Seed Farm | Three Dogs Seed Farm | Michigan | Home

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Three Dogs Seed Farm is a small-scale seed farm situated on Anishinaabe land in the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Our mission is to grow and share seeds important to our community and to steward crops adapted to our unique northern growing conditions. We intend to do this while maintaining respectful relationships with others that call this place home.

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Visit our Farm News and Notes page to follow along with us throughout the seasons.

Stay tuned and feel free to send us a message through the Contact tab if you'd like to learn more about the farm or work together in the future.

Willie of the 7 Pots, a photoshoot.

#7potprimo #peppers #jackchi #hightunnel

Willie of the 7 Pots, a photoshoot.

#7potprimo #peppers #jackchi #hightunnel

Sunshine Cherry are early contenders for most vigorous tomatoes in the #hoophouse, but Magic Bullet is right there with them. Both were grown from #seed and are originally from @adaptive_seeds. #Qlipr hooks are up, but don’t have the wickets in from @neversinkfarmtools, yet.

#hightunnel #tomatoes #seedfarm #seedkeeping #smallfarm #michigangrown

Sunshine Cherry are early contenders for most vigorous tomatoes in the #hoophouse, but Magic Bullet is right there with them. Both were grown from #seed and are originally from @adaptive_seeds. #Qlipr hooks are up, but don’t have the wickets in from @neversinkfarmtools, yet.

#hightunnel #tomatoes #seedfarm #seedkeeping #smallfarm #michigangrown

Made it to the guttation part of the day. Can relate to these hydathode-bearing pals, even if we’re getting rid of water for different reasons. I think it’s beautiful.

#tomato #hightunnel #guttation #plantbiology #smallfarm #seedfarm #plantsatnight #michigan #july #farm

Made it to the guttation part of the day. Can relate to these hydathode-bearing pals, even if we’re getting rid of water for different reasons. I think it’s beautiful.

#tomato #hightunnel #guttation #plantbiology #smallfarm #seedfarm #plantsatnight #michigan #july #farm

Last of the June evening skies.

#hightunnel #hoophouse # smallfarm #seedkeeping #june #michigan #greatlakes #zone4 #farm

Last of the June evening skies.

#hightunnel #hoophouse # smallfarm #seedkeeping #june #michigan #greatlakes #zone4 #farm

I can’t imagine being further south for this heat. High tunnel weeding sesh — let’s sweat, baby!
#hoophouse #hightunnel #farm #seedkeeping #seedfarm #🥵

I can’t imagine being further south for this heat. High tunnel weeding sesh — let’s sweat, baby!
#hoophouse #hightunnel #farm #seedkeeping #seedfarm #🥵

#MagicMolly prep day.
AmaRosa Fingerling, Dark Red Norland, Caribou, and Huckleberry Gold are also getting a couple days to callus before being placed sub-surface.

#potatoes #potato #smallfarm

#MagicMolly prep day.
AmaRosa Fingerling, Dark Red Norland, Caribou, and Huckleberry Gold are also getting a couple days to callus before being placed sub-surface.

#potatoes #potato #smallfarm

“…
and thank you to the man all night long
hosing a mist on his early-bloomed
peach tree so that the hard frost
not waste the crop, the ice
in his beard and the ghosts
lifting from him when the warming sun
told him sleep now; thank you
the ancestor who loved you
before she knew you
by smuggling seeds into her braid for the long
journey, who loved you
before he knew you by putting
a walnut tree in the ground, who loved you
before she knew you by not slaughtering
the land; thank you
who did not bulldoze the ancient grove
of dates and olives,
who sailed his keys into the ocean
and walked softly home; who did not fire, who did not
plunge the head into the toilet, who said stop,
don’t do that; who lifted some broken
someone up; who volunteered
the way a plant birthed of the reseeding plant
is called a volunteer, like the plum tree
that marched beside the raised bed
in my garden, like the arugula that marched
itself between the blueberries,
nary a bayonet, nary an army, nary a nation,
which usage of the word volunteer
familiar to gardeners the wide world
made my pal shout “Oh!” and dance
and plunge his knuckles
into the lush soil before gobbling two strawberries
and digging a song from his guitar
made of wood from a tree someone planted, thank you;

thank you zinnia, and gooseberry, rudbeckia
and pawpaw, Ashmead’s kernel, cockscomb
and scarlet runner, feverfew and lemonbalm;
thank you knitbone and sweetgrass and sunchoke
and false indigo whose petals stammered apart
by bumblebees good lord please give me a minute...
and moonglow and catkin and crookneck
and painted tongue and seedpod and johnny jump-up;
thank you what in us rackets glad
what gladrackets us;

and thank you, too, this knuckleheaded heart, this pelican heart,
this gap-toothed heart flinging open its gaudy maw
to the sky, oh clumsy, oh bumblefucked,
oh giddy, oh dumbstruck,
oh rickshaw, oh goat twisting
its head at me from my peach tree’s highest branch,
balanced impossibly gobbling the last fruit,
its tongue working like an engine,
a lone sweet drop tumbling by some miracle
into my mouth like the smell of someone I’ve loved;
…”

