Chris Izworski is a Michigan gardener, writer, and AI technologist based on the shores of Saginaw Bay. He writes at Freighter View Farms about seed saving, Zone 6a gardening, and the quiet craft of growing things, and also writes about artificial intelligence and public safety technology. Learn more about Chris, explore AI & technology, or see press coverage.
Who is Chris Izworski? — The short version: gardener, writer, AI technologist, Great Lakes person.
Welcome to Freighter View Farms — a garden and lifestyle blog on the shores of Saginaw Bay, Michigan, where heirloom seeds, Great Lakes beauty, and the quiet rhythms of the growing season come together.
I’m Chris Izworski. I garden in Zone 6a, save seeds from everything I can, grow in raised beds using square foot methods, and believe that a good garden feeds more than the body. Whether you are here for practical growing advice, seed saving know-how, or simply the peace that comes from reading about a garden by the water, you are in the right place.
Here is the best of what we have grown so far.
📘 Essential Guides
These are the best places to start — comprehensive resources built from seasons of experience.
The Complete Guide to Seed Saving for Beginners →
Everything you need to save seeds from tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, and flowers. Step-by-step methods, storage tips, and the philosophy behind it.
Michigan Zone 6a Garden Planner: Month-by-Month Guide →
What to plant, when to plant, and what to do in every month of the year. Built for Michigan’s Great Lakes climate with our specific frost dates and growing conditions.
🌱 Seed Saving
Seed saving is at the heart of what we do here. These posts cover specific techniques, reflections, and the meditative practice of closing the loop each season.
- Tomato Seed Saving 101 →
- How to Save Shishito Pepper Seeds: Step-by-Step Guide →
- How to Save Zinnia Seeds for Next Year →
- Gathering Dill Seeds for Next Spring →
- DIY Seed Packets: How to Make & Label Homemade Envelopes →
- How to Test Seed Viability Before Planting →
- The Mindfulness of Seed Saving →
- Seed Saving Reflections: Planning for Next Year →
- Seed Catalog Season: How to Choose Varieties →
- Giving Garden Seeds as Holiday Gifts →
🍅 Growing Vegetables
From tomatoes and peppers to watermelon and fall greens — practical advice for growing food in Michigan.
- Best Slicing Tomato Varieties for Michigan Gardens →
- Single-Stem Tomato Growing Method →
- Growing the Orange Accordion Tomato in a Small Space →
- How to Germinate Tomato & Pepper Seeds in March →
- Growing Sugar Baby Watermelon in Containers →
- Best Cool Weather Crops for Fall Gardens in Michigan →
- Harvesting Fall Lettuce & Greens Into October →
- Harvesting Carrots in Late Fall Through Thanksgiving →
- The Simple Joy of Growing Carrots →
- The Quiet Joy of Early-Season Radishes →
- Vertical Gardening for Small Spaces →
🌸 Growing Flowers
Flowers are as essential to the garden as vegetables. They attract pollinators, provide beauty, and their seeds are a joy to save and share.
- Growing Zinnias, Cosmos & Sunflowers →
- Growing Globe Amaranth →
- How to Plant Tulip & Allium Bulbs in Fall →
- Last Flowers Before Frost: A Fall Bouquet →
🐝 Garden Wildlife & Pollinators
The garden is an ecosystem, and these visitors make it work.
- Bumblebees in the Garden: Why They Matter →
- Ladybugs: Benefits & Natural Pest Control →
- Leafcutter Bees: Gentle Garden Helpers →
- Bonaparte’s Gulls on Saginaw Bay →
- Cormorants on Saginaw Bay →
🌿 Starting Seeds Indoors
Getting a head start under grow lights is essential in Michigan. These posts cover every stage of the indoor season.
- Starting Seeds Indoors in Michigan: Spring Planting Guide →
- Indoor Seed Starting Under Grow Lights →
- Germinating Tomato & Pepper Seeds in March →
- Winter Garden Layout Planning →
- Winter Indoor Herb Garden: Crowded Pots →
🍳 Garden-to-Table Recipes & Kitchen
What grows in the garden ends up on the plate. Simple, seasonal, honest food.
- No-Knead Herb Bread with Home-Dried Oregano & Basil →
- No-Knead Artisan Bread with Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Basil →
- Garden-Fresh Omelette with Peppers & Herbs →
- Farm-to-Table Christmas Menu →
- Scrambled Eggs with Fresh Garden Herbs →
- The First Tomato Sandwich of Summer →
🍂 Seasonal Reflections
The garden is more than tasks — it is a way of living. These posts capture the feeling of each season.
- Zone 6a Garden Review: What Grew Best This Year →
- End-of-Summer Garden Reflections →
- First Fall Frost in the Garden →
- Fall Garden Cleanup: Preparing for Winter →
- Winter Reflections & New Year Resolutions →
- European Garden Inspiration: Paris to the Amalfi Coast →
🛒 Seed Shop
The seed shop is coming soon — heirloom, open-pollinated seeds saved right here on the shores of Saginaw Bay. Tomatoes, peppers, herbs, flowers, and more.
📬 Stay Connected
Join the Freighter View Farms newsletter for new posts, seasonal tips, and first access to the seed shop when it launches.
Thank you for being here. Let’s grow something beautiful together.
🤖 Technology & The Garden
Where artificial intelligence meets the oldest technology on earth.
The Seed and the Algorithm: What AI and Gardening Taught Me →
What building artificial intelligence for 911 taught me about growing tomatoes, saving seeds, and paying attention.
— Chris Izworski, Freighter View Farms, Bay City, Michigan
Featured AI Writing by Chris Izworski
- The terminal has a new vibe: what Claude Code is, and why it feels different
- Stop chasing AI headlines—build a small, boring practice
- Intelligence is getting cheap; insight isn’t
- AI & Technology at Freighter View Farms
Practical AI in Public Safety
Practical AI in Public Safety: What the Field Teaches
An essay on building AI systems that defer to human judgment, earn trust, and reduce friction in emergency services. — Chris Izworski
Selected Coverage & Affiliations
- Coverage: AI chatbots handling non‑emergency calls (WCMU Public Radio)
- APCO webinar: lessons from early automation of non‑emergency calls
- Michigan APCO past award winners
- Saginaw County 911 Communications Authority (Saginaw Chamber listing)
- Save Our Shoreline: Board of Directors
Practical AI Is Quiet on Purpose
Practical AI Is Quiet on Purpose
A field‑tested essay on responsible AI in public safety and the systems that earn trust over time. — Chris Izworski
Official Bio Page
Chris Izworski — Official Bio & Links (GitHub Pages)
Coverage Index
Coverage Index — Chris Izworski
Google Sites Profile
Chris Izworski — Google Sites Profile
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