WILX ~ Crosby Mint Farm
mint growers diversify…the detroit news
mucky muck
Muck…I grew on a mint farm whose soil is “muck”. For those who don’t know what it looks like, check out this picture posted. We were planting and I must have stepped on something. But, muck is dark and rich. And when it’s dry, it slips through your toes and tickles. When it’s wet it, it grabs you and medicates your feet. It energizes. I have walked through the muck in the spring, in the winter, summer and fall. It always brings a smile to my face just saying the word muck! I have been thinking of developing a “special” product from just my minty muck travels. In my mind and imagination, it is a huge success.
But, lately… the phrase “mucky muck” comes to mind instead. For now, it best describes the financial situation of this farm I love. We are three months away from losing it all. By June 1st and no later than July 15th we WILL HAVE to sell JUST (2) barrels of mint oil, which weigh 4oo pounds each in order to redeem the farm back.
preserving the past
This was published in the Healing Garden Journal in May of 2004.
Preserving the Past, Envisioning the Future
By Linette Crosby
One of the greatest gifts I have received in my life, is the gift to grow up in my very own healing garden, our family mint farm. It is here where I learned to appreciate Mother Earth and realize the beauty and pain of Mother Nature’s ways.
This farmland is a rich muck soil, whose nutrients are perfect for growing what I thought were carpets of mint. My feet delighted in the way the soil slipped through my toes and my nose inhaled the hardy fragrance at every harvest. It is here that I learned the process of distilling mint and truly believed in magic, as my father separated the oil from the water with a steady, patient hand. With each annual harvest my father celebrated quietly and each worry line in his face was dedicated to surviving one more year. My great grandfather started Mint Grove Farm back in 1912, in St. Johns, Michigan. It is my grandfather, Lawrence Crosby’s tenacity to continue; my father, James E. Crosby’s determination to preserve this heritage; my Uncle Larry Crosby’s ability to renew, and my brother Jim Crosby’s dream to see this labor of love be preserved that I owe my gratitude.
The dream is still alive although the industry has forced many marketing changes. As most small farms face distinction, we also face the fear that someday this may be a former way of life. You see, the production of peppermint and spearmint hasn’t changed much over the 96 years the Crosby Family has been in business, but the market for this quality essential oil didn’t have patience. Traditional venues of selling the oil had to be developed. Some of the brokers and buyers that my family dealt with for 80 years, have changed hands, or been forced out of business themselves. And the simple “hand shake” that used to feed the family and keep the farm operational, just doesn’t exist for the small farmer today. 
With the introduction of synthetic oil and the dilution of oil, there was a need to find a market that understands and appreciates the qualities that the pure essential oil of peppermint provides. The holistic community recognizes the healing properties of the essential oil contained within the leaves of the mint plant. Because the oil has been known to help migraine headaches, bee stings, sore throats, asthma, stomach problems, symptoms of common colds, aid in muscle relief, and kills bacteria, we have decided to market and package our own pure essential oil. My brother Jim has developed another product called Mint Compost. The distillation process of the mint leaves produces a byproduct of steamed mint hay. Traditionally, the hay or mint cheese was disposed of or spread throughout the fields to further fertilize the soil. Now, the distilled leaves and rich muck land is mixed together to create a composting process. This mint mixture is allowed to heat to 170 degrees F, which naturally sterilizes the compost. This Mint Compost is high in nutrients and is receiving rave reviews from the novice gardener to the master gardener. By inventing a composting method that used no chemical accelerators, Jim earned recognition as Michigan’s Recycler of the Year 2003 and the Tri County Recycling Award (Clinton, Eaton, Ingham).
Today, we continue to honor the past, which has paved the way to our future by offering diversified mint products and varied services to the public. The change the farm has experienced still hasn’t changed my love of the dark soil through my toes, and the fragrant filled air at harvest continues to bring back memories of the past. And now as an adult I have come to recognize each worry line in my father’s face. It is in those lines, I am able to measure my gratitude. It is on this mint farm that not only am I able to heal my body, but my soul.
For more information check out our website at www.getmint.com or call (517) 703-4758.
Note of Life Changes: This article was written 2 weeks prior to my father suffering a stroke, which eventually did lead me back to the farm where I grew up. He died on September 3, 2005. It was an honor and a blessing to spend the last years of his life with him. Thanks, Pop! During the harvest of 2006, my Uncle Larry suffered a stroke near the mint distillery. Although he isn’t able to physically assist with the harvest, he remains a vital resource and inspiration to us all.
goodbye, old friend…
mint, my heirloom herb
I have been attempting to find a common ground for starting this blog. For a woman who would rather sit in the middle of a mint field, or take a quiet walk, exposing my thoughts through the written word, on the internet (?) is a bit intimidating, and I have to admit scary! I have often wondered too many times…who would listen or care? So, I am forcing myself out of my safe haven and starting this blog…
As I was walking through my living room yesterday, I looked over on the desk that my great-grandfather placed in this house. On the desk, I had placed a book titled “Heirloom Herbs”. The lighting was great and the title shouted it’s name to me! “Hey, this is where you start farm girl. It’s right in front of you!”
In May of 2004, the Healing Garden Journal published a story I had submitted. They titled it very appropriately…”Preserving the Past, Envisioning the Future”. The power of the article and the words within it, changed the course of my life. I thought I was writing about my father, his father, and about the man whose house I now occupy, my great grandfather. But, it was about me…and my future here at the farm. On days when I wonder why, or how I managed to find my way back full circle…I reread it and understand.
In Julia Cameron’s book “The Right to Write” she states: We should write because it is human nature to write. Writing claims our world. It makes it directly and specifically our own. We should write because writing brings clarity and passion to the act of living.”
I am not sure what this blog is going to be about, but something tells me it has a power of it’s own. The mint farm I grew up on, and whose muckland I had the honor of slipping my toes through, is in foreclosure. So, to my heirloom mint farm…I dedicate these pages, pictures, thoughts, emotions, and may the power & intent of the written word bring clarity to the uncertainty of it’s future.
Please…
Expect Miracles!