-Ross Gay, from Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude

“…
and thank you to the man all night long
hosing a mist on his early-bloomed
peach tree so that the hard frost
not waste the crop, the ice
in his beard and the ghosts
lifting from him when the warming sun
told him sleep now; thank you
the ancestor who loved you
before she knew you
by smuggling seeds into her braid for the long
journey, who loved you
before he knew you by putting
a walnut tree in the ground, who loved you
before she knew you by not slaughtering
the land; thank you
who did not bulldoze the ancient grove
of dates and olives,
who sailed his keys into the ocean
and walked softly home; who did not fire, who did not
plunge the head into the toilet, who said stop,
don’t do that; who lifted some broken
someone up; who volunteered
the way a plant birthed of the reseeding plant
is called a volunteer, like the plum tree
that marched beside the raised bed
in my garden, like the arugula that marched
itself between the blueberries,
nary a bayonet, nary an army, nary a nation,
which usage of the word volunteer
familiar to gardeners the wide world
made my pal shout “Oh!” and dance
and plunge his knuckles
into the lush soil before gobbling two strawberries
and digging a song from his guitar
made of wood from a tree someone planted, thank you;

thank you zinnia, and gooseberry, rudbeckia
and pawpaw, Ashmead’s kernel, cockscomb
and scarlet runner, feverfew and lemonbalm;
thank you knitbone and sweetgrass and sunchoke
and false indigo whose petals stammered apart
by bumblebees good lord please give me a minute...
and moonglow and catkin and crookneck
and painted tongue and seedpod and johnny jump-up;
thank you what in us rackets glad
what gladrackets us;

and thank you, too, this knuckleheaded heart, this pelican heart,
this gap-toothed heart flinging open its gaudy maw
to the sky, oh clumsy, oh bumblefucked,
oh giddy, oh dumbstruck,
oh rickshaw, oh goat twisting
its head at me from my peach tree’s highest branch,
balanced impossibly gobbling the last fruit,
its tongue working like an engine,
a lone sweet drop tumbling by some miracle
into my mouth like the smell of someone I’ve loved;
…”

-Ross Gay, from Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude

The holiday feels early this year and I’ve felt late. The frost on my tent this morning is a small admonishment and also a gentle reminder— Don’t rush. It’s okay. Tender plants don’t like ice. Maybe I’m in time.

I slowed down this morning and was greeted by the sun and fog on the Fox. Magnolia, Black-and-white, and Black-throated green warblers. A veery and a vireo. Parulas and pileateds. Waterthrush as the sun came up and the whip-poor-will tucked in. This would be enough.

I don’t have much to return for their song, but the leathery, sweet leaves in my hand from seasons passed remind me that we do what we can.

Wishing you all slow mornings and birdsong.

The holiday feels early this year and I’ve felt late. The frost on my tent this morning is a small admonishment and also a gentle reminder— Don’t rush. It’s okay. Tender plants don’t like ice. Maybe I’m in time.

I slowed down this morning and was greeted by the sun and fog on the Fox. Magnolia, Black-and-white, and Black-throated green warblers. A veery and a vireo. Parulas and pileateds. Waterthrush as the sun came up and the whip-poor-will tucked in. This would be enough.

I don’t have much to return for their song, but the leathery, sweet leaves in my hand from seasons passed remind me that we do what we can.

Wishing you all slow mornings and birdsong.

SUMMER
I still marvel at all the people who first mapped the summer sky — the pretty patterns from chalk and string they pulled across the fresh-swept floor. Every monster wishes their teeth gleamed louder than Vega, summer’s brightest star. Every night
has its own delights: waxwing, paper moth, firefly larvae. I would drink the red and blue stars if I thought my thin throat could handle it. Even at the darkest hour, my garden throws furtive dots of pale light to guide my steps: the bubble of fresh egg-froth on a frog’s back, the secret bloom of moonflowers
when the children have been tucked into their tiny beds.

O teasel bur and grasshopper-how you catch in the hem of my skirt like a summer cough. It’s exhausting, this desire. But I would never trade it for any shiny marble. Would you? I love the silence of sweat in these slow days of summer. All the mysterious sounds in the trees — like a sack of watches — while I tend to tomato plants
who have only thought to give four fruits this entire month.

