Farm uses diversity to prosper

Ever notice how attitudes can be infectious? Sour people can spread fear, anger and worry. At the same time others spread optimism, confidence and positivity. The optimistic sort are usually easy to find. Look for progress and positive action and they won’t be far away.

The border between Wisconsin and upper Michigan is a vast wild area of forest and wetland. Those who drive U.S. Highway 2 from Hurley, Wisconsin, to Niagara, Wisconsin, need to pay attention to recall within which state they’re traveling. Like a thread binding two pieces of cloth together, the highway weaves to and fro between the states.

The highway passes between Wakefield and Watersmeet, Michigan. It’s an area that’s sparsely settled, except for a town located off the highway – Marenisco. Travelers keep an eye out for deer and turkeys; lucky visitors may see a wolf or bear crossing the highway. Right about at the turnoff to Lake Gogebic and Ontonagon, Michigan, a colorful vintage truck bed along the highway draws attention. A nearby sign reads, “Farm Stand.”

Though she had several-dozen things going on and even more plans for a busy summer morning, the farmer in charge paused to visit at her farm in the forest.

“My name is Brittany Memmel,” she said. “I’m the owner of Stems Micro Farm. We received our first grant, $1000, through ‘For Farmer’s Movement.’ It’s a social-media movement. The lady running it convinces people to donate by saying things like, ‘If you spent $6 on coffee this morning, why not donate $6 toward a grant?’ To get a grant you have to be nominated. With our grant we’re buying a full-sized glass-front cooler for vegetables and flowers. We hope to have it by July 4.”

We walked to the farm stand along the highway.

“Every week we make bread – slow-fermented bread,” she said. “It’s similar to sourdough. We have four children, so we have a free farm library. I want families who stop here to be able to get books for their children that tell where food comes from. We raise U.S. Department of Agriculture-inspected pasture pork. We have a movable woven-wire fence electrified with solar power.