The Farm
A working nursery on the home place in Whitmore Lake.
Native plants, medicinal herbs, and the early pieces of something larger. The farm is real, forward-looking, and built to eventually feed the restoration work happening out in the woods.
"The long plan is for what we grow here to feed the restoration work we do out there."
What's Growing
The nursery focuses on native plants and medicinal herbs — species that have been part of Michigan's landscape for generations, and plants that are genuinely useful. Most of what's growing here is either sold direct or eventually moves into restoration plantings.
Native Plants
Milkweed
Common and butterfly milkweed — essential monarch habitat and a Michigan native that handles both sun and dry soil.
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa — a tough, fragrant native that supports native bees and adds structure to restored plantings.
Sweetgrass
Hierochloe odorata — fragrant, slow to establish, and ecologically meaningful. Limited availability.
Native Sedges & Grasses
Carex species and prairie grasses suited to Michigan's varied soil and moisture conditions.
Medicinal & Culinary Herbs
Echinacea
Purple coneflower — both medicinal and ornamental, and genuinely useful as a native prairie species.
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium — hardy, medicinal, and one of the better plants for transitional areas and dry slopes.
Culinary Herbs
A rotating selection of kitchen herbs — grown to support farm sales and test what sells well locally.
Medicinal Perennials
Rotating selection of medicinal species grown from seed. Ask what's available this season.
Where This Is Going
The farm and the forestry work aren't two separate things. The plan — the longer one, the one that takes years — is for the nursery to supply native plant material for the restoration and conservation work happening out in the woods.
Most ecological restoration projects require large quantities of locally sourced native plants. Buying from distant commercial nurseries is expensive and produces mixed results. Growing them here, from regional seed stock, produces better plants and builds a tighter connection between what's grown on this farm and what goes back into the land.
Restoration that starts with locally grown plants is restoration that actually takes. The goal is to close that loop here — grow it, plant it, watch it work.
The nursery is early stage right now. Direct sales, farmers markets, and some local restoration projects. The infrastructure grows as the forestry work grows. That's the plan, and it's going according to plan.
Where to Find the Plants
Plants are available through direct farm sales and at local markets. Availability changes seasonally — get in touch if you're looking for something specific or want to plan ahead.
Direct Farm Sales
Purchase direct from the farm in Whitmore Lake. Best for larger quantities or specific species. Contact ahead to confirm availability.
Farmers Markets
Available at local markets through the growing season. Check in for current market locations and schedules.
Restoration Projects
If you're planning a restoration planting as part of a forestry management plan, native plant supply from the nursery can be part of the project.
Curious about the farm?
Interested in native plants, want to know what's available this season, or thinking about incorporating locally grown plants into a restoration project? Get in touch.
Get in Touch