About us.
History
In 2008, the Benzie County Human Services Collaborative Body formed a committee to create a community garden space. A group of local residents purchased an abandoned Benzonia farmstead, Chippewa Farms, to transform the site into a community-centered garden space - signing their names on a million dollar deed.
Over the past three years, Grow Benzie has helped coordinate Benzie County’s COVID response, launched CARE for Benzie to address the county-wide child care crisis and emerged as an anchor organization to sustain projects, non-profits, and collaborative bodies dedicated to improving the lives of families and children in Benzie.
2023 & Beyond.
For 13 years, we’ve held true to our mission of enriching Northwest Michigan by fostering positive activity that increases access to healthful foods, jobs, life skills, and each other while providing a space that nurtures this activity.
Diligent research, collaboration, and community input have helped develop our organization as a grassroots, service-oriented backbone organization. We’ve strengthened our mission to bring together resources to drive actionable and measurable results for Benzie County.
We’re embracing our new role as a rural prosperity incubator in 2023 and beyond.
Our mission.
We foster projects and initiatives that improve the lives of children, families, and communities in Benzie County.
Our vision.
Benzie County communities: where all experience opportunities to learn, create, grow, and prosper.
Our values.
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While we may participate in larger-than-local initiatives, we believe our strength lies in work at the grass roots level in Benzie County. We understand problems and opportunities at the ground level and know the people and organizations that are impacted and involved.
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We help Benzie County achieve goals that reflect quantifiable results. The bottom line is progress.
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We center genuine and respectful relationships, established through a mutual interest in the long-term betterment of Benzie County.
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We strive to create a safe space for our community to show up as their authentic selves. Our work is intentional and purposeful, recognizing, honoring, and supporting the unique cultures of our communities and its’ individuals.
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Supported by best practices in outreach and communications at all levels.
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Reflected in a multitude of ways.
Meet the Team
Learn more about our Staff and Board of Directors who work to support projects, non-profits, and food and farming entrepreneurs in beautiful Benzie County.
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“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” - Albert Einstein
josh@growbenzie.org | Full bio HERE…
Board of Directors
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jebklieve@gmail.com
Retired nonprofit consultant, facilitator , and executive leadership coach.
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grosso.kathy@gmail.com
Coach, facilitator, trainer; currently working as a coach after a career in education leadership.
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sallyb42@gmail.com
Retired from retail marketing management; current board member and treasurer of the Friends of the Glen Ellyn Library; founding board member of Indiebound Naperville.
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tom@watsonbenzie.com
Controller for Watson Benzie Chrysler, Nature and Me RV, and Watson Manistee Chrysler; previous School Board President for Benzie County Central Schools.
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jthroop@benziecd.org
Executive Director for the Benzie Conservation District; previous Volunteer and Events Program Manager for the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy