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If you are interested in urban agriculture and local food, take advantage of the opportunities to tour gardens! It’s a great way to meet active participants and observe how different urban ag gardening programs work. Julie Cotton, M.S. Academic Specialist Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Michigan State University A264 Plant and Soil Science Building East Lansing, MI 48824 [log in to unmask] 517-355-0271 ext. 1156 undergrads: www.safss.msu.edu grads: www.effs.msu.edu > Begin forwarded message: > > From: "McLean, Teresa" <[log in to unmask]> > Subject: [FOODSPEAK] Register Now for the 7th edible flint Annual Food Garden Tour! > Date: July 10, 2015 at 2:30:45 PM EDT > To: [log in to unmask] > Reply-To: "McLean, Teresa" <[log in to unmask]> > > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Deb Hamilton > July 10, 2015 (810)-244-8547 or [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> > > > > > > > > > > > Register now for the 7th edible flint Annual Food Garden Tour > > July 10, 2015, Flint, MI – edible flint is hosting their 7th Annual Food Garden Tour, Wednesday, July 29. The Tour offers a close-up look at innovative and inspiring food gardens in the Flint area. > > The movement to utilize urban properties to produce food is growing nationally, and Genesee County is right in step. With more than 12,000 vacant residential lots in Flint alone, residents now have more opportunities than ever to turn available properties into productive spaces. Residents are improving their health, reducing their weekly grocery bills and transforming their neighborhoods by creating urban gardens in both their own yards and on neighboring vacant lots. > > This year, The Tour will showcase 15 food gardens in the Flint area. Tour participants will meet local food producers, including some who are growing food year round and raising bees and chickens. They will also see, firsthand, how local residents of all ages are transforming community concerns, such as vacant land, into valuable neighborhood assets. Participants will be transported to the garden sites by bus or bicycle each route visiting 5 gardens. > > Last year’s garden tour attracted more than 250 participants. Check in begins at 4:30pm at the Flint Farmers’ Market 300 E. First Street, Flint, MI 48502. Buses and bicycles will depart at 5:00pm. Immediately following the tour, participants are invited to join edible flint for music and a light meal prepared by local vendors. As they eat, participants are also able to enjoy edible flint’s 3rd annual Partners in Healthy Living Fair with local groups promoting health and community being featured. > > The entire evening is free, though donations are encouraged and will be used to support future Food Garden Tours. Participants must register in advance. To register for the bus or bike tour, please visit edibleflint.org <http://www.edibleflint.org/> or contact Deb Hamilton by calling 810-244-8547. Registration will close as soon as all the spots are filled. > > edible flint is a network of local residents and public and private organizations unified by the mission, “to support Flint residents in growing and accessing healthy food in order to reconnect with the land and each other.” edible flint formed in 2009 and since then has hosted six Food Garden Tours, collectively sold produce through the edible flint Co-op at the Flint Farmers’ Market, offered training classes on urban food gardening, completed an assessment of some food vendors in the City of Flint by youth in 2011, and a second in depth assessment in 2012, has distributed Garden Starter kits and services for six years, and has the edible flint Demonstration Garden across from Hurley Medical Center for demonstration and training purposes, incorporating inclusion and accessible gardening techniques. > > For more information on edible flint contact Terry McLean at (810) 244-8530 or [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> find us on edibleflint.org <http://edibleflint.org/index.html>, Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/edibleflint> and Twitter <https://twitter.com/edibleflint>. > > > > To unsubscribe from this list, send an email with "SIGNOFF FOODSPEAK" in the email body to [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>.