Welcome to Down Bell Road: Deep Roots and New Beginnings in Michigan’s Green Thumb

Welcome to Down Bell Road! If you’ve found your way to this corner of the internet, pull up a chair. I’m Terri, and alongside my husband Brian, I am so excited to welcome you to the Bell Family Farm and Homestead.

Located right here in Unionville, in the heart of Michigan’s Green Thumb, our farm is so much more than just a piece of land to us. It is a living, breathing testament to family history, a bustling hub of animal activity, and a constant work in progress. Whether you are a fellow homesteader, a lover of local history, or just someone who enjoys a good farm animal antic, I’m thrilled to share our journey with you here on www.bellfamilyfarmestate.com.

Our Roots: A Century in the Making The story of the Bell Family Farm began over a century ago. Established in 1919, we are incredibly proud to be a recognized Centennial Farm. Every day I spend working the dirt here is a nod to the generations that came before me, especially my parents, David and Phyllis Bell. Everything we build here is rooted in family. It’s that same deep respect for our heritage that inspired the Bell Family Memorial Scholarship for Farm Girls, created in loving memory of my sister, Shelly Ann (Bell) Schnettler. Keeping her spirit, and the spirit of all farm girls, alive and thriving is at the core of what we do.

The Menagerie: Meet the Cast of Characters Life on our 4-acre homestead is never, ever quiet. If you visit, you’ll likely be greeted by our colorful crew of animals. There’s Jack the donkey, who always makes his presence known, along with our flock of chickens & Guineas, ducks & geese, peacocks, goats, farm cats, and local wildlife.

Of course, no farm is complete without its canine supervisors. You’ll be seeing plenty of Buddy, our loyal Golden Retriever; Lulu, our spunky wire terrier mix; and Daisy Mae, our beautiful, light golden Great Pyrenees and English Shepherd mix. They keep us on our toes and provide endless entertainment (and a little bit of beautiful chaos) down Bell Road.

Cultivating the Land: Plants, Pollinators, and Preservation While we love our animals, we are equally passionate about what we grow and how we steward this land. We are dedicated to regenerative agriculture and creating a space where local wildlife can thrive. I’m incredibly proud to share that our homestead is a certified Monarch Waystation, a NABA Certified Butterfly Garden, and an NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat.

Our commitment to plant life goes deep, too! We are incredibly honored to be a Level 1 ArbNet Accredited Arboretum, a member of the United Plant Savers Botanical Sanctuary Network, and a part of Pollinator Partnership's Bee Friendly Gardens. When we look at our fields, gardens, and trees, we don't just see crops or landscaping; we see an active, thriving ecosystem. We are also actively working toward our MAEAP (Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program) verification to ensure we are protecting our soil and water for the next century.

Growing Forward: Our Social Presence and Big Dreams So, what’s next for the Bell Family Farm? We have a lot of seeds planted for the future! We are actively working on ideas for a "Bean & Beet" agricultural heritage initiative including a Thumb Farm Heritage Trail to help preserve the rich farming history of our region. With Bell Farm as an anchor for the initiative and trail, our nomination has been submitted to the Michigan SHPO for review in May to join the National Registry of Historic Places - wish us luck!

We’re also dreaming big on a national and state level—working on letters of support to finalize our nomination to make Saginaw Bay a NOAA National Marine Sanctuary.

But we also believe in growing community right here at home. If you are ever driving down our way, keep an eye out for the Bell Farm Book Barn, our Little Free Library, where you can grab a good read or leave one for a neighbor.

Join Us on the Journey Down Bell Road is going to be a place to document all of it—the triumphs of a good harvest, the humor of a donkey with an attitude, the step-by-step process of historic preservation, and everything in between.

Thank you for being here. Make sure to bookmark the site, follow along with our updates, and join the conversation. Let’s grow something beautiful together 🌱