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Dear, Mich-Organic Listserv readers: The information offered in the Michigan Organic Listserv is for your information and not necessarily endorsed by Michigan State University.

 

 

Michigan Organic 

Listserv

March 9, 2011

 

 

Organic News at MSU

The Michigan Organic Reporting Session was a great success!!!

I invite ALL of you to read this and be inspired, whether you are a farmer, a future farmer or even a researcher. The work going on at MSU is very exciting and will definitely expand opportunities for our farmers in Michigan and beyond.

 

On March 4, this past Friday we had a day filled with exciting information on organic ag research that MSU is doing, ranging from fruit production in hightunnels to identifying best weed management practices fororganic vegetables and investigating how to best implement a biofumigation system, growing mustards as a cover crop to reduce weeds and soil-borne pests. In addition we heard from 5 of MSU's researchers, how they are helping organic farmers through  research that is important to making a more sustainable and economically sound farming system. Dr. Dale Mutch shared how growing pumpkins and tomatoes following a rye cover crop, but leaving the straw as mulch can improve fruit quality. Dan Rossman shared results of soybean varieties that do well and are well received by organic bean producers in Michigan.  Dr. Sieg Snapp shared how the12 year study at Kellogg Biological Station is helping to understand how to effectively improve soil quality.  Dr. John Biernbaum shared how MSU’s dining hall is participating in research on vermicomposting production, using foodhall scraps to feed the worms and turn it into a wonderful soil amendment. 

Then after all the inspiring research information we heard from 3 very knowledgeable farmers; Ivan Morley (beans and grain), John VanVorhees (blueberries and maple syrup), joined by his intern Levi Brook and Lee Arboreal (vegetables and dairy goats).  They shared their experiences and approaches to building their soil, with their various production practices. They hosted questions from the audience and gave us all food for thought, around economics and environment and making it all work in synchrony.  To top off the wonderful event we visited with some of MSU’s finest College of Ag students, as they shared their work via posters during our reception.  In my book they were ALL winners but we did announce three top winners; Ben Gluck from Dept of Horticulture guided by Dr. Dan Brainard, Christine Sprunger from Dept of Crops and Soil Science, guided by Dr. Sieg Snapp and Nate Walton, guided by Dr. Matt Grieshop in Dept of Entomology.  You can take a look at the abstracts of all of these presentations and the posters if you like by visiting my web site at www.michiganorgnic.msu.edu.  And next year I hope you can share with me this event, first hand. The event kicks off Ag and Natural Resource week at MSU. Its always the first Friday of March at the Kellogg Conference Center in East Lansing. Hope to see you next year:)

Vicki Morrone

[log in to unmask]

 

 

 

These upcoming workshops and opportunities may be of interest…

 

Starting Your Garden Right: Soil Block Making & Seed Starting Workshop

When:  March 19, 2011, from 1:00 - 3:30 pm

Where:  Whetham Organic Farm (11230 W Mt Morris Rd, Flushing Twp)

 

Why:  Soil blocks result in happier, healthier plants that transplant with less root shock, so they getgoing sooner in garden soil. In addition, no plastic packs are necessary, resulting in less waste. Plus it’s fun to make the blocks - kind of like making mud pies, but for grownups. On our farm we use blocks in 3 sizes for the seedlings that go into our vegetable plots. At this workshop we’ll demonstrate making soil blocks in several sizes and you’ll be able to try it yourself. You will learn the techniques for getting the blocks to turn out right, discuss the soil mixes that are best for blocks and the seeds that will work well in them. You will also do some seeding of early vegetables in soil blocks.

 

How:   Two workshop options are available:

1.     Watch the demonstrations only (handouts will be available and questions answered)

2.      Make a flat of blocks to take home ( you must bring a heavy duty, non-divided flat with you)

Soil Block mix will be available for purchase but is best ordered in advance.

 

The workshop will take place in the hoophouse where we grow the seedlings for our certified organic vegetable operation. Space is limited, so early registration is suggested.

 

To register please send payment plus your name address phone & email to Whetham Organic Farm at (11230 W Mt Morris Rd, Flushing Twp).

 

Cost:

·      Workshop Option #1 is $15 if paid by March 10, $20 paid after March 10.

·      Worskhop Option #2 is $20 if paid by March 10, $25 after March 10. Bag of block mix is $8.50 - (One bag will make approximately 150 2# soil blocks). View event flyer at www.michiganorganic.msu.edu under the Event tab.

 

 

 

MSU Extension Grazing Workshop


When: March 30, 2011, from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

Where: Riverwalk Place (777 W. Cedar Ave, Gladwin, MI 48624.)

Why: Calling all Beef and Sheep producers! Guest speakers Kit and Brett Pharo will be sharing their visions of maximizing profitability. Kit’s discussion will focus on beef topics, while his brother Brett will discuss profitable sheep production. Both of them will share what they do on their operations. Kit will also discuss the three key s to maximizing profit, and enjoyment.

1.     Maximizing collection of FREE Solar Energy

2.     Matching your production cycle to fit your available forage resources

3.     Matching cow size, and type to fit your available forage resources

How:  Please contact Kable Thurlow, MSUE Educator at (989)426-7741, or by email at: [log in to unmask] , you can also get a copy of the registration flyer by visiting, www.msue.msu.edu/gladwin. Cost: $30 per person. Space is Limited. 

Registration deadline is March 16th in order to reserve your seat. Registrations received after that date will be filled on a first come first serve basis, and will cost $40 per person.

Are you looking for a new cash crop?

The Michigan Restaurant Association (MRA), in conjunction with the Michigan Brewers Guild, has been awarded a grant by the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) to study and promote the growth of Michigan-grown specialty hops. The purpose of the project is to research, strengthen and promote production of specialty crop hops. We will build a coalition of farmers, brewers, co-operative extensions and restaurateurs tofocus on stimulating Michigan’s economy. This project will provide Michigan hops producers and brewers an opportunity to collaborate in the design of aplan to improve and expand the varieties, production and processing of hops. • How do we increase dedicated acreage for hops production? • Is it possible to establish future hops presale agreements? To get involved, get trained and take advantage of educational opportunities Contact Donna Gardner at [log in to unmask] or by phone at 517.896.1120

Gardening

MSU Extension Practical Gardening Series 2011

Genesee County MSU Extension office is sponsoring a series of classes on a variety of good gardening topics in 2011, including fruit tree pruning, basic veggie gardening, composting, beekeeping and food preservation.

Backyard Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop

When: March 12, 2011, from 9:30 am - 12:00 pm

Where: Davison orchard (9418 Worth Rd, Davison, 48423)

Why: Bob Tritten, MSUE District Fruit Educator will educate participants about basic methods of pruning young and bearing fruit trees, as well as the pruning of older neglected fruit trees.

Workshop will be held rain or shine.

Note: All classes below will be held at the Genesee MSUE Office, 605 N. Saginaw, Suite 1A Flint, MI 48502, except for Tree Fruit Pruning workshop (above). Cost is $15.00each or $90.00 if you register for all seven (7) classes at once. Contact information – Debbie Clark at 810-244-8512 or email [log in to unmask] Registration flyers are available online at www.msue.msu.edu/genesee or call the phone number listed above.

Basic Veggie Gardening

 

·      April 14, 2011, 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm, Master Gardener and Nursery Owner Jenny Burrows will cover site preparation, plant selection, cultivation and harvest.

 

Backyard Composting

·       April 28, 2011, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm, Genesee MSUE’s Darren Bagley will teach you how to turn your yard waste and kitchen scraps into a wonderful soil builder.

