Farm Field Trips


Expect field trips to 20+ farms in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Grand Rapids and Southwest Michigan and a weekend trip to Traverse City. OFTP participants often list these field trips as a highlight of the program, giving them insights into many different ways to approach infrastructure, growing methods and other farm techniques. Each year, participants vote on farms to visit, but below is a list of typical farms.
Detroit
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Keep Growing Detroit - Grows transplants for 2000 gardens in Detroit!
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Fisheye Farms - No-till vegetables
- D-Town Farm & Detroit Black Food Security Network - National leaders in addressing racism in the food and farming system
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Tollgate Farm - Vegetables, livestock, education, events
Ann Arbor
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Raindance Farm - U Pick flowers and U Pick vegetable CSA
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Green Things Farm Collective - 5 Farm Owners collaborate to grow 3.5 acres of no-till vegetables & seed crops, beef on pasture
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Nature & Nurture - Seeds!
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Tantre Farm - 35 acres of vegetables and a mushroom forest
Lansing
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Magnolia Farms - Urban farm, vegetables, medicinal herbs
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4H Children's Garden - 1st children's garden in the US
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Wildtype - Native plants & ecological restoration
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Two Sparrows - Herdshare dairy, beef, hay
Grand Rapids
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Green Wagon Farm - Vegetables, lean farming techniques
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New City Farm - Vegetables, youth education, on-farm cafe
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Shady Side Farm - Dry beans, lamb & beef on pasture
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Crane Dance Farm - Animal Welfare Approved, rotationally-grazed livestock
SouthWest Michigan (Battle Creek/Kalamazoo)
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Green Gardens - Vegetable farm and successful wedding venue
- Tiller's International - Animal tillage and traditional skills, workshops, international tool research
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KVCC ValleyHub - Hydroponics, auquaponics, food hub, education
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Kellogg Biological Station - Pastured dairy with robotic milking equipment, cover crop research
Traverse City
- Coveyou Scenic Farm
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Bear Creek Organics – Microgreens, transplants, garlic, honey and vegetables
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Spirit of Walloon – 1.5 acres of intensive vegetables & cut flowers
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Providence Farm – Tractor-scale vegetable & livestock farm with on-farm deli
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Buckwheat’s Market Garden – Vegetable farm
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9 Bean Rows – Vegetable Farm with an on-farm bakery and café
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Green Bird Cellars – Organic vineyard and winery
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Birch Point Farm – farm owned by MSU Student Organic Farm’s first farm manager
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Loma Farm – Vegetable farm with a nearby farm-to-table restaurant
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GrowBenzie – Community non-profit with an incubator farm and farmers’ market onsite
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May Farm – Pastured poultry and rotationally grazed sheep