Local Organizations Partner to Support Beginning Farmers at Maple Bay Farm

 

BELLAIRE — Michigan’s small farmers are facing challenges, putting the future of small farms at risk. The farming population is aging, and family succession is becoming rare. At the same time a growing number of new, first-generation farmers are seeking livelihoods in farming.

 

To support promising beginning farmers, the Institute for Sustainable Living, Art and Natural Design and the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy have partnered to create a farmer residency program at Maple Bay Farm in Williamsburg.

 

Like an informal version of a medical residency, this farmer residency program fills the gap between entry-level farm internship experience and farm ownership, creating opportunities for young farmers to gain the technical, managerial, and practical experience necessary to operate and own an independent farm.

 

“Farming is an inherently risky business that historically has developed over multiple generations. The farmer residency program is an opportunity for our community to offer that type of 'inter-generational' support to first-generation farmers,” said Marty Heller, ISLAND’s farmer residency manager. Heller ultimately sees farmer residencies as a critical bridge to attracting and placing young farmers in northwestern Michigan. ISLAND will start accepting applications for the 2014 growing season this fall.

 

“Establishing a farmer residency at the Maple Bay Farm will allow the Conservancy, a nationally-recognized leader in innovative farmland preservation, to restore agricultural use to this historic farm while also providing a valuable service to the region through an annual series of public workshops which demonstrate best practices in sustainable farming, land stewardship, and conservation in action” says Vic Lane, Conservancy staffer managing the Maple Bay Farm.

 

The Farm is an 11-acre property on the west side of North US 31 owned by the GTRLC. Surrounding the farm is Maple Bay Natural Area, a 450-acre property owned by Grand Traverse County that straddles both sides of North US 31. This property is known for its beautiful sunflowers, hiking trails, and endangered plant species.

 

ISLAND and the GTRLC hope the farmer residency will attract motivated and talented new farmers to the region while building the skill sets and community connections needed to launch successful new agricultural enterprises. The organizations are seeking support for the program and are working together to evaluate future uses and improvements to the Maple Bay Farm buildings. For more information, contact Amanda Kik at ISLAND ([log in to unmask] or 231-622-5252) or Megan Olds at GTRLC ([log in to unmask] or 231-929-7911).

 

About the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy

Since 1991, the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy has permanently protected over 35,000 acres of land and 114 miles of shoreline in Grand Traverse, Benzie, Antrim, Kalkaska and Manistee Counties. Their mission is to protect significant natural, scenic, and farm lands, and to advance stewardship now and for future generations. Find out more about the Conservancy by visiting their website at www.gtrlc.org.

 

About ISLAND

The Institute for Sustainable Living, Art & Natural Design is a non-profit arts and ecology center dedicated to connecting people with nature, art and community. ISLAND helps people become native to place by:

•  supporting artists — visionaries, conceptual explorers and compelling communicators — with dedicated time, space and resources to create new work;

• restoring the old and developing the new skills and traditions of community self-reliance;

• creating and sharing a broad collection of tools for ecological living.

Contact:

Amanda Kik

231-622-5252

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