Michigan Organic Listserv URGENT NEWS!
So many GREAT field events and educational programs I had to let you know!
Brought to you by Center For Regional Food Systems at MSU
Desk of Vicki Morrone ([log in to unmask])
August 11, 2013
It’s Harvest Season for Michigan Organic Farms
Upcoming Field Tour and Programs
NOTICE:
Annual Organic Field Crop Tour -- Organic Farmers of Michigan will have a meeting and crop tour on Monday August 12!
We are invited to participate and have the group view the organic plots in the CARO area. Tour will begin at 10:100 AM at Steve Ewald’s new shop in Colling. Call for reservation and directions
from Sacey Steeley at 810-404-9347 or Steve Steeley 810-404-9345. Their email is
[log in to unmask].
This is always a wonderful tour to see organic field crops in production and ask questions to very knowledgeable and experienced organic farmers. Well worth your time!
Layering of Good Practices to Build Healthy Soils at Morgan Compost-
Aug 15-all day-A great program for all seeking knowledge and ideas to improve soil heath!
Morgan Composting, Inc., in Sears, MI, will host its annual soil seminar on Thursday, August 15
located at their business in Sears, MI.
Included is a link to get the registration materials or you can give them a call to register (231-734-2451). Cost is $20 that includes a phenomenal pig roast dinner. Program is a diverse session good for all-from field crop farmers to market gardeners. The
topic for the 2013 seminar is "Layering of Good Practices to Build Healthy Soils." CRFS staffer Vicki Morrone and affiliates Dr. John Biernbaum and Dr. Jason Rowntree, among other MSU Extension educators and farmers, will present at the event.
Details on registration ($20 pre-registration, $25 at the door) and the seminar's agenda can be found
http://foodsystems.msu.edu/uploads/file/2013_Soil_Seminar.pdf
Organic Soybean, Dry Bean, and Corn Variety Plots and Dry Bean Production Systems Evaluation Tours
Friday, September 6, 2013
Dan Rossman, MSUE educator is excited about the soybean and black bean variety research that is underway this year. We have a great opportunity to view and evaluate (yes that includes YOU!)
soybean and dry bean varieties for Michigan's Organic Farmers during the growing season.
Over 50 non- GMO soybeans and 30 black and navy beans varieties are being compared under organic production systems in our region at multiple sites. These varieties are a mix of tried and true brands, new industry releases, and experimental lines from
university breeding programs. We will also view sites of dry bean production with alternative cover crops research.
You are invited to join other organic producers to view and voice your preference about characteristics that are desirable to you (pod set, plant height, canopy closure, competitiveness, etc).
This information (along with yield) will be useful to identify varieties in the breeding program to move forward for seed production and release.
Below are the details of the times and the places where we will meet.
Feel free to come to one, two, three or all seven of the stops. Call 989 875 5233 if you what to car pool from Ithaca. Call my cell phone to find out if we are running on time (989) 763 7255.
9:00am
Organic Soybeans &
Organic Dry Beans
Production Systems (Navies & Blacks) -
Don Brockriede Farm – field location is across the road from DKB Farm processing facility on Hollenbeck Road. Go to the east and north behind the old barn.
(Northwest of Columbiaville and west of Marathon Road)
11:00am
Dry Beans Variety Trials – Organic Black and Navy varieties. –
Mike Findlay Farm – field is located at the farm at 140 West Elmwood Road, Caro.
11:30am
Organic Soybeans
Varieties – Steve Reinbold Farm – field is located on Fairgrove Road 1/4 west of Sheridan Road on the south side.
12 noon
Lunch – Hog Roast -
Mark and Steven Vollmar Farm – we will meet at Organic Bean & Grain on 1795 W. Akron Road (15 year anniversary celebration)
3:30pm
Organic Dry Beans
Production Systems (Navies & Blacks) – Richard Stuckey Farm- field is located on Smith Road , ½ mile south of M-46 just west of Alma.
4:30pm
Organic Soybeans –
Dick and Dan Davis Farm – field location is 1 ½
miles north of Middleton at 5837 Ely Highway (corner of Ely Highway and Grant Road)
Refreshments will be available at each site
Entrepreneurial Farm Tour - NE Michigan (Alpena Area)
A two-day farm tour to Northeast Michigan is planned for
September 17-18, 2013. This tour will be similar to past multi-day farm tours to regions of Michigan and other states.
This year’s tour will showcase farm families who have successfully explored and seized opportunities to enhance the profitability of their operations.
