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Nestled on Kasson Road as it winds through the trees outside Cedar is a dynamic property called Cedar North. Part Airbnb, part artist residency, part gallery and artists’ studio, the space is an investment in the artist community and ecological landscape of Leelanau.  Owned by husband and wife James Reznich and Julie Botsford, the project has evolved over seven years of living and farming on the adjacent property at their farm, J2 Farms. Both professionals by day—James, a dentist, and Julie, a pharmacist—the couple cares for their sprawling regenerative farm, utilizing permaculture techniques as they raise goats, cattle, chickens, and ducks, alongside gardens and a forest containing sugar maple and mushroom groves.

“I feel I’ve been aiming in this direction all along, though it didn’t seem like it at times,” shared Gaia Nesvacil as we sipped a cup of coffee and watched the end of a summer storm approach from the west, wind and rain drops gathering force. “On and off these past three years I’ve been working towards the budding of a flower operation. This is my first year leasing a half acre in Leelanau County to grow cut flowers to take to the farmers market.”