BLACK EDEN ACRES

04/07/2026

04/07/2026

The blueberry plants are budding.

04/02/2026

BEA recently had a site visit from the USDA. We have some good wide open spaces for growing. The farm is off to a good start this year!

04/02/2026

Can't wait until it's time to transplant these blueberry bushes in the ground. If you've had success growing blueberry bushes, share your pics below.

03/22/2026

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I'm starting the growing season with Lavender. Lavender is reported to grow well in Michigan Zone 5b. It's a deer-resistant perennial that thrives in sandy, acidic soil. Lavender is drought-tolerant, loves full sun, and thrives in well-drained, nutrient-poor soil. Its fragrant foliage and rough texture make it highly deer resistant. Have you been successful in growing Lavender in Michigan? If so, I want to hear from you. Post a pic of your Lavender garden in the comments.

03/22/2026

I'm experimenting with🪻Lavender🪻 which is known to be one of hardest plants to grow from seed. I'll first do a cold stratification of the seeds which simply means to pre-chill the seeds before putting them in the ground. I'm using the paper towel method. To do this, I wrapped the seeds in moist paper towels and placed them in plastic baggies for refrigeration. Cinnamon was sprinkled in 2 of the bags to prevent mold. I'll see which ones do better, with or without the added cinnamon. I'll keep them refrigerated for a few weeks or so. I'll post the results and move on to the next step so don't forget to check back.

02/03/2026

We've got some cool T-shirts and other stuff coming your way.

01/30/2026

Did you know that if your Michigan land is zoned as agricultural and registered with the USDA as farmland that you're protected under Michigan Right to Farm Act (RTFA). What is the Michigan Right to Farm Act?

The Michigan Right to Farm Act (Public Act 93 of 1981) was created to protect farmers and agricultural operations from local harassment, zoning restrictions, and nuisance complaints.

Under this law:
Farms and agricultural businesses are protected from local ordinances, zoning rules, and enforcement actions if they comply with GAAMPs (Generally Accepted Agricultural Management Practices) set by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD).

Townships and counties CANNOT regulate, restrict, or shut down a farm operation if it meets GAAMP standards—even if their local zoning laws say otherwise.

The Act overrides local government when it comes to farming activities, land use, and agricultural production.

It also protects farmers from nuisance lawsuits (like noise, smell, traffic, dust, etc.) as long as the operation follows GAAMPs.

Know your rights as a farmer in Michigan.

01/29/2026

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01/28/2026

Penny auction at foreclosed Michigan farm (1936). At penny auctions farmers would conspire to offer low bids, resulting in a low return to the creditor. The final buyer would then return the property to the destitute farmer. Hangman nooses served as a warning to squirrelly bidders.

This haunting photograph from 1936 captures a penny auction at a foreclosed farm in Michigan, one of the most defiant and ingenious acts of resistance to emerge during the Great Depression. When banks repossessed farms after families could no longer meet their mortgage payments, local communities often took matters into their own hands.

Farmers would gather in large groups and agree beforehand to bid only pennies on each item — from livestock to land — driving the auction prices down to virtually nothing. The final “buyer,” usually a trusted neighbor, would then return the property to the original owner, ensuring the family could remain on their land.

The nooses seen hanging in the background weren’t decorative; they served as chilling warnings to outsiders who might attempt to outbid the crowd. These were not empty threats — solidarity and survival left little room for betrayal.

The penny auctions became powerful symbols of rural unity and defiance. They weren’t just about saving one farm, but about preserving a way of life, one desperate bid at a time.

Added Fact: By 1933, more than 200,000 farms were foreclosed across the Midwest, sparking organized movements like the Farmer’s Holiday Association, which fought to halt foreclosures entirely.

01/20/2026

USDA Agriculture/Farming Census for Lake County, Michigan 2022