agritourism

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Can agritourism help Michigan farms survive?

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Small American farmers are facing an existential crisis driven by record debt, corporate consolidation, and policy shifts that have negatively impacted farmers for well over 25 years, according to Time magazine. So how can Michigan save family farms and protect the rich agricultural heritage? Agritourism is one solution. Michigan farmers, and farming families who have been considering growing their agricultural businesses, listened to the opportunities offered during The Agritourism Summit held May 13-14. Starting with a pre-summit farm tour through Antrim County and an evening soiree, the Agritourism Summit was held at the Grand Traverse Resort with a focus on Planting Seeds for a Resilient, Sustainable Agritourism Industry.

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9 Bean Rows, an innovative agritourism champion

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Farming is tough, and the margins are small. The same is true for grocery stores and for restaurants. So, of course, Jen and Nic Welty decided to combine all three. They say it’s worth all the work, and judging by the crowds at their farm/café/retail bakery, so too do those enjoying the fruits of their labors. “It’s been pandemonium. We’re taking the winter to regroup,” says Jen. The latest iteration of 9 Bean Rows includes indoor seating as well as the outdoor pizza oven and outdoor seating. Lines for the bread and pastries frequently extend out the door, while diners navigate the ordering process through QR codes at their tables. Part of our series on agritourism and solutions to the farming crisis.

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It’s always tea time at Light of Day

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Angela Macke never wanted to be a farmer. “I grew up on a farm and I knew it was hard work,” she says. So here she is tending to her tea farm, Light of Day. She packages a number of different teas at the Demeter-certified biodynamic organic farm on M-72 west of Traverse City. What happened to change her mind? Why organic? And what the heck is biodynamic and Demeter anyway? Check out the third story in our series on agritourism and solutions to the farming crisis.

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Navigating the corn maze: Jacob’s Farm champions agritourism

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“Houses are great, but I think this is real pretty,” Jacob’s Farm owner Michael Witkop said as he stood outside the hilltop Orchard View wedding barn and gazed north across their 10-acre corn maze to the red centennial barn, where workers scurried like busy ants to open the restaurant, bar, and outdoor music venue by early June. Beyond the M-72 corridor, which connects his destination to bustling Traverse City, the hills of Leelanau County hovered in the distance like low-hanging clouds. We’re featuring Jacob’s Farm as part of our series on innovative solutions to the farming crisis. On May 7, Witkop addressed 65 attendees of Michigan State University (MSU) Extension’s first-ever Agritourism Summit, which included a tour of local agritourism businesses that have succeeded in bringing customers directly to their farms—thereby forestalling the fate that has forced tens of thousands of small farms across the United States to close in recent decades.

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651 Project debuts near Cedar

The 651 Project has been established to assist students nationwide in their pursuit of agricultural skills and knowledge. Specific areas of focus include organic farming, viticulture, construction technology, agritourism, responsible landscape design, and green energy technology. Farm 651 in Cedar will serve as a learning campus for the endeavor.

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