Beekeeping Basics

·      May 11, 2011, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm, Terry Toland, of the MI Beekeepers Association, will cover what it would take to have a garden hive.

Food Preservation series

·      Food Preservation Basics on May 24, 2011, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm or June 22, 2011 5:30 pm -7:30pm

·      Water Bath Canning on June 2, 2011, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm or Wednesday July 6, 10 am – Noon

·      Pressure Canning on Thursday July 28, 2011, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm or Tuesday August 9, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm.

Christy Rivette, Genesee MSUE Food Safety Educator will instruct. Come to Food Preservation Basics to learn the fundamentals of food preservation or for more in-depth information about canning methods come to Water Bath or Pressure Canning.

 

Organic Update

Continuing Education by David Eddy, American Vegetable Grower

Moving into organic farming requires constant learning, or you can forget about increasing profits.

Tim Waters says the best organic onions he has ever seen are grown in south-central Washington, roughly 70 miles north of a town synonymous with sweet onions, Walla Walla. Waters, a Washington State University Cooperative Extension educator, says the onions might be so beautiful because of the location. Isolation helps when it comes to organic production, and these onions are grown on a remote bench of land right at the edge of the irrigation district. Or it might be because they are farmed by a couple of brothers who happen to be pretty good growers, Gavin and Orman Johnson.

A taciturn pair, the Johnson brothers are clearly uncomfortable with attention. But once you get them to focus on thebusiness of farming in general, and vegetable production in particular, they open up just a little bit. For instance, you learn that growing organic onions wasn’t their idea, but that of a marketer who bought their organic potatoes.

The marketer needed organic onions, but was having difficulty sourcing good quality. Onions are among the most difficult crops to farm organically because they simply don’t compete well with weeds, and there aren’t many effective herbicides available to organic growers. So growers have to employ large weeding crews which can run into big money, so big that Washington growers’ weeding costs have in some cases exceeded the revenue for which they contracted. The Johnsons, who farmed conventionally for manyyears before branching out into organic farming to boost their overall bottom line, have some good lessons for growers who are considering the leap. Here are three areas to consider.

But first, here’s a quote from Orman that deftly sums up their view of organic farming: “Growing organic means more, more, more. More weeding, more management, but, hopefully, more money.”

Listen And Learn

“When you talk to Orman or Gavin, you should be ready to answer some questions, because they always have really good questions,” says Waters. “They take the time to educate themselves. It seems to me that the Johnsons are always willing to keep learning. They’re willing to learn new things and try new things. You have to actually do it, and they do.”

Having experience in conventional farming helps a lot because growing onions is not easy, period. Also, many conventional growers who embark on organic farming take concepts they learn, such as theimportance of soil health, and apply them with a great deal of success to all the crops they grow, including their conventionally grown crops. “You don’t have as many cure-alls, so you have to be more in tune with your crops,” he says. “For one thing, you learn to scout more often.”

Orman says that when you start farming organically, get ready for a surprise. It can’t be overstated: Listen and learn as much as you possibly can. “If you think you know what you’re doing, you’re going to be severely challenged,” he says. “We’re still learning; we’re 10-year rookies.”

Adds brother Gavin: “We used to question ourselves about why we were doing it. Every year we thought about getting out of it. The learning curve is a long one. We’ve relied on a lot of other people. We seek out help.”

Control Weeds

In organic crops such as onions, weeding is going to be the major cost, because it often takes crews of 20 to 30 people to ensure a marketable crop, says Waters. The Johnsons really pay attention totheir weeding crew. They treat them well, and have developed a team that’s markedly different from those of other growers. “You wouldn’t think weeding would be an exciting job, but you should see them,” he says. “They really get after it.”

Orman says there’s no question weeds are their top challenge in onions, so bad in fact that they’re sometimes forced into tough decisions like just cutting losses. “If there are a lot of weeds, we’ve been known to chop up the crop and plow it under before the weeds go to seed,” he says. “Hand weeding is the key factor in whether you can be profitable or not.”

Watch your crop rotation — which can get very complicated, he continues. They go to the point of using a five-year plan.
They also carefully monitor their water source, because some sources, such as canal water, contain weed seed. A weed-free source such as deep well water is preferable. Also, Gavin notes that they manage water carefully so that two-thirds of the surface of a given field doesn’t get wet so the weeds don’t get as much water.

If you’re going to defeat the weeds, he adds, you’ve got to cop an attitude: “It’s almost like you, or one of your top staffers, has to act like you’re a security chief. But instead of thinking how someone can get in, you’ve got to think about how a weed can get in. Like most plants, weed comes from seed. You’ve got to always be thinking: ‘How can weed seed get into this field?’ That’s at least half the battle, because once the weed seeds germinate in the field, you are going to be fighting an uphill fight.”

Innovate

All growers take risks, says Waters, butorganic growers take more than most because they can’t simply reach for, say, an herbicide, and spray their troubles away. So you’ve got to be innovative risk-takers, like the Johnsons, to be successful. Perhaps the best example of that is the wide variety of crops they grow. Crops like Echinacea, a medicinal flower that some people say can reduce people’s chance of catching a cold. “Who grows Echinacea? It was just interesting to see someone so conservative do that,” Waters says. “I mean, who grows this stuff? Well, they do!”

This past year they grew red and yellow potatoes for the first time, 30 acres of each. They were approached by an organic company, says Gavin. They’ve also tried some more unusual things, such as growing peppermint and spearmint for leaves, not the oil, just to flavortea. “We contract for a set price,” he says. “We don’t always have a set contract, but we have a home.”

His brother says they will continue their innovative ways for the foreseeable future. “We’ve tried a few things,” says Orman, “and we’ll probably try a few more.”

Source:  American Vegetable Grower

 

 

The 5th Annual Stinner Summit for Healthy Agroecosystems and Sustainable Communities

 

Held on Friday, October 7th, 2011 at the Ward Pavilion,

Wildwood Preserve Metropark, Toledo, Ohio

 

Details and registration information will be available August 2011

 

Sponsored by the The Ben Stinner Endowment for Healthy Agroecosystems and Sustainable Communities

 

Read the complete message, read or add comments, and download attachments

http://www.localfoodsystems.org/node/1497

 

Finally, the USDAstarts organic field testing!

A bit of good news in the organic industry? Maybe…

Miles V. McEvoy, Deputy Administrator of the USDA’s National Organic Program, plans to begin testing 10 percent of the operations his agency certifies.

But, before anyone gets too excited, try to imagine if they only tested 10 percent of the athletes who competed at the Olympics. How much credibility would they have? Then imagining if they only tested American athletes at the Olympics while Chinese athletes were allowed to simply swear they were clean by signing an affidavit.

So far, only domestic organic farmers will be subjected to tests on their crops to make sure they’re not using prohibited, toxic herbicides, pesticides and fungicides. (And no word yet on whether McEvoy plans to test for the big moneymaker, synthetic nitrogen fertilizer). Everyone already knows that most domestic organicfarmers are honest; it’s our overseas competitors that need to be scrutinized.

You can go to my website for more on the USDA’s long overdue plan to test organic farms, a plan that President Bill Clinton first envisioned way, way, WAY back in 1997. Miles no doubt has good intentions, but unless he tests foreign organic farms that supply over 80 percent of our market, it might very well turn out to be too little too late.

Source: Mischa Popoff, IOIA Advanced Organic Farm and Process Inspector

Author of Is it Organic?

