Historic Barns Park
We practice what we teach.
Historic Barns Park is a 56-acre parcel within the Grand Traverse Commons in Traverse City and is being redeveloped into a one-of-a-kind regional hub for public recreation, community events, agriculture, horticulture, and environmental design. Owned by a municipal Recreational Authority, three nonprofit partners help manage the landscape and events: SEEDS Ecology & Education Centers, the Botanic Gardens at Historic Barns Park, and the Traverse City Community Garden.
Historic Barns Park is
a hub for SEEDS programs
As a management partner of this public park, SEEDS Ecology & Education Centers’ mission comes alive in all its facets. We operate out of the old Blacksmith Shop and engage with the landscape to practice small scale farming, energy education, and carbon drawdown solutions that the public can visit. SEEDS EcoSchool programs host field trips, EcoCorps crew members help with improvement projects, and EcoStrategies concepts are shared through exhibits, tours, and demonstrations.
Our vision.
Based on our white-paper study of the top ten strategies to bring the entire Park toward carbon-neutrality, SEEDS has some big visions! Our key design constructs are building with energy efficiency and ecosystem repair. We partner with engineers, biologists, educators, and artists to create compelling designs and engage the SEEDS EcoCorps crew members as our primary installation crews.
Are you an angel who would like to see something of the following manifest? We need both financial support and skilled trades talent to make dreams a reality. Please contact us!
Plumbing, insulation, and other renovations for the old Blacksmith Shop
Solar-ready roof upgrades for the Blacksmith Shop
Conditioned food storage capacity
Seasonal outdoor classroom and kitchen
Micro wind generation and exhibit
Carbon sequestration and regenerative agriculture research and exhibits
Scaling compost operations
Wetland restoration and exhibits
A “Willow Way” garden and play area that demonstrates biomass capacity
Places of Interest at HBP
Learn More
The SEEDS Farm
The SEEDS Farm allows us to feed the neighborhood and farm carbon with regenerative agricultural practices.
Energy Efficiency
SEEDS and our park partners have taken measures to increase energy efficiency, conservation, and renewable technology.
Wetlands
Thanks to healthy wetlands, Grand Traverse has some of the highest water quality of all of the Great Lakes’ bays.
Environmental Artists
Explore the multimedia art installations that showcase nature photography, Anishinaabek knowledge, and repurposed found objects.
Resident Farmer Program
Are you a Farmer or farming-inclined and just wish you had a plot of land in Traverse City to grow ? Join our program!
Our Stories
“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve a second term with the Michigan Healthy Climate Corps and …
Nine ‘Compost Crawl’ stops celebrated composting initiatives across the region Michigan has a garbage problem. Up to 38 …
The compost piles at the SEEDS Farm at Historic Barns Park have been steaming all winter, despite the …
