*Tender Spot,* 15" x 15"
*Built on the Back of Who Again?*, 10.75" x 16.75"
*Manna,* 15" x 22.5"
Collage • Emily Schubert

Ripples that Lead the Healing of This World From Here

Last night at the State Theater, Crosshatch helped stage a screening of the movie Common Ground. (Not to be confused with Common Good (bakery), Commongrounds (co-op), Higher Grounds (coffee), Groundwork (organization), Commonplace (coworking), or Sacred Grounds (native plants).) Rather than recap or review the flick, I’ll offer a link to the trailer. The teaser sets expectations for the movie well, so if it looks interesting, give the food and soil systems feature a spin and put on your own movie night.

The post-film Q&A panel, on the other hand, is trailer-less.

If you’re looking for takeaways and applications relevant to this region and reflections from folks working day-to-day on these issues, the panel was just as important as the film itself. You can’t screen it anywhere as far as I know, so here’s a short recap from my hand-written scribbles on what unfolded:

From Gabe Brown—An unexpected treat. Gabe isn’t listed along with the panelists above, although technically, I guess he is there. That’s him in the red cape in the picture above.

He’s one of the more prominently profiled farmers in Common Ground—the movie is dedicated to him, in fact—and he called in for a quick Zoom check-in with Jason Rowntree and the rest of the Traverse City audience just before the panel Q&A began. His advice?

—Realize that food production models result from consumer demand, and use your dollars to shape the system.

—Invest in teaching farmers the principles of nature. He’ll be working on this first-hand in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in September as part of a three-day soil health academy.

From Brad Kik—After noting that the movie was the most concise and condensed overview of the food system in less than two hours that he’s ever seen, Brad gauged the audience's involvement in different forms of change-making. He surveyed political advocacy efforts, growing one’s food, and engaging in regenerative practices, by using the hoot system. (It made sense if you were there.) After that, it was off to the races—incisive questions first, and conversation flowed accordingly.

From Sarna Salzman—We’re in a polycrisis, and we need a number of solutions. You and your decisions matter, but that’s not said to bring about guilt. When considering how to step in, reflect on what you’re good at, what you love, and finally, your sphere of influence. Find the intersection and chase it.

—SEEDs is working as a convener of partnerships for waste-diversion, with a goal of 50% of organic matter out of the landfill waste stream. They’re facilitating several initiatives aimed at making this happen, so get in touch if you’d like to be involved.

—It’s all about the relationships, between generations as well as with the land. How many allies can we recruit? There’s a crisis of anxiety and apathy today. Talk of total crisis doesn’t help, but relationships do. The work of repair is innate. The world wants it, our bodies want it, and pollinators want it. Opening our hearts and minds to deeper relationships invites allies in the work of repair.

From Koffi Kpachavi—It’s simple. Talk to a farmer. Support a farmer. Engage a farmer. This is how you let them know that you care.

—The Grand Traverse Conservation District is also working to offer training for farmers in regenerative practices and healthy growing.

—What can you do today? You can consider the management of your lawn. There’s a swiss-army knife of a solution out there called bio-char. Even if you only have one tomato plant, or you’re growing roses for Grandma, using biochar instead of chemical fertilizers has an impact.

From Jason Rowntree—Regarding the topic of corporate-funding influencing research and education at land-grant schools: yes, there is a pivot for doing things better. It’s important to remember, though, the distinction between the pressure and the person. Whether in reference to schools or farmers, there are systemic pressures at work, and any rush to judgment should be tempered by that consideration.

—Ideally, at land-grant schools you’ll see scientific research in relevant areas pushed forward. There hasn’t been much support for regenerative agriculture adjacent studies in the past, but we’re seeing progress. The supply chain right now is very concerned with resilience, and we’re seeing that regenerative agriculture is how they achieve that. Grass-fed beef systems like those of Paul and Sharon May are exemplary of the work. These are people here in this region already doing these things.

—Polarization doesn’t get us far.

From Tera John—Slightly adjusting your worldview is powerful, and divestment from exploitation is necessary. 80% of biodiversity is under indigenous land management.

