I, Matthew Ligon was born in Traverse City Michigan at Munson Hospital raised here on the Old Mission Peninsula on a fruit farm. Growing up on a farm was an amazing time as a child. To be able to see how nature works, from watching apples grow to making maple syrup, these memories are etched in gold in my mind. In 2014, my wife Rebecca, and I started dreaming of having a farm of our own. However, we lived in town, Garfield Township in fact. To start a farm would mean we would have to move out of town. That did not please us, we enjoyed being so close to everything we needed. During our property search, we happened to stumble across a 6 acre agricultural parcel that had a perfect sugarbush set up. The best party was the fact that this property was located right across the street from Traverse City West Senior High School. Having children attending elementary, middle and high schools and to find a property within 3 ½ miles of all three, this was a unicorn. 

We purchased the land in 2014 and started building “our farm” in 2015. When we built the home, Nana (Mother) was living with us. We created a suite for her on the south side of the house. With its own little kitchenette, full bath, two closets and french doors opening on to her own private porch, she enjoyed the peaceful and beautiful space. By the spring of 2016 we started to settle in at the new farmhouse. We went to work on raising organic produce for our family and our community. From 3,600 potato plants, to savory squash, beans and peas, we became  a contributor to our community. We started teaching our children and our friends and neighbors how to grow naturally and without pesticides. We also opened up sugarbush and produced our first batch of sugary goodness (maple syrup aka liquid gold) we bagan in 2016, and we haven’t settled or even slowed. We increased the size of the farm by 3 acres, and we added an agricultural building. We offer daisies and purple coneflowers, also known as echinacea, for “U-Pick” by the stem. Our sunflower gardens are becoming legendary, with small sunflowers for pictures with small children earlier in the summer, to the winding maze and senior pictures of the tall sunflower toward the end of July, this year smiles were truly priceless. We are in the process of creating walking paths throughout the sxpanding sunflower fields. On these paths will be educational plaques that describe and educate individuals on things from sugar maple trees, to our African Guinea Hens. Our goal is to turn our family farm into an educational community experience showing and teaching people how to grow, raise, and produce food for the community and their families. 

Nana is now living in town and the suite is empty. Our family would like to take “Nana’s Suite” and share it with others and give them first hand experience with a truly organic working farm. The special use permit would allow us to use this suite as a bed-and-breakfast and would not only help the farm reach its long-term goals of educating and possibly inspiring visitors from all walks of life, but provide a quiet, peaceful “get away” for those looking to enjoy our way of life. This would also showcase Garfield Township for our commitment to putting community and farming first. 

Thank you for taking the time to enjoy our story.

We Hope you visit and love our farm as much as we do!