-Aimee Nezhukumatathil

SUMMER
I still marvel at all the people who first mapped the summer sky — the pretty patterns from chalk and string they pulled across the fresh-swept floor. Every monster wishes their teeth gleamed louder than Vega, summer’s brightest star. Every night
has its own delights: waxwing, paper moth, firefly larvae. I would drink the red and blue stars if I thought my thin throat could handle it. Even at the darkest hour, my garden throws furtive dots of pale light to guide my steps: the bubble of fresh egg-froth on a frog’s back, the secret bloom of moonflowers
when the children have been tucked into their tiny beds.

O teasel bur and grasshopper-how you catch in the hem of my skirt like a summer cough. It’s exhausting, this desire. But I would never trade it for any shiny marble. Would you? I love the silence of sweat in these slow days of summer. All the mysterious sounds in the trees — like a sack of watches — while I tend to tomato plants
who have only thought to give four fruits this entire month.

-Aimee Nezhukumatathil

Little calves are bouncing around, trying to feed off the wrong end of mom. For a few minutes the sky was on fire.

Little calves are bouncing around, trying to feed off the wrong end of mom. For a few minutes the sky was on fire.

Attempts to coax the woodcock to the fire have so far failed. Savannah sparrows, however, are game. Hoping the bobolinks show their heads soon.

I got a bunch of high tunnel work done tonight. Feels good.

Attempts to coax the woodcock to the fire have so far failed. Savannah sparrows, however, are game. Hoping the bobolinks show their heads soon.

I got a bunch of high tunnel work done tonight. Feels good.

Greetings to the littles. It’s good to know ya, good to see ya. Here’s to a little warmth in the coming days.

Greetings to the littles. It’s good to know ya, good to see ya. Here’s to a little warmth in the coming days.

No filter on this spicy post. 🥵 IYKYK
Plants are popping!

#smallfarm #garden #roots #horseradish #zone4

No filter on this spicy post. 🥵 IYKYK
Plants are popping!

#smallfarm #garden #roots #horseradish #zone4

The snow has melted and I took my annual loop to check out the trees we’ve planted on the north side of the farm. We have some tamaracks that are taller than me, knee-high to chest-high white pines, and some 18” spruce. We received 200”+ of snow this year (still some in the woods), so I was happy to see these little ones standing up.

The snow has melted and I took my annual loop to check out the trees we’ve planted on the north side of the farm. We have some tamaracks that are taller than me, knee-high to chest-high white pines, and some 18” spruce. We received 200”+ of snow this year (still some in the woods), so I was happy to see these little ones standing up.

A little germ test for my own future growing.

#mandaamin #flintcorn #corn #miinikaanan #seed #germtest #zone4b #gardenplanning

A little germ test for my own future growing.

#mandaamin #flintcorn #corn #miinikaanan #seed #germtest #zone4b #gardenplanning

Ruh-roh, starting the 7 Pot Primos today! …have to say, that’s a generous “15+ seeds.” I’m starting ~35 and there’s still some in the seed packet.

#primospeppers #7pot #7potprimo #capsicumchinense #hotpeppers #seeds #primo

Ruh-roh, starting the 7 Pot Primos today! …have to say, that’s a generous “15+ seeds.” I’m starting ~35 and there’s still some in the seed packet.

#primospeppers #7pot #7potprimo #capsicumchinense #hotpeppers #seeds #primo

We’re doing it! …twice! The Pickford Community Library and Bayliss Public Library have graciously agreed to partner on a seed gathering! Join us later this month for a community seed exchange and to learn about the One Seed, One State initiative. We’ll talk seeds, plants, garden planning, and have plenty of time to mingle and share seeds. If you have any questions about seed exchanges, please feel free to reach out. This is a free event, open to all, and you don’t need to bring seeds to participate.
…

#seedexchange #sharingseeds #springiscoming #miinikaanan #garden #community #seedlibrary #seeds #oneseedonestate #michigan #zone4b

We’re doing it! …twice! The Pickford Community Library and Bayliss Public Library have graciously agreed to partner on a seed gathering! Join us later this month for a community seed exchange and to learn about the One Seed, One State initiative. We’ll talk seeds, plants, garden planning, and have plenty of time to mingle and share seeds. If you have any questions about seed exchanges, please feel free to reach out. This is a free event, open to all, and you don’t need to bring seeds to participate.
…

#seedexchange #sharingseeds #springiscoming #miinikaanan #garden #community #seedlibrary #seeds #oneseedonestate #michigan #zone4b

We are still in the thick of it here. We’ve received 181” of snow so far this year and it’s still early March. Last year was an unusual year with how little snow we received (87”). Our average is somewhere around 120”.

We are still in the thick of it here. We’ve received 181” of snow so far this year and it’s still early March. Last year was an unusual year with how little snow we received (87”). Our average is somewhere around 120”.