Osoyoos, BC, Canada

www.isitorganic.ca

 

Agriculture News

Michigan asparagus growers are finding higher returns by marketing part of their crop to the fresh market by Norm Myers, MSU Extension Senior Vegetable Production Educator

posted on February 18, 2011 11:57

Most of Michigan’s asparagus production has traditionally been marketed to either a canner or freezer. But over the last few years, many asparagus growers have begun marketing a portion of their crop to fresh market. Returns have generally been better in the fresh market with last year’s fresh price averaging $.20 a pound better than selling to the processed market.

The fresh asparagus market does have some increased costs and requires a higher level of management from producers. Harvested asparagus must be oriented in lugs instead of tossed into a much larger asparagus box. This generally calls for more, better-trained harvest labor and often results in higher harvest costs. In order to maintain fresh quality, delivery to packers is more frequent than in the processing market, usually requiring an extra trip or two per day.

Growers have found their grades are much better if they concentrate their fresh production on younger, more productive fields, which means that some asparagus growers may not be positioned to take advantage of this market. Fresh growers must also accept the fact that payment from packers and brokers is usually delayed on most of their crop until after the season is over, which can result in cash flow problems on some farms. Lastly, third-party food safety inspection is another cost for fresh asparagus growers that currently processed producers don’t need to worry about.

On the positive side, because spears are harvested at a larger size than in processed production, most fresh growers report that yields are higher when a field is picked for fresh. This fact, along with higher prices for production means that fresh market asparagus may be an attractive alternative to marketing only a processed crop.

Most fresh production moves through the packer and broker system, but growers who are closer to urban markets may have even more profitable alternatives including sales through farmer’s markets, road-side stands or even through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) plans.

Hopefully, Michigan will remain the pre-eminent asparagus processing center in North America, but diversification into the fresh market offers growers a chance take advantage of value added agriculture and the local food movement to increase farm income and strengthen their economic position.

Source: MSU Vegetable CAT Alert, www.ipmnews.msu.edu.

 

High tunnels are beneficial for production of several annual crops in northern climates likeMichigan, by Ron Goldy, MSU Extension Senior Vegetable Crops Educator

Since they have been used commercially in the United States for 10 or more years, high tunnels can hardly be considered “new technology.” However, growers continue to be introduced to their benefits, which includegreater and higher quality yield, season extension, disease reduction and others. The first crop many vegetable producers want to place in tunnels isfresh market tomatoes. However, they can be one of the most difficult crops to grow under tunnels.

Tunnel-grown tomatoes have larger plants, leaves and fruit, than the same cultivar grown out of the tunnel. Therefore, nitrogen levels need to be reduced at least 30% below field rates. Physiological problems such as gray wall, yellow shoulder and green core are also more prevalent on tomatoes grown in tunnels. Penn State Regional Horticulture Educator, Steve Bogash emphasizes the need for tissue testing and nutrient management, especially potassium, to obtain quality tomato fruit (http://glexpo.com/summaries/2010summaries/Tomato.pdf). Many of the fruit problems observed in fresh market tomatoes do not show up in the smaller-fruited cherry or grape tomato cultivars.

Vegetable crops that have performed well in high tunnels in Michigan include cucumbers, leafy greens and herbs. Testing still needs to be conducted on other vegetable crops.

Some flowers have also performed well including snap dragons, zinnias, sunflowers, statice, gomphrena and others. Dahlia and cosmos have not done well probably due to elevated summer temperatures in the tunnel. Cut flower stems are generally longer and colors appear brighter so they can obtain a premium price in the market place.

Michigan State University’s Dr. John Biernbaum has written a manual on hoop house production. The manual provides information producers need to make decisions when considering tunnels or growing crops using tunnels. Research results can also be found in several SWMREC Annual Reports at http://agbioresearch.msu.edu/swmrec/publications.html.

A main concern for high tunnel producers no matter what crop they grow is water management. Since the planting is covered with plastic, irrigation is a necessity. The only water the plants receive is what the grower gives them so close attention needs to bepaid to irrigation scheduling. Some plantings will need watering twice a day or more depending on the production practices employed (flat, raised beds, containers, etc.).

For more information on tunnel production of annual crops contact Dr. Ron Goldy, Michigan State University Extension Vegetable Educator at (269)944-1477 ext 207 or [log in to unmask].

 

More than 150 Grassroots Groups Oppose House Budget Cuts to Sustainable Agriculture Programs

Press Release

Columbus, OH—The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) was one of more than 150 organizations to sign on to a letter to the U.S. Senate in opposition to a House budget bill (H.R.1) that would cut more than $60 billion dollars from the federal budget over the remainder of this fiscal year.   H.R. 1 slashes a disproportional amount from the agriculture budget (22 %) relative to other budget sections.  Worse, it unfairly targets programs that servesustainable, organic, beginning, and minority farmers. 

H.R. 1 makes deep cuts to conservation and renewable energy funding provided by the 2008 Farm Bill—a combined $500 million would be cut under the House bill from programs including the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and Wetland Reserve Program (WRP). 

While Conservation, Renewable Energy, Farm Services Agency direct farm lending, and feeding programs for low income families took big hits, no cuts were proposed for commodity payments or crop insurance, two of the biggest line items in the agriculture budget after nutrition programs.  According to the letter submitted by OEFFA and other groups, “In a year of relatively high farm income, the House has focused its cuts instead upon programs that protect the environment, increase economic opportunity, serve beginning and minority farmers, and ensure proper nutrition for low-income families.”  

 “These cuts are reckless and unfair” said Carol Goland, OEFFA’s Executive Director.   “If cuts must be made then everything must be on the table.  Cuts must be fair, equitable and made based on the merits of each program,” she said.

The House bill would make very major cuts in agricultural research and extension, rural development, and would also eliminate funding completely for a number of small programs of great importance to sustainable, organic, beginning, and minority farmers.  The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA), Organic Transitions Research Program, Office of Advocacy and Outreach (to coordinate policy and outreach to beginning, women, and minority farmers), and the Office of Tribal Relations program would all be terminated. 

H.R. 1 also cuts several USDA agency administrative budgets more severely than the programs they manage.   “With the staff cuts this will require, we don’t see how they can possibly do their job effectively,” said Goland.   “The Senate needs to be more responsible and even handed in its approach to deficit reduction.”   

To read the full text of the letter, go to http://sustainableagriculture.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/154-Organization-Letter-to-Senate-on-Ag-Section-of-HR-1.pdf.

The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association was founded in 1979 and is a grassroots coalition of farmers, backyard gardeners, consumers, retailers, educators, researchers, and others who share a desire to build a healthy food system. For more than 30 years, OEFFA has used education, advocacy, and grassroots organizing to promote local and organic food systems, helping farmers and consumers reconnect and together build a sustainable food system, one meal at a time. For more information, go to www.oeffa.org.

--

Lauren N. Ketcham

Communications & Membership Services Coordinator

Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association (OEFFA)

41 Croswell Road

Columbus, Ohio 43214

Phone: 614-421-2022 Ext. 203

Fax: 614-421-2011

[log in to unmask]

 

 

Four-season farming grows in Michigan with hoophouses

Looking for a creative way to maximize market opportunity without burning out?? Take a look at what our fellow Michigan Vegetable Farmers are doing near Jackson, MI. What a great way to make the local food action happen, collectively!! Check out the article below to learn about hoophouses around Michigan and how a cooperative is making it happen.

It's mid- February and the snow is piled up in drifts outside, but a carpet of green covers the floor of the hoophouse where Shannon Brines is giving a tour. When someone asks "So how did you get started with this?" Brines says "I got tired of reading about everything happening in other places, and decided I could do it here." He put up his first hoophouse, a type of passive solar greenhouse, in 2005, and currently has four in production growing food all year, with a special focus on wintertime crops.

