Copy
Upper Peninsula Food Exchange
e-Newsletter - The Plowshare
View this email in your browser

UPFE NEWS

 

NOTICE:

 

Chocolay Township Planning Commission meeting to discuss backyard chickens


Chocolay Township Board Room
Monday, November 21st – 7 pm

 

The upcoming Chocolay Township Planning Commission meeting will include discussion of a potential change to Township policy regarding the raising of chickens within the township.  If you have an opinion on this policy change you are encouraged to attend the meeting and offer your opinion during one of the public comment periods. If you cannot attend the meeting, you can submit your opinion via email to publiccomment@chocolay.org. You must include your full name and address for email to be included as part of the public correspondence to the Planning Commission. Township officials rely on citizen input and every voice counts.
 

MSU Center for Food Systems -
Scanning the Breadth of MSU Food Systems Research and Outreach


Thursday, December 1st
8:30 am - 12 pm
Anthony Hall, room 1310 MSU Campus - East Lansing
Live stream through Zoom, learn more here:
https://events.anr.msu.edu/MSUFoodSystemsScan/
 
Purpose: Scanning the breadth of MSU Food systems research and outreach to spark ideas and catalyze collaborations.

On Thursday, December 1, 2016 eleven Spartans representing a broad range of food systems work will each present a ten-minute "TED-talk" style snapshot of their current research and outreach.

The morning will begin with an introduction by Dr. Ron Hendrick, Dean of MSU College of Natural Resources and Dr. Jeff Dwyer, Director of MSU Extension.
 
The goal of this event is to increase awareness of food systems work at MSU and catalyze university-community conversations on the direction and scope of new food systems research and outreach.

All are invited, if you aren't able to attend in person, there will be a live webcast of the event.  Visit here for more information on this event.

MSU Extension - 2017 Webinar series
for Beginning Farmers

A new Beginning Farmer Webinar Series is planned for January-May 2017. Presenters include MSU Extension educators and others. The following evening “Getting started with…” webinars will provide valuable start-up information on nine general and more specific farming topics, including:
  • Jan. 30, Small vegetable farm systems
  • Feb. 13, Hoophouse management
  • Feb. 27, Maple syrup
  • March 13, Fencing and watering systems for livestock
  • March 27, Blueberries
  • April 3, Crop nutrient management
  • April 10, Aquaculture (fish farming)
  • April 24, Planning and operating a mixed fruit orchard
  • May 8, Producing and selling eggs

A fee of $10 per webinar is required, or you can register for the entire series at half price for $45. Webinar recordings will be provided to all registered participants. Participate from the comfort and convenience of your own home or office. Registration, a brochure containing details on each individual program and online or mailed payment options can be found at Beginning Farmer Webinar Series 2017. You may register for all or some of the courses at any time, even if the session has already taken place. In that case, you will get a link to the recorded program. 

Each program begins at 7 p.m. ET and will last up to two hours. A high-speed internet connection is required. You will receive webinar connection information after you register.

An archive of 58 Beginning Farmer Webinar Series programs from 2012-2016 on a wide variety of topics can be accessed free of charge at the Beginning Farmer Webinar Series webpage.

Contact the Alger County MSU Extension office at 906-387-2530 or isleibj@anr.msu.edu for more information.

 UP Food and Farm Directory Update -
Taste The Local Difference


The deadline to be included in the 2017 edition of the glossy, full-color magazine, TLD's Guide to Local Food, is January 31, 2017.

Follow this link to learn more, sign up to be included, or renew your listing for next year.

MIFMA Market Manager Certificate Program

Registration is open for the 2017 Market Manager Certificate Program (MMCP), hosted by Michigan Farmers Markets Association (MIFMA) for its seventh year. This voluntary program takes place in February and March and is designed to encourage farmers market managers to pursue leadership skills and professional development in topics essential to market management. Register for the full program or learn more at www.mifma.org/mmcp.

The full program includes three in-person sessions and seven webinars, totaling more than 35 hours of instruction. Michigan will host two sites in Novi and Gaylord, with locations also in Mt. Vernon, Illinois and Indianapolis, Indiana. The in-person sessions will be held on Friday and Saturday, February 10-11, 2017, with webinars taking place throughout the month of February and into early March. The program will conclude in Michigan with final presentations at the Michigan Farmers Market Conference on Tuesday, March 7.

Registration for the full program is $300 for members of MIFMA and the Hoosier and Illinois Farmers Market Associations. The cost for individual webinar registration is $20 for members of MIFMA, the Hoosier and Illinois Farmers Market Associations and Farmers Market Coalition members or $50 for non-members. Individuals looking to participate in the program can register online at www.mifma.org/mmcp by January 27, 2017.

To see the full Market Manager Certificate Program brochure or to get more information, visit www.mifma.org/mmcp or call 517-432-3381.

KBOCC Presents: Seed Lending Library


November 18, 2016
KBOCC L'Anse Campus Library

770 N. Main St., L'Anse, MI

 

The Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College is hosting a Seed Lending Library event in L'Anse this Friday. Come learn about seed saving, the seed library project, and receive free seeds.  For more information email Melissa Trudeau at mtreadeau@kbocc.edu or Michelle Moulden at mmoulden@kbocc.edu.
 

MSU-E Master Gardener Program 

Saturdays - Jan 21, Feb 18, March 11 & 25, April 8 & 22, May 20
Sault Ste. Marie
Eastern UP Intermediate School District
315 Armory Place

Join other gardeners for this 14 week volunteer training program. Horticultural topics include: best practices for growing flowers, vegetables and fruit; caring for lawns and woody ornamentals. house plant care; diagnosing plant diseases; pest identification and control, and much more. Complete the classroom requirement, then volunteer for 40 hours in the community in order to become a certified Master Gardener.

Cost is $300.00. You must register online by January 13, 2017. Register here.
 

Central Food Hub Upcoming Meetings

UPFE Policy Committee Meeting

Tuesday, December 6th at 9:00 am at MFC Classroom


The group meets the first Tuesday of every month in MFC Classroom
Contact Sarah Monte for more information at smonte@marquettefood.coop or (906) 225-0671 x 723

Western Food Hub Upcoming Meetings

WUP Food Hub Steering Committee

Meetings are held at the Hancock Health Department, 540 Depot Street, behind McGanns Hardware.  Contact Ray Sharp at (906) 482-7382 x 163 for more information.

 

Eastern Food Hub Upcoming Meetings

EUP Food Hub Steering Committee

Third Wednesday of every month
Contact Michelle Walk at walkmich@msu.edu or (906) 6368 or Heather Hemming at hhemming@saulttribe.net for more information.

Central UP Farm To School Committee Upcoming Meeting

 
The next Central UP Farm to School meeting will be
Thursday, December 1st
in the Marquette Food Co-op Classroom from 4-5 pm.

Contact Co-Chair Sarah Monte at smonte@marquettefood.coop for more information.

More to read. . .

Check out UPREC's monthly newsletter here

Check out UPFE's website here
Copyright © 2016 UP Food Exchange, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp