Active Projects

• Seeds and rootstock: Saving regional bio-diversity on the farm

Objectives: Develop a list of genetic diversity in the region and connect and support those actively saving seeds and rootstock.

Progress: The group held a  get-together in early July, 2010, to kick off the seed/root saving effort, produced a  video on hand pollination of melons and squash, and is planning a seed/root saving workshop for November 1, 2010. In addition, early development of a directory of seed/root savers in the region is underway.

Contact: Jim Sluyter, Michigan Land Use Institute, 231-941-6584 or jimsluyter@mlui.org

• Farm funding: Setting up a one-stop on resources for farm financing

Contact: Chris Wendel, Small Business & Technology Development Center, 231-922-3782, 

Objectives: Implement a regional plan to build easy access for local producers to needed small- and mid-scale food processing facilities to meet their value-added processing needs. A 2007 plan was prepared by the regional office of the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center under a Michigan Department of Agriculture grant to the Traverse Bay Economic Development Corporation and the Michigan Land Use Institute. 

Progress: The project has expanded into a regional food hub that would develop, promote, and expand direct-market and employment opportunities for farmers and agri-food entrepreneurs through development of value-added processing and packaging infrastructure, refrigerator and freezer storage, and specialty food kitchen incubator equipment. The objectives are to help northwest Michigan farmers: 1) meet increasing consumer demand for direct market produce through farmers markets, restaurants, institutions, and other avenues, 2) increase the availability of year-round local food, 3) increase the number of value-added agricultural ventures through development of small-scale processing and marketing channels, 4) and increase access of fresh local food to low-income, underserved residents in the Grand Traverse Region. 

Grant proposals and funding resources through a variety of sources are being actively pursued, including a pending proposal to the Farmers Market Promotion Program (USDA) and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. 

Contact: Rob Sirrine, MSU Extension, 231-256-9888, sirrine@msu.edu and Don Coe, Black Star Farms, 231-944-1294, dcoe@blackstarfarms.com

• Scaling Up: Meeting the Demand for Local Food

Details will be available soon

• Farmer residency: Providing management experience on test-drive farmland

Objectives: Help new and young farmers gain access to land and build management experience through a residency program on farmland reserved for that purpose, such as tillable acreage at public parks or land held by conservation entities.

 Progress: Exploratory discussions are ongoing with organizations in the region that have land the program could potentially use. Grant applications to support a pilot program are planned for the winter of 2010-2011. In the meantime, the community of aspiring farmers and farmer mentors is growing through the work of related programs and community leaders, who are involved in the farm residency discussions. One example is a Michigan version of a popular program from New York called CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training). The Antrim County based ISLAND organization coordinates the local  CRAFT program. The Michigan Land Use Institute's Taste the Local Difference program hosts a forum for farmland owners and seekers to exchange information.

Contact: Marty Heller, 734-474-7166 or hellerm@msu.edu.

• Sustainable agriculture certificate: Building skills and providing recognition

Objective: Establish a certificate of sustainable agriculture education and training at Northwestern Michigan College to provide valuable support to farm entrepreneurs, including recognition by lenders and others.

Progress: A series of meetings to plan this project has resulted in a  Sectoral Skills Alliance proposal from Northwest Michigan College to the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth. The potential grant would support NMC's development of an education and training certificate program in sustainable agriculture. The certificate program would be the first step toward a potential associate's degree in sustainable agriculture at NMC. A key component of the proposal involves work by the regional Michigan Works office to a) coordinate a sector advisory group of employers and other representatives from the region's sustainable agriculture field and b) align NMC's program to workforce development needs and opportunities in sustainable agriculture.

Contact: Janie McNabb, Northwest Michigan Council of Governments (home of Michigan Works!), 231-929-5058, janiemcnabb@nwm.cog.mi.us.

• Growing food: Teaching young ones and their families how to do it

Objectives: Connect and support learning gardens in the regions and involve parents and educators in educational events.

Progress: the 2010 growing season, activity centered in Leelanau County with Extension office programming to connect children and their parents with the school and community gardens.