Hoophouses, sometimes called "high tunnels" are usually steel-frame structures that use positioning, the sun's rays, and a cover made of high-tech plastic film to create an environment for cold season crops to thrive, even in bitter weather. Farmers use an additional cover, like a blanket made of plastic or other insulatingmaterial, suspended over the plants for extended cold and cloudy weather conditions.

Brines Farm was the fourth stop on a five-stop "Four Season Farming" tour in Washtenaw and Lenawee Counties put together by Jane Bush and Michaelle Rehmann of the Food System Economic Partnership (FSEP). Designed to inspire farmers and food serviceprofessionals with on the ground proof of new opportunities, the tour also demonstrated that food grown in deep winter can provide eaters with some of the tastiest and healthiest produce when they need it most and give farmers an income during a difficult time of year.

Jane Bush, FSEP Business Development Specialist, says her goal in developing the tour for farmers and food service professionals was to demonstrate "in a visual way what can be grown in the dead of winter. We want to impress upon participants what can be done in Michigan, even with very limited resources. I hope that this is an opportunity for people to form relationships, and for people individually to take action." Bush has herself put the opportunity into action by helping to start the "4 Season Produce Co-op," a federation of small farmers working together to provide fresh, locally grown greens to Allegiance Health, a regional hospital and health system located in Jackson, Mich.

The Farm at St. Joe
Along with schools, health systems are among the institutional buyers that have shown the most interest in using locally grown produce, both to support their staff and patients' health and as a differentiator in the marketplace. With two hoophouses in production (out of 12 planned) The Farm at St. Joe is an example of a hospital system taking the leap to make the connection between food and health. Hired as a full-time employee, farmer Dan Bair has spinach, chard, collards and kale — all cold season crops — growing inside unheated steel framed structures with pointed "gothic" style roofs. On a sunny day, the temperature can easily rise above 80 degrees. Bair notes that he likes to keep the environment closer to 60 degrees as he points out the various styles of openings in the endwalls installed to test out whether a roll-up, sliding, or regular swing door provides the most useful functionality — and cooling.

The people on the tour want to know what Bair charges for the produce at the weekly hospital farmers' market that he supplies. He says he's currently charging $9 a pound for spinach, partly because earlier in the winter people were grumbling about paying $12 a pound. He says he's heard of big city markets where greens like his go for as much as $40 a pound in the high demand winter season, and that with all the labor involved they're definitely worth $12.

Goetz Farm
Of the farmers and the food service professionals on the tour, both groups are interested in the economics of hoophouse production even if for different reasons. Growing wintertime kale, beets, lettuce and carrots at their centennial farm in Riga, Mich., Jonathan and Karlene Goetz provide agood example of the economics that make hoophouse growing viable. They selltheir winter produce at the Ann Arbor Farmers' Market but also to larger customers like Ford Motor Co. and to catering companies, and Jon Goetz sayspeople are calling all the time. He says that their sales over eight months brought back the $11,000 purchase price of their most recent hoophouse. When someone asks if that price included the cost of labor for putting it up, Karlene Goetz adds that when you have four sons on a farm, the labor is free. Apparently it helps that they planned ahead to have those four sons.

Planning ahead is especially important for the development of farm to institution relationships. Head Chef at the East Quad dorm on the University of Michigan campus, Buzz Cummings, has been working with Goetz Farm for a couple of years already. He says he likes "the diversity of products, and they have good pricing and great service." As an institutional purchaser, Cummings is required to work with vendors committed to GAP (for Good Agricultural Practices) certification. Meeting the GAP criteria is supposed to make food safer for consumption, but Jon Goetz notes that GAP and organic certification are in conflict — and you can't do both. "GAP wants you to chlorine everything (to kill germs on the produce), but organic says don't" (because chlorine is not an approved organic input).

Sunseed Farm
Although not "certified" organic, Tomm and Trilby Becker practice organic agriculture on the 18 acre
Sunseed Farm they started last year as the area's first year-round CSA. Tomm Becker was already an experienced hoophouse farmer after several years managing what is likely the first year-round CSA in the state at the Michigan State University student organic farm. When the Beckers moved to Ann Arbor last year, they leased the farm, got married and put up two hoops with the support of Friday Mornings @SELMA, a local food breakfast salon organized to raise money for low-interest loans and volunteer labor to help farmers extend their growing season for food production. Becker says winter farming is priority for them both in terms of having an income but also because they believe it's important to supply food for the community throughout the year.

For their winter CSA members, Tomm Becker grows food in two hoophouses from January through April. He says he could potentially make more money selling to restaurants or at the market but "the CSA is our priority; I love having a relationship with the people who eat our food." The love is reflected back to him as tour participants Tom and Edith Huber exclaim, "Your vegetables are just incredible!" Green kale, purple kale, beets, chard, collards, white Hakurei turnips, carrots and spinach glow when the sun comes out and lights up the two hoops surrounded by snow. We tramp back to the bus, and, as Becker shakes hands with the people boarding, he says, "I hope I get to compete with some of you soon. We need a lot more food growing in our area."

Brines Farm
As we arrive at
Brines Farm, a small herd of deer bounds off through the snow at our approach to the four hoophouses in production in the midst of towering pine trees. It's a little hoophouse district on what Shannon Brines says covers less than an acre. Here is where he grows the food for 40 winter CSA shares that last for 26 weeks from November through May. Every week members get anywhere from three to seven pounds of baby lettuce, kale, komatsuna, collards, squash, spinach, onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips and baby carrots. Brines notes that there is much more demand right now than there is locally grown food available in the winter.

His latest focus is on growing crops throughout the summer and fall months that can bedried (like hot peppers) or root cellared. In the fall, he cures his potatoes and sweet potatoes for a week in a heated space, then stores them in a crawl space at about 50-60 degrees. He still has sweet potatoes in February that have lasted five months out of the ground.

In the discussion about what kind of return he gets on the hoophouse structures (he says $8-$12,000 per house is a reasonable expectation), someone asks whether he heats any of the hoophouses. It's a reasonable question, but it also defines what's different about a hoophouse. Brines says, "It has to be low input to make sense financially." He believes the only way it works economically is if there are no electrical (aka petroleum-based) inputs.

Capella Farm
Jennifer Kangas left a career in banking to start the
Capella Farm CSA in 2009. In 2010 she was also arecipient of one of the hoophouses built through the funding and volunteer support of Friday Mornings @SELMA. With the new hoophouse, she has been able to expand her production, now offering a 10-week spring CSA membership March through May, and an additional fall "extension" for three weeks in October plus a large holiday share in addition to the regular 20-week summer CSA. The new spring CSA filled almost immediately with previous summer members.

Plantedlast fall before the ground froze, the hoophouses have small plants that are just waiting for some sunny days to grow. There's enough to do on the farm that Kangas hired a helper who has been coming two days per week throughout the winter. In the summer, Kangas says she going to need to hire three full-time helpers and two part time as she works to increase her CSA membership up to 100. She says she came on the tour "because I wanted to see what other people are doing. It's always good to share information."

The future of hoophouses in Michigan
Four season farming is a concept that provides eaters with some of the tastiest and healthiest food just when they need it most, and it gives farmers an income during a difficult time of year. If we want to become less dependent on thepetroleum required for food shipped from faraway lands, then we also need to learn how to feed ourselves during the coldest months. Not only is it an opportunity for an income stream, it's also a sustainable growing method, and one that increases community resilience and employment.

