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.pdf
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 http://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]
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 a searchable archive of the all the previous Mich-Organic listserv postings copy this URL and paste in your browser address field http://list.msu.edu/archives/mich-organic.html