Good news for farm-to-school efforts

MLUI's Diane Conners reports on farm-to-school legislation, just signed by Governor Granholm, that will make it easier for Michigan schools to serve fresh local foods to their students.

Local Hoop House Farmers Featured on NPR’s Marketplace

Tonight's edition of NPR's Marketplace featured Black Star Farm's Nick Welty and Meadowlark Farm's Jon Watts and Jenny Tutlis talking about season extending hoop houses and CSAs. You can hear it or read the transcript here.

10th Annual Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference

"Building a Strong Community Supported Agriculture System" it the theme for this year's conference, which will be held January 31st in Grayling.

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Get Farming Classes to start next week

MLUI is offering a series of workshops for new and established farmers. The Get Farming! program kicks off on Jan 20 with The Business of Farming at Michigan Works in Traverse City.

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Growing the Local Food Economy

Make sure to visit the Michigan Land Use Institute's web site to read Patty Cantrell's new series on how local and state officials can help grow Michigan's local food economy.

• Michigan Tastes Local Food's Potential
• More Michigan Farms, Food Firms 'Thinking Local'
• Local, State Officials Can Boost Local Food Economies
• Entrepreneurs: Growing Local Food, and a Movement
• Welcoming Local Food Businesses
• Local Food Means Local Infrastructure

4-H Goat Meat

I'm looking at a grant application from a 4-H goat leader with the stated aim of attracting more buyer interest in goat meat at the Fair auction in August. I'm looking for suggestions on how to link 4-H goat projects and the local food scene.

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Hoophouse Workshop

Learn how to grow fresh veggies year-round. The Michigan Land Use Institute will present a workshop on hoophouses on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at Black Star Farms.

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Black Star Farms’ Entrepreneurial Spirit

Check out today's article in the Traverse City Record-Eagle about Jen and Nic Welty, who put the "farm" in Black Star Farms. Interesting read on the business angle too, and its investment in young people and farm-to-table agriculture.

Leland School to hold Famers Market

Stop by the Leland High School gym next Thursday to support local farmers and schools. Joining forces with MSU Extension, Leland Public Schools will hold its second annual Farmers Market on Sept. 11, from noon to 4 p.m. Showcasing fruits, veggies and other products from local farmers, the event is a great way to get to know what's growing on the peninsula, and introduce local farming to the kids. The event is open to the public, and all products are for sale. Call 231-256-9888 for more info.

Workplace Farm Market at Hagerty

Hagerty Insurance recently hosted a farm market run by area high school students as a part of a pilot youth entrepreneur program. In so doing, Hagerty not only supports the youth program, it also provides a health benefit to employees by making it easy to buy fresh veggies. Read more in Diane Conners post over at the Michigan Land Use Instititute.

Seasoning Youth. Learning from Veterans.

How our network and resources are growing!

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Local program offers students farm experience

In Programs Grow Local Food, New Farmers, Diane Conners writes about area programs that gets students involved in farming. Students in one such project are growing food at the community garden at the Grand Traverse Commons property. They then sell their produce at the farmers market and a restaurant on the same property, and will soon sell to low-income families who will receive discount coupons. Talk about a win win situation!

Pond Hill Farm offers classes for kids

Glenn Puit reports on Pond Hill Farm's new Farming for Our Future program, which will offer five three-day "camps" for kids age 6 to 12 in July and August, as well as farm tours for kids and families. The farm is located just north of Harbor Springs on M-119.

Farm to School Pre Bid Meeting July 18

Manistee Area Public Schools, Bear Lake School District, and Kaleva Norman Dickson School District will hold a pre-bid meeting for fresh fruits and vegetables on July 18, 2008, at 3:30 p.m. in the Conference Room of Manistee High School at 525 12th St. in Manistee, Michigan.

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