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What's Happening in Michigan Organics?
Events
1. National Organic Action Plan (NOAP) Summit 2009
2. Meijer Distribution Center Tour
3. Lansing Area Youth Gardening Conference
4. 2009 Lake Erie Regional Grape Growers' Conference
5. 2nd Annual Organic Food & Farm Reporting Session

News
6. 2009 Call for Youth and Youth Educator Grant Proposals

Job/Internship Opportunities
7. Young Family Farm Internship
8. Part-time Support Staff, Michigan Farmers Market Association

Events
1. National Organic Action Plan (NOAP) Summit 2009

NOAP Summit Wednesday, Feb 25, 2009 12:30-8 p.m. and Thursday Feb 26, 2009 8
a.m.-5:30 p.m.
The National Organic Action Plan Project (NOAP) is a collaborative civil
society initiative engaging organic community participants across the
country to articulate their vision for the future of organic food and
farming in the decades. In February 2009, a 1-1/2-day Summit will be held to
review the results of the national input, and work from the draft plan
currently being developed to build consensus for a Plan.  This Plan can then
be used by policy advocates, in advancing federal policy objectives in
Washington;  state and local governments to work on other policy
initiatives; and consumers, retailers and industry to advance innovative
marketplace goals to ensure the integrity of organic in their local arena.
This event is just prior to MOSES Organic Farming Conference 20th
Anniversary!
Radisson Hotel, La Crosse, Wisconsin

To download the NOAP Summit Document: *
http://www.nationalorganiccoalition.org/FINALSMALLjan16.pd*f
More Information on the NOAP Project and Summit:
*http://nationalorganiccoalition.org/SummitDescriptionforweb12-19-08.pdf *
For Summit Registration Form:
*http://nationalorganiccoalition.org/NOAPregistrationform.pdf *
For Online Registration: *
http://www.rafiusa.org/justfoods/noapregister.html*
For more information on the MOSES Organic Conference, go to *
http://www.mosesorganic.org/conference.html

*2. Meijer Distribution Center Tour

On Thursday January 29, 2009 from 1-3pm Meijer Distribution Center is having
a tour about their good handling practices.  Come see how Meijer does
quality control in their product area as you tour the distribution area.
 Learn about selling produce to them and maintaining high quality throughout
the cooling chain. Contact MIFFS for more information or to RSVP at
517-432-0712 or email [log in to unmask] There is no cost to attend, but you
must register by Tuesday January 27, 2009.

3. Lansing Area Youth Gardening Conference

The conference takes place March 14, 2009 from 9am-3:30pm at Foster
Community Center Lansing, MI.  Registration for the event is $5 which
includes lunch. The goal is to reach out to youth leaders and youth who are
or want to be a part of the youth gardening effort. For registration form
and conference agenda visit *http://michiganorganic.msu.edu

*4. 2009 Lake Erie Regional Grape Growers' Conference

The 2009 Lake Erie Regional Grape Growers' Conference takes place March
18-19, 2009, at SUNY Fredonia Williams Center, Fredonia, NY. For
registration form and agenda details visit
h*ttp://michiganorganic.msu.edu*and scroll down to event.

5. 2nd Annual Organic Food & Farm Reporting Session

Check out the latest research on Organic Production and Marketing during
MSU's ANR week. Featuring organic research and outreach conducted around
Michigan on Friday March 6, 2009 from 9am-4pm. Presentations will be 10
minutes plus 2 minutes for questions. Topics will include Marketing and
Outreach, Vegetable and Fruit Production, Crop Production, and Cropping
Systems.
Sessions will be held at Kellogg Conference Center. 55 S. Harrison Rd, East
Lansing, MI. For more information visit: *www.michigan organic.msu.edu* or
contact Vicki Morrone (Organic farming outreach coordinator) 517-353-3542 or
[log in to unmask]

News
6. 2009 Call for Youth and Youth Educator Grant Proposals

North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE)
Program announces the 2009 Call for Proposals for Youth & Youth Educator
Sustainable Agriculture Grants. These grants are an exciting new part of the
Farmer Rancher Grant program. Their purpose is to provide opportunities for
youth in the North Central Region to learn more about Sustainable
Agriculture.

There are two options:
1. YOUTH GRANTS. These are grants for on-farm research, demonstration, or
education projects by youth ages 8-21. Research and demonstration projects
are for hands-on efforts to explore sustainable agriculture issues and
practices. Education projects can involve teaching others about sustainable
agriculture or attending a sustainable agriculture conference, workshop, or
camp. $400 maximum.
2. YOUTH EDUCATOR GRANTS. These are grants for educators to provide
programming on sustainable agriculture for youth. $2,000 maximum.

The deadline for Youth Grant proposals is 4:30 pm, Friday, January 30, 2009.
For more information visit: http://www.sare.org/ncrsare/cfp.htm or contact
Joan Benjamin at 402-472-0809, 1-800-529-1342 or [log in to unmask]

Job/Internship Opportunity
7. Young Family Farm Internship

The Young Family Farm is organic and offering 2 positions as interns for the
2009 season. Lean through practice and discussion the mixed techniques vital
to producing and marketing a spectrum of annual Michigan produce. They grow
for CSA farmers, markets, retailers, restaurants, and wholesalers. They farm
is building toward a more integrated permacultural design and emphasize
sustainability in planning. Eco-agritourism will be developed and discussed
as well.

The positions will start ASAP after spring semester to work through the fall
(around mid-Nov) but will consider internships through August where needed.
 A living space is provided tailored mostly to the needs of the intern. All
farm produce is free and interns can purchase other foodstuffs through 2
buying clubs. Stipend is set at $50/week in April and May, then expands as a
percentage of market sales that interns manage ($100+/week). Expected hour's
40-60/week? In hot weeks this could be a split day of 6:30-11:30 and 4-9:30.
Interns may take a week-long off-farm stint for rest or other learning
opportunities during the April 1st to Nov. 1st program.

Contact us prior to the Michigan Organic Conference to arrange for an
interview during the conference. If unable to attend, please still make
contact if you can arrange a time to meet at the farm before the Equinox.
 Please phone (517) 427-0423 or email [log in to unmask] or write to
Eater's Guild Farm, 26041 C. R. 681, Bangor, MI 49013. Visit their website
www.eatersguild.com for more information on the farm.

8. Part-time Support Staff, Michigan Farmers Market Association

MIFMA is seeking a part-time support person to assist with daily management
tasks. This person will report to the Association Manager. Application
Deadline: January 20, 2009. Position Start Date: February 2009. Location 416
Agriculture Hall, MSU, East Lansing, MI. Compensation: $8/hr up to 10hr per
week.

Position Duties:
• Assist in organizing educational programs, workshops and training sessions

• Participate in committee meetings and write meeting summaries as needed
• Help manage the membership database and participate in membership
recruitment
• Assist with mailings, communications and general office duties
• Assist with organizing resource materials
• Other duties assigned

Qualifications:
• Strong organizational skills
• Strong written and verbal skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and
Access)
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively

Additional Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will have an interest in food and farming issues and
experience related to famers markets, even if it simply involves shopping at
farmers markets.

Application Process: The Michigan Farmers Market Association operates under
the umbrella of Michigan Food and Farming Systems-MIFFS. MIFFS is an equal
opportunity employer.
Please e-mail a cover letter and your resume, including references, to Dru
Montri at [log in to unmask] Candidates interested in volunteering in
addition to hours spent working should indicate so in their cover letter.

If you would like to access previous postings to the Mich-Organic listserv you can copy and paste the following URL into your browser address bar
 http://list.msu.edu/archives/mich-organic.html