Wiisinidaa mnomiijim! Join @threedogsseedfarm and Waishkey Bay Farm on Monday, April 14th at 5 pm. We’ll share a meal and chat about seeds and garden planning. All are welcome!

Wiisinidaa mnomiijim! Join @threedogsseedfarm and Waishkey Bay Farm on Monday, April 14th at 5 pm. We’ll share a meal and chat about seeds and garden planning. All are welcome!

Sault Ste. Marie, Eastern UP, and northern Michigan gardeners, growers, aspiring growers, and food and garden enthusiasts: January is the time for dreaming! Right now, we’re dreaming up ways of supporting our local food network and we’d like to hear from you. As we prepare for the 2025 growing season, what community events and resources would support your growing endeavors in the coming year? In the past, we’ve organized seed sharing events, garden planning conversations, Seedkeeping 101’s, etc... and we’d like to get a few more on the books for this spring. Whether you’re a first time grower or have spent a lifetime doing this work, are there community events you’d like to see? Opportunities to grow our growing community? Would you just like a seedy coffee hour?

As always, assume that any event that 3DSF takes the lead on strives to create an inclusive and welcoming environment and to reduce or eliminate barriers related to cost and seed access.

Shoot us a message or drop us a line if you have ideas.

#gardening #bahweting #sault #saultstemarie #growing #gardenplanning

Sault Ste. Marie, Eastern UP, and northern Michigan gardeners, growers, aspiring growers, and food and garden enthusiasts: January is the time for dreaming! Right now, we’re dreaming up ways of supporting our local food network and we’d like to hear from you. As we prepare for the 2025 growing season, what community events and resources would support your growing endeavors in the coming year? In the past, we’ve organized seed sharing events, garden planning conversations, Seedkeeping 101’s, etc... and we’d like to get a few more on the books for this spring. Whether you’re a first time grower or have spent a lifetime doing this work, are there community events you’d like to see? Opportunities to grow our growing community? Would you just like a seedy coffee hour?

As always, assume that any event that 3DSF takes the lead on strives to create an inclusive and welcoming environment and to reduce or eliminate barriers related to cost and seed access.

Shoot us a message or drop us a line if you have ideas.

#gardening #bahweting #sault #saultstemarie #growing #gardenplanning

Greens, to complement all the bread I’ve been eating. 😂🥬 Harvested by headlamp on 12.4.24.

#smallfarm #seedfarm #farm #decembergrowing #harvest #nightharvest #albertaclipper #michigan #wintergrown #coldhardy #frosttolerant #lettuce #kale #brassica #miijim #biboon #december #hightunnel #hoophouse

Greens, to complement all the bread I’ve been eating. 😂🥬 Harvested by headlamp on 12.4.24.

#smallfarm #seedfarm #farm #decembergrowing #harvest #nightharvest #albertaclipper #michigan #wintergrown #coldhardy #frosttolerant #lettuce #kale #brassica #miijim #biboon #december #hightunnel #hoophouse

Winter palette of blues and pale oranges. We are still growing! The kale, winter cabbage, and lettuce have hung on the last couple weeks. I’m pretty impressed with the hoop so far!

#smallfarm #farm #produce #hoophouse #hightunnel #michigan #greatlakes #wintergrowing #snow #gitigaan

Winter palette of blues and pale oranges. We are still growing! The kale, winter cabbage, and lettuce have hung on the last couple weeks. I’m pretty impressed with the hoop so far!

#smallfarm #farm #produce #hoophouse #hightunnel #michigan #greatlakes #wintergrowing #snow #gitigaan

The #hightunnel is all cleaned up for the day and ready for the next wave of #snow that is coming our way. We’ve received feet of snow over the last couple days. The @niftyhoops tunnel handled it like a champ.

#smallfarm #seedfarm #hoophouse #greatlakes #november #winter #zone4 #farm #up #michigan #sault

The #hightunnel is all cleaned up for the day and ready for the next wave of #snow that is coming our way. We’ve received feet of snow over the last couple days. The @niftyhoops tunnel handled it like a champ.

#smallfarm #seedfarm #hoophouse #greatlakes #november #winter #zone4 #farm #up #michigan #sault

“Protect your spirit,
because you’re in the place where spirits get eaten.”
-John Trudell

I’ve kept this close recently as I’ve retreated inward a bit. I feel this deeply. The night sky has been a comfort for me, as have all the little signs left for me to find. Can you imagine not leaning in? Can you imagine selling the sky? Can you imagine taking this — who we are and what we’re part of— for granted? I hope not.

