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Vicki Morrone
Organic Vegetable and Crop Outreach Specialist
Michigan State University
C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems
303 Natural Resources Bldg.
East Lansing, MI 48824
517-353-3542
517-282-3557 (cell)
517-353-3834 (fax)
For information on organic agriculture production please visit: http://www.MichiganOrganic.msu.edu/
 Please consider the environment before printing this email



-----Original Message-----
From: MI organic growers seeking and offering info and ideas [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Katherine Jane Leitch
Sent: Monday, June 09, 2008 10:59 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: What's New in Organic (Part 2 of 2)

Events
******** 

8. Vegetable Cover Crop Meeting
June 12, 2008 9:00a.m. – 5:00p.m.
Kellogg Biological Station, Gull Lake, MI 

This program will offer entry-level and advanced info on use of cover
crops for sustainable and organic vegetable farmers. The MSU Vegetable
Area of Expertise team is presenting this program to encourage and
enable Michigan farmers and other agricultural professionals to
integrate cover crops with sustainable vegetable production. Through a
series of speakers, the program will address: cover crops in organic
tomato and cucumber systems, nutrient management using cover crops,
the role of cover crops in soil health and root disease management,
weeds and nitrogen, perennial wheat systems, comparisons of cover
cropping systems for intensive vegetable systems, multi-cover
cropping, and no-till organic systems. The meeting will include a KBS
field tour, and will also include a provided lunch! 

Registration and a registration fee of $25 are due by June 6th. Please
make checks payable to Michigan State University Extension; mail
checks and registration to MSUE- Oceana County Extension c/o Kathy,
210 Johnson St. E, Hart, MI 49420. You may also register the day of
the event; the registration fee in this case is $40. 

For a complete agenda of the meeting and the registration form, please
see 
http://www.michiganorganic.msu.edu/Portals/organic/2008%20Cover%20Crop%20Pro 
gram.pdf 

For additional information, please visit www.michiganorganic.msu.edu
or contact the Oceana County Extension office (phone: 231-873-2129; or
email Kathy at [log in to unmask]).
******* 

9. "Buy Local Day" Farmers' Market
Thursday, July 24, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. RAIN OR SHINE!
State Capitol Lawn (along Capitol Avenue), Lansing, MI 

This market event is sponsored by MIFFS, MDA, the Michigan Farmers
Market Association, and the Food Bank Council of Michigan. 

About the Market:
The Buy Fresh, Buy Local – Select Michigan Farmers' Market, to be held
on Thursday, July 24, 2008, is the first in a series of special
markets planned this summer to promote locally grown and processed
food and agriculture products and Michigan's farmers' markets
operating throughout the season.  These markets are sponsored by the
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Michigan Food & Farming
Systems, with funding from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service,
and additional support from the Michigan Farmers Market Association
and the Food Bank Council of Michigan. 

Who Can Participate and What Can Be Sold:
Vendor space is open to any Michigan grower, specialty food processor
or non-food agricultural product producer. The market has space for 40
vendors who produce and sell Michigan farm products and specialty
foods.  There will also be several booth spaces available for
non-profit organizations who promote the benefits of local foods.
Priority will be given to vendors selling products made from Michigan
specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables,
tree nuts, dried fruits, and nursery crops (including floriculture).
An effort will also be made to assure variety in the products being
sold. All products sold at your stand must be Michigan grown,
processed or manufactured food and/or agriculture products. 

More information can be found here:
http://www.michiganorganic.msu.edu/Portals/organic/2008%20Farmers%20Market%2 
0Vendor%20Info.doc 

The vendor application may be found here:
http://www.michiganorganic.msu.edu/Portals/organic/2008%20July%20Farmers%20M 
arket%20Vendor%20App.pdf 

The vendor bio form may be found here:
http://www.michiganorganic.msu.edu/Portals/organic/Vendor%20Bio%20Form-1.doc 

Vendor applications are now being accepted for this event. Vendors
will be chosen on a first-come, first-serve basis with priority given
to specialty crop producers and MIFFS and MIFMA members. If you are
interested in being a vendor at this free market and meet the
eligibility requirements, please complete the vendor application form
and vendor biographical information form, and return them by Monday,
June 9, 2008, to: 

Jeanne Lipe
Michigan Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 30017
Lansing, MI  48909
[log in to unmask]
517-373-9790 office
517-242-2961 cell
517-335-0628 fax 

