1. Dining On The Farm

Wouldn't this be fun? Still probably 2-3 years off, but once the farm builds its Certified Kitchen this will make for some awfully fun and tasty evenings, featuring the farm's fine produce with different themed dinners. A true 100-Yard (not 100 mile!) dinner. See Outstanding in the Field

2. Barn Movies

Movies shown off the rear of the barn!

3. Bringing Chefs to the Farm for Cooking Demos

4. Farming/Gardening Workshops

5. A Winter CSA

Yes, it is possible to grow vegetables, greens especially, year round in Michigan! This is a shot of Eliot Coleman's greenhouse during the middle of winter. The cold temperatures make the greenhouse a giant refrigerator for the greens, holding their quallity until they are ready for harvest. Many root crops, squash, onions, potatoes, garlic, shallots, cabbage, can also be stored in cool storage (40-50F) during the winter. Once the farm has the funding to build these larger greenhouses, the Winter CSA will likely be born. 2011 will likely be the first Winter CSA year at Green Gardens.

6. Organic Fruit Tree Orchard

Paw Paws, Pears and Apples are still a few years away. Need to learn more about organic production of tree fruits, but it certainly seems possible.

I've recently learned of the Liberty Apple, a disease-resistant apple with good flavor. We also have a paw paw breeder nearby in Bellevue at Tollgate Gardens and Nursery. Paw Paws are the closest thing to tropical-tasting fruit we could grow here on the farm. They have a nice, smooth custardy-banana flavor and are naturally pest and disease resistant. Pears...one of my favorites...we have to figure out how to grow them!

7. Certified Kitchen

This way the farm can preserve the harvest for the winter and also make all kinds of great foods like pesto, salsa, jams, breads, etc. We hope to also make it a demonstration kitchen, so the farm can provide cooking workshops for its wonderful customers.

Other Ideas? Please let us know what you've got in mind. I am interested to learn what the community values in the farm. Besides producing food, the farm aims to build community, promote a wider understanding of sustainability living, and encourage new growers to start new farms in the area.

8. Seed Selling

Purchasing seeds from a local grower makes for the healthiest, best-yielding, most locally-adapted plants. 

9. Farm Tours