Looking for wetlands, ponds and adjacent agricultural land that can be conserved, rewilded, and sowed with wild rice and wetland plants, to blend wetland conservation, production of wild rice, wetland plants seed gathering and waterfowl nature areas for migration, resting, nesting and raising of young.
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, Mentorship, Working arrangement with future partner
Jan 12, 2026
Desired Acreage
- 26-100 Acres
- 101-250 Acres
- 251-500 Acres
Desired Infrastructure
Desired Land Usage
Goals, Values, Vision
Our family has a passion for waterfowl which led us to be avid proponents of wetland conservation. In 2025 we began to investigate ways to protect and enhance wetlands as well as be a productive farm. Their search led us to Michigan wild rice, or Manoomin, the state's official native grain, aquatic grass. It grows in shallow, slow waters and differs from cultivated rice, offering rich nutrition and cultural heritage. Our goal is to commercially grow wild rice here in Michigan. Additionally, we hope to restore or enhance with a variety of native wetland plants. With the increasing interest in wetland restoration, both privately and publicly, there is a market for native wetland seed that needs to be hand picked.
The mixture of wetlands and grasslands will provide high quality nesting and brood rearing habitat for ducks such as mallards and blue-winged teal, geese, a variety of grassland songbirds and pollinator habitat for the monarch and other native bee species. We hope to work with the Michigan Wetland Management, Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and to help us provide homes to hundreds of nesting birds and a resting area for thousands of migrating waterfowl. Our goal will be to baseline the existing biodiversity and identify effective, ‘light-touch’ measures, allowing them to improve biodiversity across the site. We broke these down into three categories; protection of existing features, enhancement of degraded areas and creation of new habitats. Blending rewilding principles with agriculture is our aim, so that productivity will be maintained or enhanced.
We will also be providing wild duck rehabilitation and release. In Washtenaw County alone, thousands of wild ducklings are found displaced from their mother each spring. Currently, there is no facility that takes wild ducklings, and they are left for nature to take its course. Our goal will be to take in these ducklings, raise them in a secure area, and then release them back into the wild, right on the farm. Blending wetland conservation, wild rice and waterfowl rehabilitation and restoration.
Farming Status
Current Farming Status
Not currently farming, Current active business plan
Farm Experience/Education
Farm employee, Farm internship/apprenticeship
Mentoring
I am seeking mentorship
Farming Plans and Practices
Farming Method
Organic Practices
THE RICE-DUCK FARMING SYSTEM IN RICE FIELD
Also known as rice-duck integration, is an innovative agricultural practice that combines rice cultivation with ducks. This system is designed to enhance the productivity and sustainability of rice farming. Here’s an overview:
1. System Design:
- Rice Paddies: Ducks are introduced into rice fields during the early stages of rice growth, after the fields have been flooded.
- Ducks: Ducks are allowed to roam freely within the rice paddies, where they can feed on weeds, insects, and other pests.
2. Benefits:
- Pest Control: Ducks consume harmful pests and weeds in the rice fields, reducing the need for chemical pesticides and herbicides.
- Nutrient Recycling: Duck droppings serve as a natural fertilizer, enriching the soil with nutrients that benefit rice plants.
- Enhanced Soil Aeration: The ducks' movement helps to aerate the soil, which can improve water infiltration and root growth for the rice.
3. Management Considerations:
- Timing: Ducks are typically introduced once the rice has grown to a certain height to avoid damaging the young plants.
- Field Conditions: Proper management is needed to ensure that ducks do not overeat rice seedlings or cause other damage.
4. Challenges:
- Field Management: Balancing the benefits of duck activity with the need to protect the rice crop requires careful field management.
