I am a Master's Student at the School for Environment and Sustainability at University of Michigan where I am studying sustainable food systems and agroforestry. Before that, I farmed at a number of places in Michigan including Nature & Nurture Farms, Old City Acres, Frog Holler Farm and The Urban Canopy in Chicago, working for about 7 seasons. My goal is to take everything I've learned and cultivate an agroforestry demonstration farm and business where we will showcase various agroforestry practices such as the use of windbreaks, alley cropping, silvopasture systems, riparian buffers and food forests. Essentially, we will be growing fruit, nut and timber trees mixed in with perennial and annual row crops. I will partner with the University of Michigan, MSU Extension and the Michigan Agroforestry Working Group to ensure as much research and outreach as possible takes place on the site. We will also provide peer-to-peer farmer training for the greater community and a U-pick section. My vision is for this farm to be a living learning lab.
Preferred location: Genesee, Hillsdale, Jackson, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, Wayne
Desired Transitional Agreement: Farm Seeker/Farm Owner Partnership, Lease, Lease to buy, Sale, Working arrangement with future partner
Jun 22, 2025
Desired Acreage
- 1-5 Acres
- 5-10 Acres
- 11-25 Acres
Desired Infrastructure
Goals, Values, Vision
The vision is for the farm to be a living learning lab. I will also continue my mentor, Ken from Oikos Tree Crops’ legacy of growing regionally adapted plants by cultivating a tree nursery. Thus, we will provide both the technical assistance, research, and resources people need to integrate tree crops into their grow systems.
As a prior organic produce grower, I need to gain skills in pruning, tree propagation, silvo-pasture farming with pigs, chickens and ducks. I would need to acquire equipment for harvesting and processing fruits and nuts. Essentially, we will be growing fruit, nut and timber trees alongside perennial row crops such as asparagus, strawberry, rhubarb, garlic, and alfalfa, etc.
Farming Status
Current Farming Status
Not currently farming
Farm Experience/Education
Farm employee, Farm internship/apprenticeship, Formal agricultural education
Farming Plans and Practices
Farming Method
Certified Organic
We would become certified organic. We would also do agroforestry methods using trees for windbreaks, riparian buffers, silvopasture, and forest farming with mushrooms.