On the stops you will view hydroponic greenhouse production, CSA’s, cheese making, farm markets, agri-entertainment, gluten free bean flour facility, incubator food processing center, trout fish farm, hoophouses,
lumber mills, maple syrup value added operation, and much more.
This tour is sponsored by MSU Extension, NCR SARE, and additional supporters. The cost will be reasonable ($125). Please call the Gratiot MSU-Extension office at 989-875-5233 for details and
to sign up by September 14, 2013.
News You Can Use
Comment Period Extended for Food Safety Acts
FDA is extending the comment periods on the proposed rules for Preventive Controls for Human Food and Standards for Produce Safety for 60 days until November 15, 2013. This is the second and final extension of the comment period
for these two rules. Read
more on the comment period extension.
To learn more about the rules, including how to submit comments electronically:
For more information:
Food Hub Information and Resources
Check out this site for useful info if you are interested in learning more or engaging in a food hub
For
information about Michigan Food Hub development and links to resources:
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/food_hub_movement_gaining_momentum_across_michigan
More news on what’s happening in Michigan around local food and community kitchens! Also- check out the survey launched by Washtenaw Food Hub on commercial kitchen interest.
For those who may have missed the news about a digital spin on Food Hubs, check out the progress of Hoosier Harvest Market in Franklin, Ind.
http://www.kansascity.com/2013/08/03/4383093/food-hubs-help-ind-growers-reach.html
************* To subscribe to the listserv for the Michigan Food Hub Learning and Innovation Network, email
[log in to unmask]
with "SUB MIFoodHub" and your name (e.g, SUB MIFoodHub Joe Smith) in the body (not subject) of the email. You may leave the list at any time by sending an email with "SIGNOFF MIFoodHub" in the body (not subject) of the email to
[log in to unmask].
Events and WEBinars
2013 Community Festival
Thursday, August 15, 3-7 p.m.
1905 W. Mt. Hope, just west of Boston Blvd,
at Grace United Methodist Church --Lansing, MI
·
Community Exhibits ● Fresh Produce
·
Children’s Activities ● Arts & Crafts
·
Live Entertainment ● Food Court
For sale and sponsorship opportunities or more information, call (517) 374-5700
or email [log in to unmask] or visit the web site,
www.SouthLansing.org
·
Nonprofit - $35 (Free w/ own canopy, table, and chairs) --Neighborhood and community organizations, faith groups, schools. Information only. No sales.
·
Artisans/Crafters - $35 ($12 w/ own canopy, table, and chairs) --Vendors must make and sell their own arts, crafts, or value added farm-based products. Items must be made in Michigan.
·
For-Profits - $75 ($50 w/ own canopy, table, chairs) -- Any individual or local business offering services, commercial products, or ready-to-eat foods.
|
Peach
and Plum Variety Showcase - August 27, 2013| 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.| SW Michigan Research and Extension Center, 1791 Hillandale Rd., Benton Harbor, MI 49022
Money
Smart for the Food Product Entrepreneur - September 18, 2013 - September 25, 2013| 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Kinexus 499 W. Main Street; Benton Harbor, MI 49022
Making it in Michigan conference takes place in Lansing
The MSU Product Center "Making It In Michigan" conference will take place Nov.12 at the Lansing Center, 333 East Michigan Ave., Lansing, Mich. This one-day conference provides entrepreneurs with all the resources to launch
or expand a business. They'll learn from experts in educational classes that prepare them for the road ahead with information on regulations, safety, production, marketing and distribution. This is the one-day that every entrepreneur, producer, buyer and processor
in food and agricultural businesses needs to attend. The event runs from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration and breakfast takes place from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. The conference begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at noon. The Marketplace Trade Show runs 12:30 p.m.
to 4 p.m. Conference participant registration is $79 and vendor registration is $185. The conference includes breakfast, lunch, educational sessions, digital copies of all presentations, reference materials and admission to the Marketplace Trade Show. To register
and learn more, click here. |
On May 20, 2013, the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) co-hosted a webinar on the economic impact of local foods. The large number of participants (>250) prevented the hosts and participating
economists from answering each question posed during the time allotted for the webinar.
The brief found in the URL below provides responses to many of those unanswered questions. CRFS coordinated responses from six economists (including MSU Economist Steve Miller) who participated in the webinar. The brief also
includes a bibliography compiled by Jeff O'Hara, of the Union of Concerned Scientists, featuring recent studies that examine the economic impact of local food.