Julie Harsh, Saline Schools Food Service Director, is a potential customer. She'slooking for any nearby farms that can help supply produce for the kids' lunches. With the new Child Nutrition Act Re-authorization she says that she needs to put a different colored vegetable on the kids' plates every week, and children in kindergartenthrough eighth grade have an all-you-can-eat salad bar every single day. She doesn't serve iceberg lettuce anymore, saying, "There's no nutrition in it." She's looking for broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, spinach and romaine lettuce. She wants the Saline schools Ag Department to put up a hoophouse, and she's got the funding for it. But so far, she hasn't found anyone to take her up on it.

Wade Pregitzer, owner of Pregitzer Farm Market and CSA in Munith was impressed with what he saw on the tour. He says he has a greenhouse fund that he keeps until he has enough every couple of years to build a new one. He's anticipating that one of the next ones is going to be a hoophouse.

Source: Ann Arbor.com, http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/food-drink/four-season-farming-grows-in-michigan-with-hoophouses/.

 

Michigan Junior Chef Competition

 

The Michigan Junior Chef Competition is made up of two parts, a Recipe Contest and a Cook-off Competition. Here’s how it works:

 

First, student teams (3-4 students in grades 7-12 will work with an adult coach to make one tasty) submit recipes that are fit for a healthy school lunch meal and feature local, seasonal foods. Recipe contest submissions due by March 14, 2011.

 

Next, up to eight teams will be selected to bring their recipes to life in a cook-off competition at Michigan State University on May 11, 2011. Teams will also create a Marketing flyer to present with their meals at the cook-off event.

Visit: http://www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu/chef for rules and more information.

 

 

Farm Marketing

Meet & Greet Events

 

 

Genesee Intermediate School District

Farm to School

Meet & Greet

 

With the help offunding from the Ruth Mott Foundation and the WK Kellogg Foundation, participating school food service directors in Genesee Intermediate School District have been purchasing local products for the past three years. They’re still interested in purchasing greater volume and more types of local foods for school meals programs. Take advantage of this growing market opportunity!

 

Join us for thisMeet & Greet event to get your questions answered and meet school food service directors from Genesee and surrounding counties who are interested in purchasing local foods for school food programs. School food service directors will discuss products of interest, submitting price quotes, delivery arrangements, and more!

 

WHEN: Monday, March 21st, 2011

2:30-4:30 pm

WHERE: Genesee Intermediate School District

Health, Safety, and Nutrition Services

2284 S. Ballenger Highway

Flint, MI 48503

 

This event is free of charge. Please RSVP to Colleen Matts at [log in to unmask] or 517-432-0310.

 An opportunity for farmers to meet with K-12 and University Food Service Directors from the Grand Rapids Metro Area 

 

When: March 22, 2011, from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Room set up will begin at 1:00 p.m.

 

Where: Kent/MSU Extension (775 Ball Ave. NE Grand Rapids MI 49503).

 

Why: This is a free opportunity to promote your farm products, distribute samples and written materials about your products. Those who RSVP will be provided a table and chair to display your products. Confirmation has been received from school eight food service directors and invitations just went out.

 

How: Please RSVP to Kendra Wills, Tel: (616) 336-2028 or [log in to unmask], for the March 22 Meet and Greet event by March 11 so we can plan accordingly.

 

 

 

Farmers Market News

How Can the Michigan Farmers Markets Food Assistance Partnership Help You? By: Amanda Segar, Michigan Farmers Market Food, Assistance Partnership Coordinator

 

The Michigan Farmers Markets Food Assistance Partnership is a program of MIFMA that provides networking opportunities, shares resources and facilitates collaboration for individuals and organizations working to increase consumers’ access to healthy, locally produced foods through farmers markets.

 

The Food Assistance Partnership focuses on those consumers who are eligible for food assistance, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) for both Women, Infants and Children’s (WIC) clients and seniors, and similar programs.

 

Our more than 50 partners include farmers markets, state agencies, non-profit organizations and others involved in the local food system who believe that everyone should have access to fresh, healthy, local food and that farmers markets are a great place to purchase that food and to connect with local farmers and the community.

 

Beginning in 2007, the Food Assistance Partnership has worked to increase the number of farmers markets that are equipped to accept SNAP benefits. The SNAP program, formerly Food Stamps, is the largest federal nutrition assistance program. Each month, 1.9 million Michiganders receive SNAP benefits on their Bridge Card, and each year, they bring $2.7 billion into our state to purchase the food that they need for the good health of themselves and their families.

 

When the Partnership began, SNAP recipients only had access to three Michigan farmers markets. In 2009, that number grew to 30, and in 2010 with the help of the Food Assistance Partnership, that number expanded to 52 farmers markets, representing 25% of the total number of markets in Michigan.

 

Despite this significant increase, there are still areas of the state where SNAP recipients do not have access to a farmers market. That’s why we need you!

 

Accepting Bridge Cards at your farmers market can be a win-win-win situation for food assistance recipients, the farmers and vendors who sell at your market and the market itself.  Food assistance recipients will have increased access to fresh, healthy and locally-produced foods and the opportunity to interact with the farmers who grow it. The farmers and vendors who sell at your market will benefit from increased sales and a wider customer base, and in turn, your market will benefit. When your market facilitates a program that helps farmers and vendors be more economically viable, it becomes a valuable vendor recruitment and retention tool.

 

If your market is interested in learning more about what it takes to accept Bridge Cards, join the Food Assistance Partnership for its second annual webinar entitled “Accepting Bridge Cards at Michigan Farmers Markets in 2011.” The webinar will be held on Wednesday, March 23 from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and registration information is available online at www.mifma.org.

 

 For more information about becoming a partner in the work of the Food Assistance Partnership, visit www.mifma.org or contact Amanda Segar at (517) 432-3381 or [log in to unmask].

 

Source: The Michigan Farmers Market Association, March 2011 Newsletter, http://www.mifma.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Mar2011.pdf.

 

 

Genetically Modified Food News

MSNBC: Vote under way on whether GM foods should require labeling

Readers are voting on whether genetically modified foods, or foods containing those ingredients, should require labels. Go to http://health.newsvine.com/_question/2011/02/25/6131050-do-you-believe-genetically-modified-foods-should-be-labeled to vote.

 

Food Safety                     

Food Safety Regulation Discussion

Forums for Small Food Processors, Producers and Food Entrepreneurs

Small food processors, producers and food entrepreneurs are invited to participate in a series of forum discussions on Michigan food safety regulations. As the Michigan Food Law is improved and revised, these forums provide an opportunity for small and medium size farm operators and food entrepreneurs to provide input on food safety and how regulations affect them.

The forums are hosted by Michigan Food & Farming Systems (MIFFS) with funding from the Michigan Department of Agriculture in order to learn more about perceptions and experiences of food safety regulations and discover if and how regulations have constrained the viability of small food businesses. Pre-registration is requested; you can register by clicking the “Register now” links below or at www.miffs.org/foodsafetyforums.asp.

These forums will take place throughout the month of March at the following locations: 

·      Tuesday, March 15, 2011 from 9:00 – 11:00 am, Michigan State University (MSU) Extension - Bay County 515 Center Ave., Bay City, MI 48708

·      Friday, March 25, 2011 from 10:00 am– 12:00 pm, MSU Extension - Mecosta County 14485 Northland Dr., Big Rapids, MI 49307

·      Wednesday, March 30, 2011 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, The Holiday Inn, 1201 W. Main St., Gaylord, MI 49735

Pre-registration is requested. For further details, visit http://www.miffs.org/foodsafetyforums.asp  or contact Jenifer Buckley at 517/355-5962 or [log in to unmask].

 

Recycling

Check out recycling dates below for hard to recycle items.


