grocery basics in Empire, where access to groceries is limited.

  • Option Three: Glen Arbor Farmers Market

    Glen Arbor hosts a truly incredible farmers market. In this session, the market manager will share some of the whys behind their success and participants will have time to explore the market.

    This free tour will be offered alongside other sessions and does not include transportation.