“Protect your spirit,
because you’re in the place where spirits get eaten.”
-John Trudell

I’ve kept this close recently as I’ve retreated inward a bit. I feel this deeply. The night sky has been a comfort for me, as have all the little signs left for me to find. Can you imagine not leaning in? Can you imagine selling the sky? Can you imagine taking this — who we are and what we’re part of— for granted? I hope not.

Today I am perfectly happy to be part of this wild “narrow snow band.” While we were bummed that it disrupted plans with family, I am glad we are having a snowy early winter.

We live just outside the Sault (SSM, MI). Some places in the Sault reported 23 inches of snow in 24 hours! I’m guessing we received a little less than that. This snowfall is reminding me of the memorable snows of my childhood— waist deep before you can get to it and blue in all of the corners.

I was happy to see the “bubble” of the high tunnel when we were able to get out to the farm today. There’s no way I was getting in the drive, so Benny had to drop me off at the road. I brought my snowshoes and set to work on getting snow away from the tunnel so it could continue shedding it on its own. While the hoop was doing a decent job shedding on its own, the snow had piled up over the hip boards, so space was running out. Weeks ago I spent what felt like way too much money on a forty foot foam snow brush. I’ve already used it multiple times and am glad I have it.

Inside the tunnel, the brassicas and lettuce are still growing! Now, the tunnel has a solid couple feet of snow around the base providing some additional insulation. The temps are supposed to drop into the teens (F) this weekend, though, so I suspect time is running out.

@niftyhoops

#seedfarm #farm #hightunnel #hoophouse #snow #michigan #greatlakes #november #snowstorm

Today I am perfectly happy to be part of this wild “narrow snow band.” While we were bummed that it disrupted plans with family, I am glad we are having a snowy early winter.

We live just outside the Sault (SSM, MI). Some places in the Sault reported 23 inches of snow in 24 hours! I’m guessing we received a little less than that. This snowfall is reminding me of the memorable snows of my childhood— waist deep before you can get to it and blue in all of the corners.

I was happy to see the “bubble” of the high tunnel when we were able to get out to the farm today. There’s no way I was getting in the drive, so Benny had to drop me off at the road. I brought my snowshoes and set to work on getting snow away from the tunnel so it could continue shedding it on its own. While the hoop was doing a decent job shedding on its own, the snow had piled up over the hip boards, so space was running out. Weeks ago I spent what felt like way too much money on a forty foot foam snow brush. I’ve already used it multiple times and am glad I have it.

Inside the tunnel, the brassicas and lettuce are still growing! Now, the tunnel has a solid couple feet of snow around the base providing some additional insulation. The temps are supposed to drop into the teens (F) this weekend, though, so I suspect time is running out.

@niftyhoops

#seedfarm #farm #hightunnel #hoophouse #snow #michigan #greatlakes #november #snowstorm

The early winter skies are here. Last night when I ran out to the high tunnel, I couldn’t help but take it in. The clear nights are the coldest, but this is the reward. How incredible is it that we were cast among these stars and get to call this place home?

We received our first snow the night before last. This is later in the year than usual, but this week’s forecast looks promising (5.8 inches of snow expected today).

I’d like to learn more constellations this winter.

#smallfarm #november #wintersky #nightsky #greatlakes #michigan #stars #farm

The early winter skies are here. Last night when I ran out to the high tunnel, I couldn’t help but take it in. The clear nights are the coldest, but this is the reward. How incredible is it that we were cast among these stars and get to call this place home?

We received our first snow the night before last. This is later in the year than usual, but this week’s forecast looks promising (5.8 inches of snow expected today).

I’d like to learn more constellations this winter.

#smallfarm #november #wintersky #nightsky #greatlakes #michigan #stars #farm

We’re starting to get little baby heads of the forellenschluss lettuce (aka Trout’s back).

#greens #romaine #lettuce #greatlakesgrown #smallfarm #farm #hughtunnel #hoophouse #november #forellenschluss #zone4 #michigangrown

We’re starting to get little baby heads of the forellenschluss lettuce (aka Trout’s back).

#greens #romaine #lettuce #greatlakesgrown #smallfarm #farm #hughtunnel #hoophouse #november #forellenschluss #zone4 #michigangrown

Thousandhead Kale

11.23.24

#hightunnel #hoophouse #kale #greens #smallfarm #greatlakesgrown #michiganfarm #seedfarm #november #niftyhoops

Thousandhead Kale

11.23.24

#hightunnel #hoophouse #kale #greens #smallfarm #greatlakesgrown #michiganfarm #seedfarm #november #niftyhoops

The high tunnel is still kicking out the greens and I haven’t put a frost blanket over them once.

#hightunnel #greens #hoophouse #kale #niftyhoops #greatlakes #greatlakesgrown #november #michigan

The high tunnel is still kicking out the greens and I haven’t put a frost blanket over them once.