Ingham County

 

·      Saturday,April 9, 9 :00 am – 2:00 am Recycle Rama (appliances, e-waste, cooking oil, unwanted meds, cfls, thermostats, books, any colored glass, polystyrene, scrap metal, and much more), IC Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.  VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THIS EVENT!

·      Saturday,April 16, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm, Document Destruction Day , Friedland Industries, 405 Maple, Lansing.

·      Saturday,April 30, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm Meridian Township Recycling Event (books, polystyrene, unwanted meds, bicycles, clothing, household goods), location tba.

·      Thursday,May 5, 2:00 – 6:00 pm, Ingham County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Site opens.  See attached flyer.  Ingham County residents only.

·      Saturday,May 14, time tba, Williamston Unwanted Medicine Collection,Williamston High School, details to follow.

·      Saturday,May 21, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, Rain Barrel and Compost Bin Sale,  Foods For Living parking lot, 2655 E. Grand River, East Lansing, details to follow.

 

Clinton County

 

·      Saturday,March 26, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, Unwanted medicine collection, Bath Township Senior Center, 14480 Webster Rd, Bath.  Seven collection events scheduled for 2011.  See attached flyer.   Clinton County residents only.

·      Thursday,March 31, 3:00 -7:00 pm., Special Recycling Event (books, household items and building materials), Wilson Center, 101 W. Cass St., StJohns.  

·      Friday, April 1, 3:00 -7:00 pm, Special Recycling Event (books, household items, building materials), DeWitt Township  Hall, 1401 Herbison, DeWitt

·      Saturday,April 16, Clean Community Event (household hazardous waste, scrap metal, appliances, tires, clothing, etc.) Clinton County Residents only.

 

Eaton County

 

·      Friday, April 15, 2-6 p.m., Book Collection & Document Shredding,Charlotte Area Recycling Authority, 201 Hall St., Charlotte.  Hard cover & soft cover books, magazines, pone books, cardboard, boxboard and documents for on-site shredding.

·      Friday, May 13, 2-6 p.m., Household hazardous waste & electronic recycling, Delta Township, 7710 W. Saginaw, Lansing.  Eaton County residents only.  Requires an appointment.

·      Saturday,June 18, 8 a.m. - noon, Tire collection, Charlotte Road Commission, 1112 Reynolds Rd., Charlotte.  Fees for tire recycling listed on EatonCounty, Department of Resource Recovery website.

*If you have questions about reuse or recycling in the area, just send me an email.
Martha Knorek:  
[log in to unmask]

 

Grants and Loans for Farmers

Low-Interest Loans Available to Farms and Non-Profits to Install Agricultural Passive Solar Systems (Hoophouses)

The State of Michigan is offering low-interest loans between $5,000-$15,000 for family farms or non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations to install passive solar systems, also known as hoophouses.  A passive solar system is a structure that can extend the growing season to 10 to 12 months without additional supplemental heat or light. A recent on-farm research project by 12 private farms and Michigan State University has shown that passive solar systems can generate gross and net sales at a rate which would make a loan repayable in one to four years. "These loans are a great opportunity for farmers or non-profits to extend Michigan's growing season allowing them to grow more produce and more varieties," said DELEG Acting Director Andrew S. Levin. "It is not only a great way to feed Michigan families, but it also benefits our environment by reducing the use of fossil fuels in agricultural operations."

The loans can only be used to cover materials, supplies and equipment costs. Interest on approved loans is fixed at 4 percent for a maximum of 6 years. Systems already installed are ineligible for the program.  Applicants can apply now through February 15, 2011. Applications and loan specifications are available at:
www.michiganadvantage.org/PSS. Applications for funding will be reviewed by an advisory committee and awarded based on project merit and applicant creditworthiness.

The loans are made possible by Public Act 242 of 2009, which established the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Revolving Loan Fund (Energy Revolving Loan Fund) Program to provide low-interest loans to public or private entities for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects and partnerships with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Department of Agriculture. For questions about application requirements, contact: David Binkley at (517) 373-7673 or email: [log in to unmask]. Questions about projects and technical issues should be directed to Adam Montri at (517)-355-5191 Ext. 1407 or email: [log in to unmask]

For an application, you can also go to: www.michiganadvantage.org/PSS 

 

Educational Scholarships

Fulbright Scholar Competition for 2012-2013

The Fulbright Scholar Program and Humphrey Fellowship Program are administered by the Institute of International Education's Department of Scholar and Professional Programs, which includes the Council for International Exchange of Scholars and Humphrey divisions.

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program offers teaching, research or combined teaching/research awards in agriculture. Faculty and professionals in agriculture also can apply for "All Discipline" awards open to all fields.

Here are a few of the awards for 2012-2013:
Macao: Award 2110 - Humanities and Social Sciences
Bulgaria: Award 2184 - Pure and Applied Sciences
Indonesia: Award 2099 - Science and Technology
Russia: Award 2334 - Science and Innovation
Philippines: Award 2120 - Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization
Mongolia: Award 2116 - Humanities, Social Sciences, Science and Technology

For more information on 2012-13 opportunities in agriculture, please visit
www.iie.org/cies.

The application deadline for the Core Fulbright Scholar Program is August 1, 2011.  U.S. citizenship is required.  For more information, visit our website at
www.iie.org/cies or contact us at [log in to unmask]

Faculty and professionals are also encouraged to participate in one of our weekly webinars.  For more information, visit our website at
www.iie.org/cies/webinar.

 

Farm Pioneering Opportunity

On-site Coordinator for Joseph Badger Meadows (Presbyterian USA camp and conference center)

Location: The rural location is 30 minutes north of Youngstown, Ohio.

Description: Joseph Badger Meadows, an underutilized Presbyterian USA camp and conference center, is looking for an on-site camp coordinator.

Compensation: The coordinator will live rent- and utility-free in a 3-bedroom house and with full access to turn 12 acres into a farming/grazing operation. Well access for irrigation and use of outbuildings and some implements are negotiable. In exchange for these housing, land and infrastructure benefits, this site coordinator will work 5-15 hours a week overseeing and administering camp functions.

Goodness Grows, a well-established and well-networked agricultural non-profit committed to seeing individuals and communities thrive through regenerativeagriculture, will help in selection of the coordinator(s) and will provide educational and marketing support.

Responsibilities: Besides being able to establish a successful market farming operation from the ground up, the candidate(s) must be open to the mutually benefiting overlay of ecological and agricultural education and social outreach programs in the region. Big dreamers and creative thinkers with successful farming experience (preferably with anatural systems orientation) are encouraged to apply.

 Please direct inquiries by March 26 to Steve Fortenberry at Goodness
Grows:
[log in to unmask]

 

Job Opportunities

Project Coordinator at The Ohio State University/OARDC

Description: The Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at The Ohio State University/OARDC is currently seeking a Project Coordinator to manage staff and farm, greenhouse, and growth chamber facilities that are used in research on agronomic and horticultural crops.  

Location:  The position is located in Wooster, OH. 

How to apply:  Interested individuals may apply at http://jobs.osu.edu requisition number 355525.  Application deadline is March 13, 2011.   

Questions contact:

Clay Sneller
Associate Professor, Associate Chair
Department of Horticulture and Crop Science
The Ohio State University
Wooster, Ohio 44691
330-263-3944
[log in to unmask]

 

 

Part Time Assistant Market Manager – Fulton Street Farmers Market

About the Fulton Street Farmers Market: Establishedin 1922, the Fulton Street Farmers Market offers locally-grown fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs, plants, and home-made arts and crafts.  The market is open four days a week, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. from May until Christmas and Saturdays January through April.