Questions?
If you have questions about the farmers' market or this information,
please contact Jeanne Lipe, 517/373-9790 (office) or 517/242-2961
(cell).
******* 

10. Walking tour of the MSU Student Organic Farm
Thursday, June 19, 3-5 p.m.
3291 College Road
Holt, MI 48842 

For more information about the MSU SOF, visit their beautiful website
at: http://www.msuorganicfarm.org/home.php/ 

Please email or call Adam Montri ([log in to unmask] or
517.432.3381) if you plan to attend this tour.  There is no
registration charge, but space is limited!
******* 

11. Day-long workshop at the MSU Student Organic Farm
Tuesday, June 24, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
3291 College Road
Holt, MI 48842
This day-long workshop will feature a total farm tour and in-depth
discussion of production and marketing techniques used by the farm,
including field and hoophouse production, soil management, crop
planning and scheduling, and CSA and farmstand sales.
For a taste of what the tour will offer, visit:
http://www.msuorganicfarm.org/home.php/ 

Please email or call Adam Montri ([log in to unmask] or
517.432.3381) if you plan to attend this tour.  There is no
registration charge, but space is limited!
******* 

12. High Tunnel Tour of England
October 5-9, 2008 

We are organizing a 5-day bus tour of high tunnel culture in England
for growers, Extension folks, or any other interested people. Cost is
$800 per person ($700 double), which includes most meals and all
lodging (flight to London not included). Ralph Kramer, the Haygrove
High Tunnels representative for the Eastern U.S., developed
the itinerary.  We will tour cherries, raspberries, and strawberries
and possibly other
crops under tunnels, see the latest developments in tunnel structures,
poly, management demos, packing sheds, strawberry harvesting rigs,
etc. We will also visit Warwick Castle. Lodging will be in mid-level
hotels on the outskirts of the cities. Deadline for registration is
August 22, but you may want to register and purchase your air ticket
earlier. Full details and registration forms are posted at:
http://www.hrt.msu.edu/TUNNELTOUR/
Contact Eric Hanson at MSU (517-355-5191 x1386, mailto:
[log in to unmask]) with any questions.
******* 

13. From Your Table to Market- Northwestern Michigan College Extended
Education Event
Monday, June 23 

Do you make a killer salsa? Is your hummus the envy of Leelanau
County? This day-long
workshop is designed to fast-track you, the food  entrepreneur,
through the business process from the planning stages to the finished
product. You will get the information you need to take your food
product idea and research its viability in the marketplace, perform
cost projections, proto-type, scale the recipe for production,
research packaging concepts, production variables, and private-label
options, meet government regulations, and develop relationships with
the appropriate processor and distributor. The day includes featured
guest speakers representing the food processing and distribution
industry. The course is taught in cooperation with the Michigan Small
Business & Technology Development Center and Food for Thought. The
event will be from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the NMC University Center
Campus, Rm. 207. 

Cost: $79, includes lunch & materials 

The instructor of the class will be Chris Wendel. He holds a B.A. in
economics and is the Regional Director of the Michigan Small Business
Development and Technology Center, after serving as a business
counselor for the same organization since 1993. With over 20 years of
retail experience, Chris has also worked in marketing and
manufacturing. 

For program information and registration, visit:
http://www.michiganorganic.msu.edu/Portals/organic/From%20Table%20to%20Marke 
t%20(2).pdf
******* 

14. Battle Creek U-Pick Strawberries! 

The Wylly's are offering U Pick Strawberries. They are a farm in their
1 year transition to organic. They are located at 20975 Pink Lake Rd
in Battle Creek, MI, 49014. Located off 66 N in Battle Creek, Go right
on Penfield road, then at T go Left on Pine Lake Rd. They are the 4th
house on left. 

Their hours are 9-7 but call in to check status. Call David and
Shirley Wyllys at Phone 269-964-3942.  They will probably not be
picking till around the 20th of this June due to FOUR frosts!
******** 

15. Fennville Organic U-Pick Strawberries 

We are opening the Organic U-pick for the season on Saturday June
14th. We will be open Sat and Sun 10-6pm (or by appointment as
available). We are located at 5889 124Th Avenue (M-89) Fennville, MI.
Please follow the signs to the parking area. 