—Fish emulsion fertilizers, which will be available from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, are an example of a local resource that can reduce the need for fracking for phosphates.

—Once you’ve been made aware of the patterns at play in what’s going on, you’re accountable. At its best, regenerative agriculture mimics Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Unfortunately, it is a piecemeal approach to entire cultural systems.

—There’s space where people, purpose, and hope interact. We can find that again.

—(Brad referred to the powerful quote from the movie “We are the rainmakers of the desert.” That’s not what we are here in Northwest Michigan, so what are we?) If we’re doing it right, we’re ripples that lead the healing of this world from here.

From Tim Hearin—Tim and his wife have been working to improve the soil on their sandy fifteen acres. Regenerative practices take time, though, and cataclysmic events seem to increase with each growing season. So how do we act fast, but in accordance to nature, which is slow? He doesn’t have the answer, but they are working to reintroduce animals to their land, avoid spraying chemical fertilizers, and grow in their understanding.

—Are efforts like that enough? It’s hard to say when the inertia of corporation power comes to mind. That’s where the voices of younger generations come in.

—They’ve been working to improve their land with sheep and chickens, but have been making plenty of mistakes, like overshooting carrying capacity. But they’re working to create something that’s fresh, local, and of this place. They aren’t trying to make French or faux-Californian wines. They’re trying to offer something that reflects the work of the ruminants on their land, their compost systems, and their hands.

—Tim has a goal of sitting on this panel in thirty years, or of their kids sitting on the panel. That’s how slow the work is when done it’s right.

The Warp — Ideas and Inspiration

|| 1 || "I would like to have as many agricultural tools as what would be needed, but I’ve worked here for a year and a half and I’ve jumped five cars in the vicinity. We have a jumper, and I want to put that in the library," Hallett says. "Nobody has said that they need one, but based on what I've seen, people need it."

That’s from an article about Ypsilanti urban farm and food incubator Growing Hope’s efforts to expand a tool lending library, and it’s a poignant reminder of the importance of being responsive to what is actually needed. It’s also an example of the value of paying attention to hidden patterns that indicate what’s needed, much like “Desire paths: the elicit trails that defy urban planners”.

I guess, in a sense, that focus on what’s needed is the opposite of the approach of ABCD, or Asset Based Community Development. ABCD advocates for identifying what skills and assets are already present in a community, especially those likely going unnoticed, and working from there to build from “what’s strong, rather than what’s wrong.” What is needed isn’t even considered until the unique gifts that everyone in a particular neighborhood or community has have been identified— “There is no one we don’t need.”

Both approaches have their strengths. Both ultimately work to address needs. And both result in more sustainable, resilient, decentralized communities. There’s really no sense in staging ABCD and needs-identifying work in opposition, but I wonder if something meaningful that can be parsed from reflecting on the way the two relate.

|| 2 || Here’s a story that straddles that “identify skill/identify need” binary. A handful of Minnesota’s Lower Sioux members are working to build homes out of hempcrete. There are a number of novel ways to construct walls (here’s another that we profiled a couple years ago), but the use of hemp as a building material seems promising on a number of fronts:

—it can be grown locally in environmentally friendly ways,
—it results in healthier, more affordable, and less energy-intensive homes,
—and it can be a powerful tool for tribal sovereignty.

There’s a lot more to the community-driven efforts that you can read about here.

Also, as mentioned below in the Weft, if the topic piques your interest, consider the Natural Building & Healthy Home Symposium on May 11th at Commongrounds. There will be talks, demos, lunch, and plenty of opportunity for learning—and it includes hempcrete. Who knows—you might experience something akin to what’s written about here: honestly considering problems and limitations in the work of natural building presents an opportunity for the reframing of work, relationships, and purpose in totally unexpected, but wholly life-giving, ways.

”…the irreducible, generative space of encounter and vulnerability foreclosed by the beaten path; seeing in each other’s work what none of us would’ve seen in our own, on our own. For little moments, we’re actually in it together.” (For Little Moments, We’re Actually in It Together: Straw Bales, Scalability, and Serving the Craft)

|| 3 || The next Whole Field will be our 50th edition. Reach out if you’ve got an idea for celebrating or marking the occasion!

