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A family and farm blossom together in Three Rivers
Just off U.S. 131 sits a quiet patch of land bursting with flowers, vegetables, and the kind of family life many people spend years searching for.
Take the right onto Flowerfield Road, keep going a little ways, follow the signs for fresh flowers, and eventually you’ll find it: Flowerfield Farmstead. Home to Nick, Cassie, Juniper, Rio — the dog — and seemingly endless flowers.
Balancing both family life and farm life in Flowerfield Township has become one of the unique challenges — and joys — of building the life the Shimps envision.
About Watershed Voice
Your voice, your stories.
Watershed Voice is an independent, nonprofit civic news magazine based in Three Rivers, Michigan. We seek to highlight solutions to your pressing concerns in an effort to make our community a better place.
Our Latest
Last call for Artist Showcase sponsors
The sixth annual Watershed Voice Artist Showcase is exactly one month away, which means we need to finalize our poster to get it printed and in a downtown storefront window near you. If you or your business/organization would like to sponsor our annual fundraising event, you can still do so by emailing office@watershedvoice.com or messaging us on social media by Monday, June 29.
There are two sponsorship levels available and both are open to individuals as well as organizations at $250 and $500 respectively.
Early guide to Michigan’s August 4 primary election
While many voters focus on November, the primary narrows the field in races that will shape state and local government for years to come.
Watershed Voice has assembled this early guide to help readers prepare well in advance. Additional candidate profiles, questionnaires, and proposal explainers will be published closer to Election Day.
Cooling centers and places to beat the heat in Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Cass counties
As temperatures climb across Southwest Michigan, residents looking to escape the heat have several options throughout Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Cass counties.
With excessive heat expected next week ahead of the holiday weekend, here’s where and how to beat the heat.
How to be an ally during Pride Month and beyond
While Pride Month is primarily about celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community and love in its many forms, it can also be an opportunity for allies to look inward and reflect on how to be better. Not just as individuals, but collectively, what does it take to make someone feel truly welcome — and not simply accepted?
To explore that question, Watershed Voice spoke with Heather Sanford of OutFront Kalamazoo about what meaningful allyship can look like during Pride Month and long after June ends.
What expanded federal immigration enforcement funding could mean for residents in southwest Michigan
Earlier this month, the federal government approved more than $70 billion in new funding for immigration enforcement agencies, marking one of the largest expansions of federal immigration enforcement spending in recent years.
For residents in southwest Michigan, questions remain about whether expanded federal funding could lead to increased cooperation between local police agencies and federal immigration authorities.
Here’s where to celebrate Juneteenth in Kalamazoo and Three Rivers this week
Communities across Southwest Michigan will mark Juneteenth this week with celebrations centered on history, culture, music and community gatherings honoring one of the nation’s most significant milestones in the fight for freedom.
In Three Rivers, a community Juneteenth celebration is scheduled for Friday, June 19 at 6 p.m. at the new downtown amphitheater. Longtime Watershed Voice collaborator and supporter Debbie Allen will perform and serve as MC for the event.