Before traveling please call the u-pick hot-line: 616 510 9113 for
updates and harvest information as we expect that we will sell out
often. We will update the information on the voice-mail more often
then we will update the website:  www.kismetorganics.com .
Prices will be set opening week -and will be noted on the u-pick hot-line. 

In an effort to conserve resources we will offer a discount for those
who bring there own used quart berry containers and flats ( 8qt flats
for strawberries 12 pt flats for raspberries). 

The strawberries are looking great - Hazel (our daughter) gives the
juicy red thumbs up for the first tastes so far! 

We look forward to providing fruit for you and your families
throughout the summer and until October 19Th (weather permitting). 

Thank you, Mari Reijmerink
Mari,Chris and Hazel Reijmerink
Kismet Organics, A family fruit farm.
Fennville Michigan U.S.A, Earth.
******** 

16. Cushman Creek Produce Meeting
Saturday, June 17, 2008, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Robert Byler Farm
8607 W. 68th
Fremont, MI 49412 

This meeting, sponsored by Cushman Creek Supply, will host three
talks. Gary Shafer will discuss "Maximizing Productive Potential &
Managing Plant Stress," Ralph Kramer will discuss "Growing Vegetables
in Hay Grove High Tunnels," and Jacob Hochstetler will discuss "The
Benefits of Cover Cropping." 

Families are welcome, and lunch will be provided!  Please call (231)
924-7014 for more information!
******** 

17. MSU Student Organic Farm – On-campus Summer Farmstand
Every Thursday until November, 11:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
On Farm Lane in front of the Auditorium Building (just North of the
Red Cedar River) 

We are currently offering a wide variety of greens including spinach, salad
mix, lettuce, kale, choi, swiss chard and more. We also have scallions,
leeks, potatoes, herbs, sunchokes, transplants (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant,
herbs), and strawberries, YES a few lucky customers will get the FIRST
strawberries of the season! We also have small, cute bouquets of cut
flowers. 

You can also pick up your Student Organic Farm t-shirt too!
******* 

18. Genesee County 2008 MG Garden Tour
Sunday June 29, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Genesee County
Genesee County's largest Garden Tour is just around the corner! Please
join us in touring some of the most outstanding gardens in the
southern half of the county, Sunday June 29, 10am to 6pm. Master
Gardener Volunteers will be at the Welcome Table to help at each site.
Detailed maps will be available at each garden site.
 -------
Advance tickets will be available at the MSU Extension office June 1st
for $10.00, $2.00 for children under 12. Advance tickets will also be
sold at: Arrowood Nursery G-5178 Corunna Rd. Flint Twp.; Bordine
Nursery 9100 Torrey Rd. Grand Blanc; Carlson's Greenhouse 10245 Torrey
Rd. Mundy Twp.; Gerych Flowers & Gifts 713 W Silver Lake Rd. Fenton;
Jenny B's Garden Party G9063 Clio Rd. Clio; Wojo's 7360 E Court
Davison. Tickets may also be purchased the day of the tour, June 29th,
at any one of the garden sites listed below.
 --------
All the gardens will be open for your viewing on June 29 from 10 a – 6
p: MSU Extension, G-4215 W. Pasadena, Flint; Dorothy Lovett 5042 W.
Hill Rd Swartz Creek, Cheryl Lovett 5068 W Hill Rd Swartz Creek,
Patricia Wendt 9316 Ray Rd. Gaines, Michelle Gettler 9399 Smith Rd
Gaines, Joanne Gettler 9507 Smith Rd. Gaines, Carmoleta Foley 4199
Rolston Rd. Linden, Patty O'Dwyer  (Briar Rose Gifts) 126 Bridge St.
Linden, Patty Delavy 11192 Tyrone Trail Fenton, Sean & Elaine
Rosenkrans (Wolcott House) 610 W Silver Lake Rd. Fenton, Genesee
Master Gardener Project at US 23 Rest Area Northbound, Fenton. 

NOTE:  Gardens open only on this specific day and time.
For more information, contact 244-8547 or view the MG Garden Tour
flyer posted at www.msue.msu.edu/genesee 

Thank you,
Terry McLean 

MSU Extension-Genesee County Horticulture Educator/Master Gardener 
Coordinator
4215 W. Pasadena Ave, Flint, MI 48504
Phone: 810-244-8530 Fax: 810-249-5366
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Genesee County Homepage: www.msue.msu.edu/genesee
Michigan Master Gardener Homepage: www.msue.msu.edu/mastergardener / 

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