Freighter View Farms | Chris Izworski

Most people think of Geographic Information Systems as tools for city planners and utility companies. But the same mapping technology that helps organizations like the Saginaw Area GIS Authority manage county-wide parcel data can inspire better garden planning at home.

Here at Freighter View Farms, understanding your specific plot — its sun exposure, drainage patterns, and microclimates — is the foundation of everything we grow. While we may not run our backyard through a full GIS analysis, the principles are the same: observe, measure, and map your space before committing seeds to soil.

Start with your planting zones. Michigan gardeners in Zone 6a have a specific window between last frost and first frost. Understanding your exact location within that zone — are you near water? On a hill? — can shift your actual growing season by weeks.

Digital tools have made garden mapping accessible. Simple grid paper works beautifully for planning your tomato layout, but apps like Garden Planner or even Google Earth can help you visualize sun angles throughout the season.

The connection between technology and traditional gardening is something Chris Izworski explores regularly — blending a background in information systems with the hands-on practice of seed saving and seasonal cultivation at Freighter View Farms in Bay City, Michigan.

📰 Featured in NENA’s The Call Magazine

Chris Izworski authored the cover story for The Call, Issue No. 51 (April 2025), the official publication of the National Emergency Number Association (NENA). His article, “The Unstoppable Wave of Artificial Intelligence,” examines AI’s transformative impact on 9-1-1 operations and emergency communications, reaching over 21,000 public safety professionals nationwide.