You'll also find access to a recording of the May 20th webinar (and pdf of slides used) at this URL
http://foodsystems.msu.edu/resources/econ-analysis-webinar-q-a
Rich Pirog
Senior Associate Director
MSU Center for Regional Food Systems
480 Wilson Rd, Rm 313 | Natural Resources Building | East Lansing, MI 48824
(p) 517-353-0694 | (f) 517-353-3834
Web: foodsystems.msu.edu
On September 26, 2013, MDRC is presenting a seminar on accessible, inclusive gardening through our Including Our Neighbors grant from the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council. Ann Arbor CIL is hosting this training.
Many community gardens have approached us asking how to become more inclusive and accessible, here's your chance to learn how. Plus, your community garden may win $500 to increase your access and inclusion!
Sign up today. More information and the sign up form is attached.
--
Aimee Sterk, MSW
Michigan Disability Rights Coalition
Grant Opportunities
The 2014 NCR-SARE Research and Education Grant Program Call for Preproposals is now available
online at Eventstp://www.northcentralsare.org/Grants/Our-Grant-Programs/Research-and-Education
NCR-SARE’s Research and Education (R&E) program supports sustainable agriculture innovators with competitive research and education grants. Individual grants range from $10,000 to $200,000. NCR-
SARE expects to fund about seven to ten projects in the twelve-state North Central Region.
This year, NCR-SARE will be accepting online submissions for the Research and Education Grant Program using our online submission system. More information about the online submission system
can be found in the call for preproposals.
The deadline for Research and Education Program
preproposals is
October 24, 2013.
The timeline for the Research and Educations grants will be:
August - Call for Preproposals
Late October - Preproposals Due
Late February - Preproposal Status Notification
April - Full Proposals Due
Late July - Funding Decisions
Fall - Funds Available to Recipient
Viist for full details at
http://www.sare.org/Grants
For questions or additional information regarding the R&E Grant Program, contact Beth Nelson.
Beth Nelson, Ph.D.
Regional Coordinator (Chapter 1) and Director of Research and Education Programs
120 BAE, University of Minnesota
1390 Eckles Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108
Phone: 612-626-4436
Fax: 612-626-3132
Job Opportunities and Internships
Ingham County Land Bank Power of We Consortium AmeriCorps volunteer
The member will support community-based gardens and beautification projects by recruiting and mobilizing volunteers, facilitating garden mentoring and accessing resources.
The member should be capable of serving with little supervision and should be very independent.
Duties
• Make sure that the 66 current Land Bank gardens continue to succeed and recruit additional community gardeners.
• Foster relationships with the existing and new gardeners in order to serve as their mentor and go to resource guide. Success will be measured by maintaining open communication with gardeners, overall garden maintenance/appearance
and ensuring all gardeners’ needs are met and resource requests are filled.
o Coordinating the fall preparation and spring start up for the gardens, securing plant starts, compost (preferably donations), tiling, seeds, rain barrels etc.
o Working within low-opportunity neighborhoods by providing additional help during the
growing season; specifically supporting those gardeners growing food for themselves
and their families.
• Serve as Garden Program representative while directly reaching out to neighbors in promoting gardening as a means to reducing food insecurity, obesity and chronic disease.
• Create and edit outreach materials.
• Use the Land Bank’s parcel inventory and software to identify key parcels for future garden and beautification projects in consultation with Land Bank staff.
• Utilize maps to help illustrate available properties and current and future garden space at garden and/or neighborhood meetings.
• Network and recruit volunteers to help with garden projects.
• Solicitation of donations: seed companies, compost companies, corporations such as Meijer,
and anyone else who may be able to donate to garden projects.
• Integrate themselves and the Land Bank resources into the garden networks in Lansing.
Skills
• Extrovert who is comfortable meeting members of the larger community, including
neighborhood residents, and groups that want to start community-based gardens.
• Gardening knowledge and experience is desired but not 100% necessary.
• Private sector as well as public sector background helpful.
• Goal driven with the ability to function independently.
• Attention to detail and good organizational skills.
• Ability to handle multiple demands, excel under time pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to prioritize tasks.
• Proficient in Microsoft office.
• Ability to serve some evenings and weekends.
Commitment
• Serve 1700 hours between October 15, 2013 and September 19, 2014
Benefits
• $12,100 living allowance
• $5,550 education award
• Loan forbearance for qualified student loans
• Health insurance with eye care and dental coverage
• Professional development and training
To apply, email a resume and cover letter to Katie Ellero at [log in to unmask] by August 23.
Instructions for Certifying Agents for USDA NOP
The NOP has added two new instructions for organic certifying agents to the Program Handbook:
•
NOP
2025: Internal program review requirements
•
NOP
2027: Personnel performance evaluations
These documents clarity the NOP's expectations in these two areas as part of our ongoing 'Sound and Sensible' initiative.
