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

    Join the Agriculture & Food Sovereignty Department of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians for a guided tour of their innovative fish composting site and farm. The visit will begin with a welcoming ceremony from 8th Fire elders, followed by an overview of the fish fertilizer project, which transforms over 6,500 pounds of fish waste per week into high-quality organic soil amendments. Attendees will walk through the barn and outdoor composting areas, tour the hoop houses, and learn how this work supports GTB’s broader vision for food sovereignty and community nourishment.

  • Option Two: 9 Bean Rows & Bardenhagen Berries

    At 9 Bean Rows, farming is rooted in care—for the soil, the food, and the community. This tour looks closer at the farm’s no-till, chemical-free growing practices, prioritizing soil health, flavor, and nutrition. Guests will learn how extended production in a short growing season is possible through hoop houses and how careful harvesting methods preserve freshness and quality. The tour also explores the unique dynamics of running a thriving on-site market and bakery, and it offers a look at what is ahead as 9 Bean Rows continues to grow and evolve.

    With over 150 years of farming in Leelanau County, Bardenhagen Berries is a family-run farm known for its flavorful strawberries and sweet cherries. This tour explores how the farm has evolved—adding vegetables, cut flowers, and a CSA to support long-term viability. Guests will learn how Bardenhagen balances tradition with innovation through sustainable practices, season extension, and diverse marketing channels, including farmers markets, u-pick, and wholesale. The tour highlights how diversification and strong community ties have shaped the farm’s success.

    This tour is supported by the Michigan Transition to Organic Partnership Program.

TUESDAY MORNING TOUR OPTIONS

  • Option One: Hallstedt Homestead & Green Bird Cellars

    Nestled in Northport, Hallstedt Cherry Farm has been growing memories since 2006. This tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at a working cherry farm that balances u-pick, wholesale, and value-added production. Guests will visit the vinegar-making facilities, tour the orchards to learn about unique cherry varietals, and even pick a few cherries. The farm has also expanded to include cut flowers, which have become an important part of their evolving business model.

    Tucked into a secluded valley just south of Northport, Green Bird Organic Cellars is a 15-acre regenerative farm, cidery, and winery committed to “beyond-organic” practices. The tour will explore the vineyard, garden, and pastures, with visits to the farm’s sheep and chickens. Learn how rotational grazing supports soil health, how the team engages with the public, and how value-added products contribute to a resilient farm business. Along the way, the Green Bird team will share insights into the challenges and successes of regenerative farming on the Leelanau Peninsula.

    This tour is supported by the Michigan Transition to Organic Partnership Program.

  • Option Two: Lakeview Hill Farm & Lively NeighborFood Market

    Lakeview Hill Farm is a certified organic vegetable and cut flower farm in Traverse City. They specialize in hoop house and greenhouse production. In addition to supplying local groceries, restaurants, and a 200-member CSA through MI Farm Coop, the farm also operates a thriving year-round market and flower farm. This tour explores the farm’s growth—from early infrastructure development supported by co-founder John’s construction background to shifting from farmers markets to wholesale and direct-to-customer sales. Guests will gain insights into working with the public through on-farm experiences.

    At the intersection of food, farming, and community, the Lively Farm & Neighborfood Market is building a new kind of local food hub inspired by the year-round model of Ann Arbor’s Argus Farm Stop. This tour will begin with an orientation to the site—featuring the farm, the all-electric, solar-powered market, and the on-site Lively Acres Campground. Guests will visit The Lively Farm, a regenerative operation run by one of the founders’ daughters, and learn how the farm partners with the market while operating as its own business. The tour also includes a stop at the on-site composting system before concluding at the Neighborfood Market, where hosts will share how the space supports local farmers and fosters community connection.

    This tour is supported by the Michigan Transition to Organic Partnership Program.

  • 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.