Fostering Biodiversity: Garden Allotments at Lightwell
At Lightwell, biodiversity started off as a concept. Monocrop lavender is lovely in bloom and provides a great opportunity to master a high-value crop, but the short harvest season leaves quality growing periods unproductive at the farm. Adding biodiversity is a way to nurture a thriving ecosystem year-round, and a key pillar of the regenerative farming model at Lightwell. 2023 brought about herb cultivation, cut flower and native plant installations but it’s time for more! The newly announced garden allotment program is a bid to “biodiversify’ as the farm moves to a regenerative model.
Creating garden allotments where many individuals or local farm to table restaurants collaborate and cultivate together serves as an effective avenue to swiftly enhance biodiversity. The pooling together varied backgrounds, knowledge, practices, and plant selections fosters a rich and rapidly evolving ecosystem. Biodiversity plays a vital role in land stewardship by building healthy soil, improving water retention, and supporting beneficial insects and wildlife. Adding biodiversity is significant for improving carbon sequestration, enhancing ecosystem resilience, and promoting a thriving environment for all species (including human).
Why the excitement? Beyond the cultivation joy and a deeper connection to nature's cycles, Traverse City's climate, and our recently upgraded USDA zone to 6A/6B beckons. Embracing a farm-to-table lifestyle is more than growing your own food; it's savoring the fruits of your labor and contributing to a sustainable food culture. Your harvest will join our farm shop and local restaurants like Mission Proper, weaving a story of connection and nourishment within our community.
The Traverse City region has a history of success with community gardens, but nothing to date on Old Mission Peninsula! Allotments first launched in the area by GTA Children’s Garden in the late 90’s and continued with Historic Barnes Park’s local allotment initiative in recent years. Both popular programs are regularly at full capacity – Lightwell is primed to meet community allotment demand with expanded regional allotment offerings. Please join us in cultivating this movement! Consider growing local on Old Mission as part of our inaugural year, contributing to the vibrant biodiversity and sustainable practices at Lightwell.
Lavender Biodiversity at Lightwell
True to our lavender roots, expect also to see lavender biodiversity expand. Adding to the existing seven varieties of English lavender (Lavandula angustifola), in 2024, a Spanish Yellow lavender grow (Lavandula stoechas) will be on year two after being nursed from seed in 2023. As open pollinated seed, I’m hoping for an array of colors and unique characteristics. The plants are being overwintered now and will be a vanguard marker of biodiversity heading each garden allotment row when planted out in the spring.
In addition to adding Spanish lavender known for a woodier/spicier flavor profile, 2024 will also be a year to revive, propagate, and replant our French Grosso field (Lavandula x intermedia Grosso). I spent 2023 looking after the ‘free range French lavender’ field and witnessed the return of about 5-10% of the Grosso plants. Known as excellent long-season bloomer and quality essential oil producer, the long stem and lavender-forward aroma makes French lavender a timeless favorite variety. Grosso plants will be propagated for sale and to launch a new starter crop from our legacy French lavender fields.
More to come,
Erin
