Lauren Hinchman

Beth Anne Piehl, Special Sections Writer
 
Many people might say it, but not many have the conviction to do it: Choose the right place to live, then trust that the work will follow.

For Lauren Hinchman and her husband, Geoff, however, that was the formula they used, bringing them to Petoskey for the abundant natural resources and as a place they knew they wanted to raise a family.

“We just picked a place, before we got jobs,” Hinchman said. “We knew we wanted a small town, cool climate and cool weather. We had each visited here independently before, so we said, ‘Let’s go!’”

In 2000, the couple moved into a Petoskey apartment, sight unseen, and started building a house. She worked the beverage cart at the Bay Harbor Golf Club while pursuing her continuing education degrees with the aim of teaching biology.

It may seem an intimidating path to some, but a close connection with nature has long driven Hinchman’s goals and pursuits.

Today, she is in her eighth year as an adjunct teacher at North Central Michigan College, teaching environmental biology, natural resource management, marine biology, intro to biology and a new course she developed, “Green Living.”

Since childhood she had felt a strong interest in biology and teaching others, an urge to camp and explore nature and wildlife.

It’s a passion she shared with her late father, who passed away when she was too young to know, but later was told, he loved nature, too.

“It’s definitely just been in me,” Hinchman said.

Complementing her interest in biology and nature, it’s natural that Hinchman, 32, also is committed to organic farming and living. That path toward an organic lifestyle began when she was pregnant with her daughter, Annabel, now 6.

“I was started reading up about parenting and started reading more and more about organic. Connecting my science background and parenting, I couldn’t help but go as organic as I could,” Hinchman said.

That has meant researching and purchasing products that are chemical-free, from laundry soap to mattresses. Her food choices revolve mainly around those grown without synthetic chemicals, pesticides or fertilizers. No red dye, no partially hydrogenated this-or-that, and nothing she can’t identify.

This year, the family purchased a quarter of an organically grass-fed cow, and they are storing the meat in a large walk-in freezer as an effort to save money and eat healthfully. To that end as well, Hinchman cultivates her own garden, using organic seeds, organic soil and compost from the Emmet County recycling center. Its bounty includes tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, fennel, lettuce, peas, herbs and more. She also planted eight blueberry bushes on the family’s property this summer.

Her plan is to store fruits and vegetables in the garage and freeze what she can through the winter months to provide the family less expensive and healthier food options until her garden springs to life again next season.

To supplement the family’s food options, the Hinchmans are also members of Blackbird Gardens in Petoskey, a Community Supported Agriculture operation where members put in time and reap what everyone sows. “We work two hours a week for 16 weeks, and when you leave (each week) you get a big bag of goodies to take with you,” Hinchman explained.
 

Life of learning

Hinchman’s organic path has been self-directed and self-taught, as she’s an avid reader who pieces together information from innumerable sources, both print and online. One of her favorite resources is The Green Guide, published now by National Geographic on the Internet.

Her personal education crusade led the family to remodel the home, removing toxic carpet and buying new mattresses that don’t off-gas potent chemicals. She threw out her children’s flame-resistant pajamas, noting again the use of chemicals that touch their skin and near their mouths. The Hinchmans replaced the flooring with a bamboo product that is all-natural and uses water-based glue (some bamboo floor brands off-gas, she advised, so check with the supplier).

Her reach into local environmental causes goes further than her own four walls. She is also the office manager at Freshwater Future in Petoskey, a nonprofit led by executive director Jill Ryan. The organization raises funds to provide grant money to grassroots groups in the Great Lakes Basin who are working to protect, restore or preserve water resources, and provides other support to such initiatives.

She also initiated a new class at the college this year, “Green Living” and has enjoyed imparting what she has learned in the classroom setting. “It just seemed natural, to share the research I’ve done,” she said. “It covers everything from how to green your home to avoiding toxic chemicals in home products.”

Through her water, land and home focus and practices, Hinchman hopes she’s providing a strong foundation for her children to make the right decisions for their health and the environment, and showing them by example that it’s worth the extra effort it sometimes takes.

“I would feel so guilty knowing I could do better, and not doing it,” Hinchman said. “I’m a very positive person and I’m very much using a sense of wisdom about the things I can control, and not worrying about the things I cannot change. I learned, so I changed.”

Back to basics

All about: Lauren Hinchman
Family: Husband, Geoff, daughter Annabel, 6, and son Bridger, 1 ½
Age: 32
Background: Raised in Dallas and St. Louis, now lives near the Petoskey-Charlevoix boundary
Education: Undergrad, Principia College, Illinois; Master’s of Art and Teaching, with emphasis in science, Webster University, St. Louis; Master’s of Science in Science Education, Montana State University
Professional: Adjunct biology teacher, North Central Michigan College, office manager for Freshwater Future in Petoskey
Interests: Organic gardening, researching and choosing organic products, protecting water resources, biology
Supports: Blackbird Gardens, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), Grain Train
A favorite resource: Visit www.environmentalworkinggroup.com, a free site where you can type in the name of the products you use regularly, and it shows the toxicity levels of the various components in shampoo, lotion, baby soap, cosmetics, etc.