Michigan Farm to School News

Greetings,

It's been a while since the last update so there is plenty of new farm to school-related news to share!

 

NEWS

 

At the national School Nutrition Association (SNA) convention earlier this month, USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan spoke about the USDA's first Farm to School Report. The report is based on findings from 15 school site visits by the USDA Farm to School Team in 2010. Read the USDA press release here, and find the report here. You can also check out the USDA National Agricultural Library's new resource – Farm to School: A Selected and Annotated Bibliography, and

read more about Merrigan's take on farm to school progress in an interview with Civil Eats.

 

Learn more about the USDA pilot, which was announced earlier this month, to help schools in Michigan and Florida purchase more local products with entitlement from The Packer and the Grand Rapids Press at MLive. 

 

The USDA has selected Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to participate in the "community eligibility option" to make universal meal service available without applications in high poverty areas. Learn more here.

 

Stay up to date on implementation of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, the Child Nutrition Reauthorization of 2010, at this USDA website. As part of the Reauthorization, the USDA issued a memorandum to provide information on new requirements for wellness policies that must be incorporated in 2011/2012 school year plans. You can read the memo here. Another new policy memo – Child Nutrition Reauthorization 2010: Guidance on Paid Lunch Equity and Revenue from Nonprogram Foods – is available as well.

 

To follow up on the Geographic Preference rule that was finalized earlier this year, the National Farm to School Network has released a rule summary and a document on how to apply geographic preference. The USDA has also released a Q & A document earlier this year to help schools food service directors procure local foods within the boundaries of the new rule.

 

Chef Jaime Oliver's Food Revolution website features several Farm to School heroes! Check them out here.

 

Check out this video and Huffington Post article about MSU's efforts to use MSU-raised beef in the university food service program.

 

 

RESOURCES

 

The Washington State Farm to Schools program released a new Washington Grown Food Kit to help school food service directors work with farmers to purchase and use local fruits and vegetables in school meals programs. The toolkit provides general information, recipes and nutrition analysis, menu examples and nutrition facts for a number of produce items that are available in Washington and in Michigan.

 

A FRAC webinar, Healthy Choices for School Children: Getting the Junk Foods Out, is now available online here.

 

 

OPPORTUNITIES

 

If you haven't already, join the National Farm to School Network! You can do so for the first time at www.farmtoschool.org/login.php. So far, more than 220 members from Michigan have joined. Members receive the National Farm to School newsletter and are counted as part of the national farm to school activity. 

 

Applications are open for USDA Value-Added Producer Grants. Review rules for eligibility and how to apply at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-06-28/html/2011-16121.htm. The deadline to submit applications is August 29, 2011.

 

 

EVENTS

 

In partnership with Pyramid Communications Company, the National Farm to School Network is creating a National Farm to School Month Toolkit with outreach and media tools. This toolkit, and strategies for creating a dynamic Farm to School Month, will be presented in the August Lunch Bites Webinar on Tuesday, August 9th at 12 pm CDT. August will be the official launch of the National Farm to School Month Campaign, so join the webinar to start planning your F2S Month partners and events. Sign up here for the webinar.

 

Locally-sourced Food Programs: A Step-By-Step Approach webinar will focus on farm to college programs with Mark LoParco, Director of University Dining Services, University of Montana

August 10, 2011 at 1-2:30 pm EDT

Register here to participate.

 

Register for the Michigan Farmers Market Association's (MIFMA) On-Farm Food Safety Field Days.

$20 for MIFMA members and $30 for non-members

The dates and locations are:

August 8, 2011 at Pond Hill Farm in Harbor Springs, MI

August 9, 2011 at Rock River Farm in Chatham, MI

August 15, 2011 at Uhlianuk Farm in North Branch, MI

Please see the attached flyer for more information, and call 517.432.3381 if you have questions.

 

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

Michigan State University

303 Natural Resources Building

East Lansing, MI 48824-1222

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

Regenerative Leadership and Urban Permaculture w/ Larry Korn and Samantha Sweetwater - San Diego County, CA

Hello friends,

We're deeply honored to announce an incredible course with Larry
Korn (http://www.larrykorn.net), Samantha Sweetwater
(http://samanthasweetwater.wordpress.com/about/), Caitriona Reed
and Michele Benzamin-Miki (www.manzanitavillage.org) and other
extroardinary instructors at the stunningly beautiful Manzanita
Village (www.manzanitavillage.org) in San Diego County, CA. This
course follows our renowned Regenerative Leadership and Urban
Permaculture curriculum.

