Also being in Michigan, I have learned that we are in the top 5 states for cloudy days! We just don't
get the kind of sunshine other states do, nor is the INTENSITY (brightness equals Lumens) so solar
powered things can be useless to minimal producing, when tried in Michigan. Heck even Buffalo Grass
wouldn't grow here, because the brightness of our sunshine is not enough to keep it going, like the
sunshine they get in the prairie states by the mountains.
Having a tight fenced acre for garden rentals, raised beds, would be incentives to using YOUR place for gardening.
Fences to keep rabbits and deer away, raised beds are easier to work in, but that will require money
investment on your part, which may not be recovered with plot rentals.
In checking out ideas, you might look at U-Pick fruits like Blueberries, strawberries, pumpkins. Can depend
on your location in the State, what will grow well for you. Or you can pick the produce and sell it at a
Farm Market, roadside stand. Does take a year or three to get Blueberries going, same with Raspberries or
Asparagus. Strawberries need hand work getting set in fall, straw mulching to keep them up off the dirt.
The best Strawberry places move their beds every year, so no problems overwinter to kill the next years
crops. You will have to be able to water these beds, to get them started, and to produce fruit if there is not
enough rain.
Best place to start is the County Extension Offce, which works with MSU to keep farmers and food producers
informed for successful production. They can get you all kinds of information, advice, connect you with
people doing the same kinds of things to help each other. You can also access the MSU website for information,
get questions answered there. I found a lovely, EXTENSIVE paper on Blueberries, which covered many
named varieties, told of strengths, weaknesses of each, what they needed as cross pollinators for berry production.
They probably the same stuff about any other fruit you could want to plant. Your local Master Gardener
program would probably be helpful too, for questions. They work thru the Extension Office, to find a contact number.
Here is the Blueberry section on the MSU website:
http://blueberries.msu.edu/
get the kind of sunshine other states do, nor is the INTENSITY (brightness equals Lumens) so solar
powered things can be useless to minimal producing, when tried in Michigan. Heck even Buffalo Grass
wouldn't grow here, because the brightness of our sunshine is not enough to keep it going, like the
sunshine they get in the prairie states by the mountains.
Having a tight fenced acre for garden rentals, raised beds, would be incentives to using YOUR place for gardening.
Fences to keep rabbits and deer away, raised beds are easier to work in, but that will require money
investment on your part, which may not be recovered with plot rentals.
In checking out ideas, you might look at U-Pick fruits like Blueberries, strawberries, pumpkins. Can depend
on your location in the State, what will grow well for you. Or you can pick the produce and sell it at a
Farm Market, roadside stand. Does take a year or three to get Blueberries going, same with Raspberries or
Asparagus. Strawberries need hand work getting set in fall, straw mulching to keep them up off the dirt.
The best Strawberry places move their beds every year, so no problems overwinter to kill the next years
crops. You will have to be able to water these beds, to get them started, and to produce fruit if there is not
enough rain.
Best place to start is the County Extension Offce, which works with MSU to keep farmers and food producers
informed for successful production. They can get you all kinds of information, advice, connect you with
people doing the same kinds of things to help each other. You can also access the MSU website for information,
get questions answered there. I found a lovely, EXTENSIVE paper on Blueberries, which covered many
named varieties, told of strengths, weaknesses of each, what they needed as cross pollinators for berry production.
They probably the same stuff about any other fruit you could want to plant. Your local Master Gardener
program would probably be helpful too, for questions. They work thru the Extension Office, to find a contact number.
Here is the Blueberry section on the MSU website:
http://blueberries.msu.edu/
I planned on growing grapes, strawberries, blueberries, etc. for me. Maybe I should plant some extra for the u-pick idea... It was a great idea, one I hadn't thought of. 