#hightunnel #greens #hoophouse #kale #niftyhoops #greatlakes #greatlakesgrown #november #michigan

Look who it is! We’re starting to get some little rapini coming in off the Novantina that was planted in the hoop in August.

Look who it is! We’re starting to get some little rapini coming in off the Novantina that was planted in the hoop in August.

Shaky hands Dali-esque photo of the high tunnel tonight while I was grabbing greens.

3 second exposure on 0.5 zoom is strange.

Shaky hands Dali-esque photo of the high tunnel tonight while I was grabbing greens.

3 second exposure on 0.5 zoom is strange.

bapakwanagemag // red pine // Pinus resinosa
•••
I see a lot of parallels between bapakwanagemag (red pine) and mandaamin (corn). It’s a story repeated. Mandaamin is a protein and nutrition rich food, with as many forms and roles as the people that have grown her. Bapakwanagemag is one of our forest relatives— a tree that many in the Great Lakes likely recognize, and they often happen to have tall, straight trunks that are useful for wood. They don’t usually grow as the only species in the canopy.

As a society, we’ve simplified them. We plant them in rows alone, evenly spaced. Just. Like. So. Uniformity is king. Syrup, sweet corn, board feet, and basal area. We spray everyone else that tries to grow near their feet — herbicides on hundreds of thousands of acres year after year. Row crop agriculture at its worst. Simplified is a euphemism.

I’m guilty of thinking of red pine plantations as ‘low value’ myself. The birds don’t want to use them. Walking through them is creepy. There’s not enough cover for other wildlife.

This week the trees granted me a bit of a reminder. Bapakwanagemag hasn’t lost their gifts. They’ve just been mishandled.

Red pine resin is a potent story keeper. Lucky for us, red pines and their resin possess the gift of weathering fire and telling that story. They have been able to keep those stories at times when we have been forced to move away from understanding our respective roles in the forest.

Each heal curl records a fire in this tree/stump’s story. They’re well adapted for these fires. The berries thrive after fire, as do many others.

How many fires do you see?

bapakwanagemag // red pine // Pinus resinosa
•••
I see a lot of parallels between bapakwanagemag (red pine) and mandaamin (corn). It’s a story repeated. Mandaamin is a protein and nutrition rich food, with as many forms and roles as the people that have grown her. Bapakwanagemag is one of our forest relatives— a tree that many in the Great Lakes likely recognize, and they often happen to have tall, straight trunks that are useful for wood. They don’t usually grow as the only species in the canopy.

As a society, we’ve simplified them. We plant them in rows alone, evenly spaced. Just. Like. So. Uniformity is king. Syrup, sweet corn, board feet, and basal area. We spray everyone else that tries to grow near their feet — herbicides on hundreds of thousands of acres year after year. Row crop agriculture at its worst. Simplified is a euphemism.

I’m guilty of thinking of red pine plantations as ‘low value’ myself. The birds don’t want to use them. Walking through them is creepy. There’s not enough cover for other wildlife.

This week the trees granted me a bit of a reminder. Bapakwanagemag hasn’t lost their gifts. They’ve just been mishandled.

Red pine resin is a potent story keeper. Lucky for us, red pines and their resin possess the gift of weathering fire and telling that story. They have been able to keep those stories at times when we have been forced to move away from understanding our respective roles in the forest.

Each heal curl records a fire in this tree/stump’s story. They’re well adapted for these fires. The berries thrive after fire, as do many others.

How many fires do you see?

Ree Dog’s Seed Farm is celebrating a birthday today! Reo is 4 today!

Ree Dog’s Seed Farm is celebrating a birthday today! Reo is 4 today!

Current Love Language: Buckets of Greens

💚🩶🖤🩶💚

#seedfarm #hoopgrown #hightunnel #eatyourgreens #hoophouse #smallfarm #greatlakesgrown #kale #lettuce #mustardgreens #mizuna #pakchoi

Current Love Language: Buckets of Greens

💚🩶🖤🩶💚

#seedfarm #hoopgrown #hightunnel #eatyourgreens #hoophouse #smallfarm #greatlakesgrown #kale #lettuce #mustardgreens #mizuna #pakchoi

“…And who will care, who will chide you if you wander away from wherever you are, to look for your soul?

Quickly, then, get up, put on your coat, leave your desk!

To put one’s foot into the door of the grass, which is
the mystery, which is death as well as life, and
not be afraid!

To set one’s foot in the door of death, and be overcome
with amazement!

To sit down in front of the weeds, and imagine
god the ten-fingered, sailing out of his house of straw,
nodding this way and that way, to the flowers of the
present hour,

to the song falling out of the mockingbird’s pink mouth,

to the tippets of the honeysuckle, that have opened

in the night

To sit down, like a weed among weeds, and rustle in the wind!