With powerful instructors and a deeply rich curriculum grounded
in social/urban/suburuban permaculture and regenerative
leadership, this is the most powerful and complete permaculture
training available. As the nation's leadership, sustainable
living and permaculture school, Common Circle Education changes
people's lives. Join us to build the life you've always wanted
and the world where all beings thrive.

"Common Circle's Permaculture Design course was a genuine heart
and mind opening experience. If you are interested in finding
how you can be part of the life giving earth healing solution
in today's global ecological and social crisis this course
gives you an in depth and extensive overview of what it takes
to make it happen. " - Jessica M, Course Graduate

-- More info @ http://www.commoncircle.com/pdc --

Join an unforgettable program in leadership, permaculture and
sustainable design in California with the world's most renowned
instructors and change your life, your community and your
planet. Not only do Common Circle Education courses offer the
most complete curriculum of any similar course, but the people
who come to the programs make this the most powerful leadership
training offered anywhere.

What: Permaculture Design & Regenerative Leadership Certification
Who: Larry Korn (www.larrykorn.net)
Samantha Sweetwater (samanthasweetwater.wordpress.com/about/)
Caitriona Reed (www.manzanitavillage.org)
Michele Benzamin-Miki (www.manzanitavillage.org)

Where: San Diego County, CA (www.manzanitavillage.org)

When: December 17 - December 31, 2011

-- Sign up before August 15th and bring a friend FREE! --
-- or come by yourself and take $1000 off tuition --
-- Payment plans as low as $200/month available! --

-- More info @ http://www.commoncircle.com/pdc --

During the workshop, we will talk about:

* Smart nature-inspired design principles
* Rainwater catchment and storage
* Greywater - smart water re-use with plant filters
* Food forests & garden design for food abundance
* Eco-psychology and Regenerative Leadership
* Intentional community design and dynamics
* Bio-remediation and toxic waste cleanup
* Natural building design - cob, strawbale and more
* Soil biology and regeneration
* Sustainable transportation and fuels
* Green business and sustainable economics
* Natural patterns and principles
* Everything you ever wanted to know about plants and soil!

"My experience in the course was invaluable. I find myself with a
new permaculture lens that I can put on at will, and see the world
around me in a way that I feel leads to making more conscious
decisions and living better in harmony with the earth."
- Deborah F., Course Graduate

This course will combine critical design skills with leadership,
nature connection, and most importantly an urban focus, building
and exceeding upon the internationally-recognized Permaculture
Design Certification curriculum. Our programs offer by far the
most complete curriculum of any similar course -- with a huge
focus on leadership, personal growth and community design as well
as green business.

You'll learn how to create sustainable, thriving human systems,
from green houses and organic gardens, to local micro-economies
and communities, using sustainable design principles that are
applicable to every human system, from businesses, communities,
and cities to personal relationships.

"The experiences I have had and people I have met through
Common Circle has been life changing. On these trips, a
community is created and everyone's individuality is honored,
welcomed and celebrated as you work together each day to
prepare meals, confront issues large and small and discover
how each and every one of us can be the change that we wish
to see in the world." - Marlee F, Course Graduate

Because of our unique focus on Urban and Suburban solutions,
our courses are radically different from most other programs,
teaching permaculture as a design science rooted in nature.
With most of the world's population in cities, we must
meet people where they live with real sustainable solutions.

-- Sign up before August 15th and bring a friend FREE! --
-- or come by yourself and take $1000 off tuition --
-- Payment plans as low as $200/month available! --

-- More info @ http://www.commoncircle.com/pdc --

Starting by learning the lessons from nature with some of the
world's most renowned organic farming experts, we will then look
at how to apply what we learned from the soil and the water to
building sustainable, lasting institutions.

Common Circle Education is the nation's ecological design and
sustainable living school with courses in Oregon, Hawaii and
California; our instructors are some of the most well-known
leaders in sustainability, organics and permaculture design.

We hope you will be able to join us for this incredible,
life-changing experiential course!