The Weft — News and Events

We’re heartened by a wide-range of expressions of resilient communities and gatherings. Here’s a smattering of regional events and happenings that reflect that diversity, collected for your consideration. Choose your own adventure!

|| 1 || No-Till Practices in Diverse Vegetable Production Tour at 9 Bean Rows (Suttons Bay)—Wednesday, May 1st, 5:15-7pm. Explore no-till farming for diversified veggie crops and its impact on farming success. The evening will include infrastructure dives, a tool showcase, and discussion on soil type and topography. Find more info and register here.

|| 2 || Agricultura at Crooked Tree (Traverse City). Step into the heart of Northern Michigan's rich agricultural landscape with our latest visual arts exhibit, "Agricultura." Delve into the creativity of 40 talented regional artists as they capture the essence, beauty, and intricacies of agricultural life through various mediums. Opening reception Friday, April 26th, 5-7pm. Exhibition closes May 25th. More info here.

|| 3 || Herb Fest 2024 at Heartwood Forest Farm—Saturday, May 4th, 10am-4pm. A celebration of plants! Find activities and a schedule for the Cedar, MI gathering here.

|| 4 || Marqueetown Road Tour—the 100% Made in Michigan independent film hits the road. Portraying the fascinating history of motion pictures through one iconic screen - and featuring dozens of Michigan locations and characters—Marqueetown is a true story of chasing your dreams, redefining failure and success, and reembracing the enduring magic of cinema. Find upcoming dates and venues here, or check out the trailer here.

|| 5 || Sacred Grounds Northern Michigan—Mancelona’s Au Sable Institute partners with the National Wildlife Foundation to offer free native plants and technical support for native plant gardens for houses and communities of worship (all faiths.) Applications for the program are due May 20th. Find more information and apply here.

|| 6 || Healthy & Sustainable Building Symposium. Saturday, May 11th, 9am-5pm at 414 E. Eighth Street in Traverse City. Early bird tickets are available until April 26th, and information on speakers, topics and demonstrations are available here.

|| 7 || The Antrim Writers Series presents: Write Here, Write Now—Reading and Book Discussion of A Study in Charlotte and Fiction Writing Workshop with Brittany Cavallaro. Elk Rapids, May 7th and 8th. Find more information at the links above.

|| 8 || Happenings at The Alluvion Between Now and the Next Whole Field include: Improvisation to Sketch Teen Class, Mindful + Musical with Miriam Pico: MINI BIRD, The Jeff Haas Trio featuring Laurie Sears and Lisa Flahive, Rachael Davis, R.O. Shapiro, and Zak Bunce, Breaking Brass, Funky Uncle, EXPAND Storytelling #5, The Mammals, The Earthwork Artist Tour 2024, RAVE-ENGE of the Fifth (Student DJ Night), and Big Fun.

Find more information at www.thealluvion.org.

|| 9 || Alluvion Arts @ 414 presents Botanic, an exhibition that takes a collective look at our intimate relationship to the plant kingdom. Plants create and regulate the air we breathe, they provide us with food, medicine, textiles and building materials. Through thought provoking conceptual work, installations, botanical paintings and prints, sculptures, wood work and a freshly installed seed library, Botanic attempts to examine and honor the gifts of our botanical friends. Free and open to the public. Find more information here.

|| 10 || National Writers Series: Workshops and Classes for Students in Northern Michigan and beyond. Find information and register for offerings like Teen Improv and Sketch with Nicole Hastings and Poetry with Sam Collier here. Classes are free, but space is limited.

|| 11 || MSU Extension’s Sustainability Speakers Series Spring 2024. Bicycle trailer food scrap collection, household food waste, effective recycling practices, and more. Find information on the upcoming virtual “lunch and learns” February through May here.

The Whole Field • Volume 3 • No. 8 • Full Moon • April 24, 2024

Ripples that Lead the Healing of This World From Here

The Warp — Ideas and Inspiration

The Weft — News and Events

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