Listen, are you breathing just a little, and calling it a life?

While the soul, after all, is only a window,

and the opening of the window no more difficult
than the wakening from a little sleep.
…”

Have You Ever Tried To Enter The Long Black Branches
•Mary Oliver•

•••
[In no particular order: Purple Giant, Giant Red, Thousandhead, Prize, Scarlet, Dinosaur/Lacinato, Purple Mizuna]

“…And who will care, who will chide you if you wander away from wherever you are, to look for your soul?

Quickly, then, get up, put on your coat, leave your desk!

To put one’s foot into the door of the grass, which is
the mystery, which is death as well as life, and
not be afraid!

To set one’s foot in the door of death, and be overcome
with amazement!

To sit down in front of the weeds, and imagine
god the ten-fingered, sailing out of his house of straw,
nodding this way and that way, to the flowers of the
present hour,

to the song falling out of the mockingbird’s pink mouth,

to the tippets of the honeysuckle, that have opened

in the night

To sit down, like a weed among weeds, and rustle in the wind!

Listen, are you breathing just a little, and calling it a life?

While the soul, after all, is only a window,

and the opening of the window no more difficult
than the wakening from a little sleep.
…”

Have You Ever Tried To Enter The Long Black Branches
•Mary Oliver•

•••
[In no particular order: Purple Giant, Giant Red, Thousandhead, Prize, Scarlet, Dinosaur/Lacinato, Purple Mizuna]

That’s a wrap on our annual October celebration. It was filled with books and walks and tea and coffee and good food and (likely) my last triple-dip in Lake Superior for the year. Until next time, MQT!

That’s a wrap on our annual October celebration. It was filled with books and walks and tea and coffee and good food and (likely) my last triple-dip in Lake Superior for the year. Until next time, MQT!

Night time in the high tunnel

The plants all got a big drink last night, so the hoop was hazy after dark.

I’m still in awe of how well everything is doing and grateful to the @upfoodexchange for support getting the tunnel at the #farm and to @niftyhoops for the help with the build.

#october #hightunnel #hoophouse #zone4 #seedfarm #greens #lettuce #smallfarm #greatlakesgrown #eatyourgreens

Night time in the high tunnel

The plants all got a big drink last night, so the hoop was hazy after dark.

I’m still in awe of how well everything is doing and grateful to the @upfoodexchange for support getting the tunnel at the #farm and to @niftyhoops for the help with the build.

#october #hightunnel #hoophouse #zone4 #seedfarm #greens #lettuce #smallfarm #greatlakesgrown #eatyourgreens

I didn’t necessarily expect a ton of success my first couple months in the high tunnel, but the greens showed up anyways. The giant Asian and mustard greens are beautiful. The tatsoi is starting to form little splayed heads. The pak choi is starting to put on some mass at the base. The thousand head kale is nearly two feet tall.

#hightunnel #niftyhoops #greens #seedfarm #zone4 #michigangrown #greatlakesgrown

I didn’t necessarily expect a ton of success my first couple months in the high tunnel, but the greens showed up anyways. The giant Asian and mustard greens are beautiful. The tatsoi is starting to form little splayed heads. The pak choi is starting to put on some mass at the base. The thousand head kale is nearly two feet tall.

#hightunnel #niftyhoops #greens #seedfarm #zone4 #michigangrown #greatlakesgrown

Resting bees have me wondering.

I took a night time walk at the farm last night. It's dark earlier now. I was looking for moths, but instead found a bunch of sleeping bees in the flowers.

#bees #aamoo #Cosmos #waabigwaniin

Resting bees have me wondering.

I took a night time walk at the farm last night. It's dark earlier now. I was looking for moths, but instead found a bunch of sleeping bees in the flowers.

#bees #aamoo #Cosmos #waabigwaniin

Willie is 1! Happy Birthday to the littlest guy!

Willie is 1! Happy Birthday to the littlest guy!

What if a hundred rose-breasted grosbeaks
flew in circles around your head? What if
the mockingbird came into the house with you and
became your advisor? What if
the bees filled your walls with honey and all
you needed to do was ask them and they would fill
the bowl? What if the brook slid downhill just
past your bedroom window so you could listen
to its slow prayers as you fell asleep? What if
the stars began to shout their names, or to run
this way and that way above the clouds? What if
you painted a picture of a tree, and the leaves
began to rustle, and a bird cheerfully sang
from its painted branches? What if you suddenly saw
that the silver of water was brighter than the silver
of money? What if you finally saw
that the sunflowers, turning toward the sun all day
and every day – who knows how, but they do it – were
more precious, more meaningful than gold?

