Thursday, November 4, 2010
Winter Composting
As we experience our first few days of hard frost here in Michigan I find myself making hearty dinners and doing lots of baking, the warmth of the kitchen calling me in from the garden. It's time to put the gardens to bed for the winter and sweep up all the fallen leaves, but what should we do with our compost piles? Having recently learned it can take more than 40 years for a carrot to decompose in a landfill, I've been personally motivated to continue composting my kitchen scraps straight through the winter. Since I've never done this before, I turned to the internet for a little advice. I was delighted to find so many resources out there and wanted to share one with you.
How to Do Things tells me, I can still compost without a heat source in the winter; it will just take a little longer for things to break down. Knowing how much my plants love the compost I make during the spring and summer, I'm delighted to make even more, and it's so easy! Click on the link above to see for yourself.
As we say goodbye to our sunny afternoons and gardening days, remember you don't have to say goodbye to your compost pile. Don't have a garden, no worries, you can still compost and share with your neighbors, friends and family. With just a little bit of extra effort we can compost our kitchen waste and keep the stuff that decomposes easily out of our landfills.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Markets are Open!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Registration Open
5th Annual FSEP Conference
June 24, 2010
Jackson Career Center
View conference brochure and Register today at http://www.fsepmichigan.org/
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Volunteer Opportunity
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Marketing to Schools Guide Now Available
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Register Today!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Upcoming Workshop
Growing Great Gardens
Saturday, March 20
Registration: $30
Speakers include: Iris Lee Underwood, Yule Love It Lavender Farm
George Papadelis, Telly's Greenhouse
For more information go to: www.taylorgardenclub.org
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Upcoming Workshop Opportunity
Monday, February 22, 2010
Food Safety from Farm to Plate
Choices 2010 is holding a conference on March 10-11, 2010 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing. This year's conference theme is Collaboration: There's Room at the Table. This annual conference is known for its idea of being the “conference that celebrates food, health and collaboration.”
On Thursday, March 11th one of the breakout sessions is Food Safety from Farm to Plate. This presentation will be lead by Jan Sietz, Eileen Haraminac, and Phillip Tocco from MSU Extension. All three presenters have a strong background in nutrition and agriculture and hope to educate workshop members in food safety.Participants will learn to "explain the importance of purchasing food from reputable supplier, define the HACCP food safety process and describe when HACCP is to be followed by food processors, and list procedures consumers need to follow to ensure and maintain the safety of foods purchased."
This conference is a great opportunity for anyone to come and learn about current food issues. This workshop too is highly recommended. For more information about registration or any other questions, please visit the Choices Conference website at:
http://web7.anr.msu.edu/choices/Home.aspx
Monday, February 1, 2010
2010 MSU Student Organic Farm Workshops and Tours
These tours are being held:
Monday, March 15 3-4:30pm
Tuesday, April 20 2:30-4pm
Monday, May 10 3-4:30pm
Friday, June 18 10-11:30am
Monday, July 19 6-7:30pm
Monday, August 9 6-7:30pm
Tuesday, September 14 3-4:30pm
Workshops focusing on year-round production and marketing opportunities are also being held. These have limited space are reserved for commercial farmers.
Workshop dates include:
Thursday, June 24 9:30am-4pm
Monday, September 27 9:30am-4pm
Both tours and workshops are free of cost! But registration is required. To register contact Adam Montri at admontri@msu.edu or 517-355-5191 X1407.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Setting the Table for Wellness: A Regional Conference for schools, camps, parents, students, and farms
Farm to School presents: Setting the Table for Wellness
When: March 15, 2010
Where: Grand Traverse Resort & Spa in Acme, Michigan
Setting the Table for Wellness is an upcoming conference for school employees, students, farmers, parents and active community members looking for an opportunity to learn the best ways to bring fresh, local foods into cafeterias and unite local food and farms into wellness policies. This is a great chance for anyone interested in the health of community children and the local economy. Food Service Directors, school and camp cooks, school board members, teachers, administrators, parents, PTO members, fundraiser groups, students, school nurses, after-school coordinators, health advocates, food businesses, farmers, garden resource organizations, and funders can all come together to discuss and brainstorm more great ideas to promote wellness into our schools! Some topics of discussion include a new, national online toolbox, how to source local foods through a distributor, fresh food preparation, food and farm classroom ideas, and so much more! Scholarships available for districts who bring a full “team” to the conference.
For more information visit: localdifference.org/farmtoschool
Don’t miss this great opportunity to hear about Farm to School real-life examples, tools for success, networking opportunities, wellness policy assistance, and of course, fabulous local food!