The Market is located in the Midtown Neighborhood and is operated by the Neighborhood Association.  The City of Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department provides this venue as a service to the residents of Grand Rapids.

 

Position Duties: The Assistant Manager will be responsible for assisting the Market Manager in the management, coordination and supervision of daily Market business and operational activities. The position requires approximately 20 hours/week from May to November. Tasks include, but are not limited to:

·      Working with multiple committees and board of directors

·      Ensuring adherence to market rules by vendors and customers

·      Answering new vendor inquiries and customer questions

·      Assisting customers using Credit/Debit and Bridge Cards/Double Up Food Bucks

·      Assisting in the public phase of Capital Campaign

·      Light Custodial and Ground Maintenance Duties

·      Intern and Volunteer supervision

·      Event Management/Coordination

·      Updating the “In Season” segment on therapidian.org

 

Attention to detail, excellent customer service skills and the ability to interact with diverse groups of people required.  Software skills desired include Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Publisher), database and spreadsheets and Internet.  Proficient oral and written communication skills required.  Knowledge of market management, agricultural practices and/or local food systems is a plus. This position requires irregular schedules, including evenings, weekends and holidays.  Four year degree preferred.

How to apply: Submit cover letter and resume to Melissa at: 1147 East Fulton, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 or [log in to unmask].  Deadline is 5:00 p.m., Friday, March 11, 2011.

Midtown Neighborhood Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Michigan State University Extension

Several non-academic positions for two, Program Associates and three, Program Assistants in the Macomb, Oakland and Wayne units have been posted on-line today on the MSU Applicant Page (MAP) for District 11.   Each has a closing application deadline of March 22nd.

·      Extension Program Assistant EFNEP, #4468 – position is located in Wayne County

·      Extension Program Assistant EFNEP, #4470 – position is located in Macomb County

·      Extension Program Assistant SNAP Ed., #4472 – position is located in Wayne County

·      Extension Program Associate EFNEP, #4469 – position is located in Oakland County

·      Extension Program Associate   80% SNAP Ed./20% EFNEP, #4471 – position is located in Macomb County

Desired start date: April 18, 2011.   All positions are fixed-term employment positions, funded to 09/30/2011, and extended upon annual approved, renewal of grant funds. 

To apply for Extension positions, access MSU’s Applicant Page at www.jobs.msu.edu, select the MSU Extension button in the middle of the page, and look for the position/title.  Only on-line applications will be accepted.

Sandra M. Rosa,  Adm. Ast. II/S

MSUE District 11 - Wayne, Oakland, Macomb

28115 Meadowbrook Rd.

Novi, MI  48377-3128

Toll: (877) 643-9886

Ph:    (248) 380-9100  x 200  

Fax:  (248) 380-9194

[log in to unmask]

 

 

MSU Extension, Research Assistant I – Huron County, District 10

 

 

Position:  Research Assistant I

 

Location:  MSU Extension - Huron County

 

Status:  Part-Time, position off-dated through March 31, 2012

 

Available: April 1, 2011

 

Apllication Deadline::  March 15, 2011

 

FURTHER INFORMATION:  MSU Extension – Huron County

Bob Battel, Extension Educator, Field Crops(989) 269-9949

 

To access the full posting, job description, and application form go to: www.jobs.msu.edu , click on "Search Posting" and enter in the posting number  4467.  

 

Summer Job:  Student Research Assistant II

  

Duration: June, July, August 2011, 16-20 hours/week

Location: Based in Natural Resources Building

Compensation: $10/hour

Duties: 

·      Help set up and coordinate meetings

·      Help develop network databases and a relationship map of Michigan organizations and individuals working in the food system

·      Analyze survey data

·      Develop PowerPoint presentation slides

Skills needed:  

·      Excellent communication and organization skills

·      Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PPT, andOutlook

·      Experience with internet based social networks and web-site creation

·      Understanding of Michigan agriculture

·      Passion for working on food system-related projects

How to apply: Please submit letter of application, resume and current contact information for three references to Mr. Rich Pirog, [log in to unmask]. Mr. Pirog is joining the C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at Michigan State University as a senior academic specialist and will become an Associate Director of the soon-to-be created Center for Sustainable Food Systems at MSU. He hopes to interview prospective candidates the week of March 14.  Applications are requested prior to that time but will be accepted until the position has been filled.

 

Greater Lansing Food Bank Seeks Executive Director

Description: The Greater Lansing Food Bank seeks an experienced, dedicated, and visionary Executive Director with a demonstrated commitment to excellence to lead our organization and add to its exceptional 30 year history of involving, educating, and uniting people to help end hunger in the greater Lansing area.

Background: Founded in 1981, the GLFB meets its mission through an innovative set of collaborative programs that serve people in need in Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton counties. Its operations involve (1) sourcing food for an extensive network of pantries; (2) providing food dollars to local shelters, community kitchens, and other human services agencies; (3) providing assistance to community and home gardeners through a growing collection of urban and suburban gardens; (4) working with local farmers to grow specific foods andglean excess produce; and ( 5) running a food rescue operation to ensure that prepared food does not go to waste but, instead, nourishes hungry people. The organizational culture of the GLFB can best be described as hardworking, down-to-earth, compassionate and respectful toward its recipients and the community, and appreciative of the extraordinary generosity of its donors, partners, and volunteers.

The incoming Educator will have:

  • Experience managing a complex organization (hiring, supervising, and cultivating staff and contractors, as well as working in partnership with a volunteer board)
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills (including strong interpersonal and public speaking skills, experience communicating with and educating multiple constituencies about hunger issues, and the ability to articulate our mission using multiple media outlets)
  • Demonstrated experience developing and overseeing budgets, as well as business plans for expansion
  • Fundraising experience (a proven ability to connect with and cultivate both new and existing donors)
  • Experience developing and overseeing internal policies and procedures
  • Knowledge of food banking or food distribution systems (or similar knowledge that can transfer easily to this industry)
  • Exceptional ability to build and maintain relationships and foster a spirit of cooperation with new and existing partners (such as other nonprofits, local governments, and businesses)
  • Passion for our mission and the people we serve
  • A commitment to promoting, encouraging, and emphasizing self-help programs as a means to ending hunger and, most important, experience with and enthusiasm for setting a vision and fulfilling it with entrepreneurial and collegial spirit.

To apply: By March 21, please send resume with cover letter explaining your interest in and qualifications for this position to Peter Pratt, Chair of the Search Committee at [log in to unmask]This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . References required. Salary commensurate with experience.

For more information visit the Greater Lansing Food Bank on-line, http://www.greaterlansingfoodbank.org/.

 

Program coordinator at Fair Food Matters


Location:  Fair Food Matters, 323 N Burdick, Kalamazoo, MI 49007

 

Description: Fair Food Matters is seeking a motivated, reliable individual to serve as program coordinator. The position will have three primary sets of responsibilities:

·      Plan and execute "Eat Local, Kalamazoo" events (February-November)

·      Plan and execute the annual Southwest Michigan Community Harvest
Fest (September)

·      Coordinate client activities in the Can-Do Kitchen

·      Duration: This is a year-round, part-time, salaried position of approximately 20 hours per week (number of hours may vary from week to week). Occasional evening and weekend work may be required.

How to apply: Interested and qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and résumé no later than Monday, March 21, 2011. Find complete details at
www.fairfoodmatters.org.



 

Wholesale Market Coordinator Wanted for The Eastern Market Cooperation

 

JobSummary: The Wholesale Market Coordinator will report to the Vice President of Development and is responsible for leading efforts to increase the number of growers and buyers utilizing the Wholesale Market at Eastern Market, to provide services to delivery programs aimed at increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables in underserved areas of Southeast Michigan, and to make it easier for institutional buyers such as universities and hospitals to buy more locally grown products.