○○○○

How Would You Live Then?
Mary Oliver

What if a hundred rose-breasted grosbeaks
flew in circles around your head? What if
the mockingbird came into the house with you and
became your advisor? What if
the bees filled your walls with honey and all
you needed to do was ask them and they would fill
the bowl? What if the brook slid downhill just
past your bedroom window so you could listen
to its slow prayers as you fell asleep? What if
the stars began to shout their names, or to run
this way and that way above the clouds? What if
you painted a picture of a tree, and the leaves
began to rustle, and a bird cheerfully sang
from its painted branches? What if you suddenly saw
that the silver of water was brighter than the silver
of money? What if you finally saw
that the sunflowers, turning toward the sun all day
and every day – who knows how, but they do it – were
more precious, more meaningful than gold?

○○○○

How Would You Live Then?
Mary Oliver

Things I'll miss in February. �🥹🍅🤤🤤

Things I'll miss in February. 🥹🍅🤤🤤

A beautiful, spicy handful of greens. The @niftyhoops high tunnel that we put up last month is already pushing out greens. We leaned into the cold-tolerant mustards, Asian greens, arugula, and others expecting it to dip into cooler territory. It's been so hot that I'm half expecting these babies to bolt. Next week looks a little rainier and cooler.

#hightunnel #fullmoon #niftyhoops #smallfarm #greatlakesgrown #greens #mizuna #mustard #zone4

A beautiful, spicy handful of greens. The @niftyhoops high tunnel that we put up last month is already pushing out greens. We leaned into the cold-tolerant mustards, Asian greens, arugula, and others expecting it to dip into cooler territory. It's been so hot that I'm half expecting these babies to bolt. Next week looks a little rainier and cooler.

#hightunnel #fullmoon #niftyhoops #smallfarm #greatlakesgrown #greens #mizuna #mustard #zone4

September blooms on the sunchokes.

#sunchoke #waabigwaniin #flowers #amallfarm

September blooms on the sunchokes.

#sunchoke #waabigwaniin #flowers #amallfarm

Look who I found this morning! While moving my deck containers around, I found this gray tree frog. How cool are they?!

Given that I found them way up on our deck (away from much water), I gave them a gentle transport down to the garden. I'm sure they could find their own way, but Benny is staining part of the deck today. They were sitting on a tomato plant, so I moved them to some garden tomatoes (maybe Mortgage Lifters?).

Gray tree frogs are sort of chameleon-like, but I only saw them in this gray color, which I have to imagine is awesome cryptic coloration when they're on tree bark. I'm going to see if I can find him/her later on in the garden.

Gray tree frogs are usually nocturnal, so this one was likely just snoozing when I disrupted their slumber. These little ones are seriously incredible. As temperatures drop in the coming cold seasons, gray tree frogs will produce a natural antifreeze of sorts (glycerol), which keeps their cells from freezing and bursting like you might expect. Unlike other species of frogs in Michigan, they don't have to overwinter in cold water. They usually tuck themselves away under leaf litter in the soils, under logs, etc... If you happen to find a rock solid tree frog in February, consider putting them back. They might be just fine!

#graytreefrog #treefrog #frog #amphibian #garden #wildlife #michigan #greatlakes #gardening #tomatoes #mosorganics #seedfarm #seedkeeping

Look who I found this morning! While moving my deck containers around, I found this gray tree frog. How cool are they?!

Given that I found them way up on our deck (away from much water), I gave them a gentle transport down to the garden. I'm sure they could find their own way, but Benny is staining part of the deck today. They were sitting on a tomato plant, so I moved them to some garden tomatoes (maybe Mortgage Lifters?).

Gray tree frogs are sort of chameleon-like, but I only saw them in this gray color, which I have to imagine is awesome cryptic coloration when they're on tree bark. I'm going to see if I can find him/her later on in the garden.

Gray tree frogs are usually nocturnal, so this one was likely just snoozing when I disrupted their slumber. These little ones are seriously incredible. As temperatures drop in the coming cold seasons, gray tree frogs will produce a natural antifreeze of sorts (glycerol), which keeps their cells from freezing and bursting like you might expect. Unlike other species of frogs in Michigan, they don't have to overwinter in cold water. They usually tuck themselves away under leaf litter in the soils, under logs, etc... If you happen to find a rock solid tree frog in February, consider putting them back. They might be just fine!

#graytreefrog #treefrog #frog #amphibian #garden #wildlife #michigan #greatlakes #gardening #tomatoes #mosorganics #seedfarm #seedkeeping

More @wild_garden_seed #zinnia love!

#seedkeeping #seeds #waabigwaniin #flowers #zone4 #greatlakesgrown #smallfarm #seedfarm

More @wild_garden_seed #zinnia love!

#seedkeeping #seeds #waabigwaniin #flowers #zone4 #greatlakesgrown #smallfarm #seedfarm

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