 

Duties:

 

  • Oversees day-to-day operations of the Wholesale Market at Eastern Market.

 

  • Conduct an annual survey of growers and meets regularly with Eastern Market growers to determine their previous year’s success in meeting sales objectives, the role Eastern Market plays in their overall operation, crop plans for the future seasons, and threats and opportunities growers perceive they will encounter in short, mid, and long-term time frames.

 

  • Conduct an annual survey and meet regularly with key buyers that participate in Eastern Market’s Wholesale Market to determine how Eastern Market is meeting their needs, to identify emerging market trends, and to understand buyers short, mid, and long-term threats, opportunities, and goals.

 

  • Works with a variety of partner organizations to build new distribution channels to improve the supply of fresh food in underserved neighborhoods.  Included but not limited to a good food box program, a healthy kiosk program for corner stores, a healthy vendor truck, farm stands, neighborhood farmers markets, and web-based food sales.

 

  • Works with a variety of institutions that want to increase their purchasing of locally grown and processed foods.

 

  • Serves as staff liaison to the Eastern Market Food Processors Council that is being established to improve the performance of existing food processors and identify unexploited market niches that can provide opportunities for new or existing businesses to create new products and develop more sales outlets for regional growers.

 

  • Develop and implement along with Operations staff a quality assurance program to develop minimum food quality standards for retail and wholesale markets at Eastern Market and a set of minimally acceptable food handling practices.

 

  • Work closely with the Retail Market Coordinator to launch the Tuesday Market at Shed 2 – a hybrid retail/wholesale market at Eastern Market in 2011.

 

  • Work closely with the Retail Market Coordinator to operate the 2011 Farm Stand program in Metro Detroit.

 

  • Work closely with the Vice President for Development to provide necessary facilities to sustain and grow the Wholesale Market at Eastern Market.

 

Qualifications and Experience

 

  • Bachelor’s degree in business, food science, agriculture, or related field

 

  • Detailed knowledge regarding the handling, storage, display, and sale of fresh produce

 

  • Five years progressively responsible experience in a retail or wholesale food business, food processing, agriculture, or produce terminal operations

 

  • Demonstrated ability to interact with a wide variety of employees, farmers, buyers, and vendors to implement plans and strategies

 

  • Strong written and verbal communications skills including proficiency with appropriate computer programs

 

  • Ability to work as a team leader and as a team member to accomplish many tasks simultaneously

 

  • Great attention to detail is imperative

 

Salary: $50,000 to $60,000 per annum.

 

Vacation: Two weeks of paid vacation per year will be granted during the first year of employment.

 

Health Insurance: Health insurance is available after 60 days of employment.

 

Retirement: A 401K retirement plan is available to all employees after one year of service.

 

How toapply: Send resume and cover letter to Doshia Barton Eastern Market Corporation 2934 Russell Street Detroit, MI 48207 or via email to [log in to unmask]. Deadline: April 1, 2010

 

 

Seeking Research Assistant I at Michigan State University

 

Location of position: MSU campus, East Lansing, MI

 

Job responsibilities and type of work:

This is a 100% time position providing technical support for agroecology research. Responsibilities are to carry out and assist with field operations and measurements and with laboratory analyses (50%), to assist in the planning and carrying out of research experiments and activities (30%), and to assist with data organization and statistical analysis under direction of a researcher (20%). Field work will include all necessary field operations to maintain and manage a corn/soybean rotation experiment on MSU campus. Field measurementswill include weekly/biweekly greenhouse gas measurements during growing season at the MSU campus experiment and at W.K. Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) location Hickory Corners, MI; and assisting with collecting soil and plant samples. Lab responsibilities include sample preparation of soil and plant material, and assistance with analysis of soil carbon, soil respiration, and particulate organic matter measurements. Good communication and statisticalskills are important. This is an off-date position funded for one year fromdate of hire with possible extension for up-to 5 years contingent upon performance and funding. Specific responsibilities include:

 

·      Maintain and manage an on-campus field experiment.

·      Conduct planting, harvesting, and all the necessary field operations, keep field logs.

·      Conduct greenhouse-gas monitoring on campus and at KBS. Weekly/biweekly traveling to KBS will be required from May through October.

·      Assist with field plant and soil sampling.

·      Carry out and assist with research laboratory procedures and analyses.

·      Maintain data, methods and records of experimental procedures and evaluation of experiments, and ensure compliance with safety guidelines.

·      Order and organize supplies and equipment in order to maintain inventories.

 

Education and experience desired: Requires a BSc in agronomy, soil science, ecology, horticulture, biology, natural resources or a related field. Expertise with field crop maintenance and with operating field equipment is a must. Laboratory experience in carrying out plant biology and soil science research is important, as is excellent communication and organizational skills.

 

Start date: May-June 2011

 

How to apply: Please submit a letter of application, cv, and three letters of references on-line at: https://jobs.msu.edu, support staff, posting #4438

Department website address: http://www.css.msu.edu

 


 
Internship Opportunity

Position Title: UC Internship A: Community Food System Project

Position Location and Logistics:

  • Office location will be in Lansing with field work performed at various locations within the city of Lansing. Some evening and or weekend work may be required. Personal transportation/mobility necessary.

Position Background: There is increased interest and programming for the food system in the greater Lansing region. A food systems workgroup has been formed that is involved in a wide array of projects including school food, policy development, emergency food, urban agriculture, community gardens, local food and others. This internship will provide a wide variety of food system-related opportunities primarily from the system perspective as opposed to "working the soil." This placement is ideal for a student interested in policy development, marketing and promotion, capacity building of community groups and organizations or event planning; all related to food and food systems

Position Functions:

·      Assist Extension Educator, health department and other organization’s staff and community volunteers in carrying out program development, trainings and events such as:

·      Conduct surveys

·      Work with traditional media (releases, events, etc.)

·      Develop social media (Twitter, Facebook, website and blogs)

·      Perform basic internet research

·      Provide assistance with events such as movie & discussion events, fund raisers,etc.

·      Assist with the development and delivery of presentations

·      Assist with outreach activities conducted by Extension Educators, community professionals and volunteers

Desirable Skills and/or Experience

·      Experience working with diverse populations in diverse neighborhoods 

·      Excellent organizational skills

·      Excellent written and verbal communication skills

·      Demonstrated ability to effectively use computer software programs, especially multimedia and social media

·      Ability to effectively interact with both community residents and professionals

·      Ability to manage the demands of multiple projects and deadlines

·      Ability to work independently

Hours/Duration: The work is tentatively planned for ten 40 hour weeks beginning in May 2011 and running through August 2011; some flexibility exists.

Compensation: Internship pay is $11.25 per hour. Interns may work no more than a total of 400 hours.

*Intern must be a current MSU student (registered for Spring Semester 2011 and attending in Fall Semester 2011).

To Apply: Submit cover letter and resume/CV electronically by March 4 to: Robin Rennie, [log in to unmask]. *Please make the subject line the position title. Application can be found on line at www.michiganorganic.msu.edu under the Job Opportunity tab.

For addition information about this specific internship contact:

Randy A. Bell

Extension Educator for Community Food Systems

[log in to unmask]

Do not apply to the above contact.

 

 

Vicki Morrone
303 Natural Resources
East Lansing MI 48824
517-353-3542/517-282-3557 (cell)
517-353-3832 fax
Www.michiganorganic.msu.edu-- 

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