Much gratitude,

Vladislav for Common Circle Education
commoncircle.com

--
common circle education
14525 sw millikan way, suite 17760, beaverton, or 97005

Joanna Macy & Larry Korn - Regenerative Leadership and Urban Permaculture Design Certification Program - Los Altos, CA

Hello friends,

We're deeply honored to announce an incredible course with Larry
Korn (www.larrykorn.net), Joanna Macy (www.joannamacy.net) and
Kevin Danaher (www.greenfestivals.com) at the stunningly beautiful
Hidden Villa (www.hiddenvilla.org) -- combining Urban Permaculture
Design, Regenerative Leadership and The Work That Reconnects
(www.joannamacy.net/theworkthatreconnects.html)

With powerful instructors and a deeply rich curriculum grounded
in social/urban/suburuban permaculture and regenerative
leadership, this is the most powerful and complete permaculture
training available. As the nation's leadership, sustainable
living and permaculture school, Common Circle Education changes
people's lives. Join us to build the life you've always wanted
and the world where all beings thrive.

"Common Circle's Permaculture Design course was a genuine heart
and mind opening experience. If you are interested in finding
how you can be part of the life giving earth healing solution
in today's global ecological and social crisis this course
gives you an in depth and extensive overview of what it takes
to make it happen. " - Jessica M, Course Graduate

-- More info @ http://www.commoncircle.com/pdc --

Join an unforgettable program in leadership, permaculture and
sustainable design in California with the world's most renowned
instructors and change your life, your community and your
planet. Not only do Common Circle Education courses offer the
most complete curriculum of any similar course, but the people
who come to the programs make this the most powerful leadership
training offered anywhere.

What: Permaculture Design & Regenerative Leadership Certification
Who: Larry Korn (www.larrykorn.net)
Joanna Macy (www.joannamacy.net)
Where: The incredible Hidden Villa, Los Altos Hills, California
see www.hiddenvilla.org to get a sense of the
incredible retreat site where we hold these life-
changing programs!
When: October 23 - November 4th

-- Sign up before August 15th and bring a friend FREE! --
-- or come by yourself and take $1000 off tuition --
-- Payment plans as low as $200/month available! --

-- More info @ http://www.commoncircle.com/pdc --

During the workshop, we will talk about:

* Smart nature-inspired design principles
* Rainwater catchment and storage
* Greywater - smart water re-use with plant filters
* Food forests & garden design for food abundance
* Eco-psychology and Regenerative Leadership
* Intentional community design and dynamics
* Bio-remediation and toxic waste cleanup
* Natural building design - cob, strawbale and more
* Soil biology and regeneration
* Sustainable transportation and fuels
* Green business and sustainable economics
* Natural patterns and principles
* Everything you ever wanted to know about plants and soil!

"My experience in the course was invaluable. I find myself with a
new permaculture lens that I can put on at will, and see the world
around me in a way that I feel leads to making more conscious
decisions and living better in harmony with the earth."
- Deborah F., Course Graduate

This course will combine critical design skills with leadership,
nature connection, and most importantly an urban focus, building
and exceeding upon the internationally-recognized Permaculture
Design Certification curriculum. Our programs offer by far the
most complete curriculum of any similar course -- with a huge
focus on leadership, personal growth and community design as well
as green business.

You'll learn how to create sustainable, thriving human systems,
from green houses and organic gardens, to local micro-economies
and communities, using sustainable design principles that are
applicable to every human system, from businesses, communities,
and cities to personal relationships.

"The experiences I have had and people I have met through
Common Circle has been life changing. On these trips, a
community is created and everyone's individuality is honored,
welcomed and celebrated as you work together each day to
prepare meals, confront issues large and small and discover
how each and every one of us can be the change that we wish
to see in the world." - Marlee F, Course Graduate

Because of our unique focus on Urban and Suburban solutions,
our courses are radically different from most other programs,
teaching permaculture as a design science rooted in nature.
With most of the world's population in cities, we must
meet people where they live with real sustainable solutions.

-- Sign up before August 15th and bring a friend FREE! --
-- or come by yourself and take $1000 off tuition --
-- Payment plans as low as $200/month available! --

-- More info @ http://www.commoncircle.com/pdc --

Starting by learning the lessons from nature with some of the
world's most renowned organic farming experts, we will then look
at how to apply what we learned from the soil and the water to
building sustainable, lasting institutions.

Common Circle Education is the nation's ecological design and
sustainable living school with courses in Oregon, Hawaii and
California; our instructors are some of the most well-known
leaders in sustainability, organics and permaculture design.

We hope you will be able to join us for this incredible,
life-changing experiential course!

Much gratitude,

Vladislav for Common Circle Education
commoncircle.com

--
common circle education
14525 sw millikan way, suite 17760, beaverton, or 97005

Will You Help Build Sustainable Community?

Hello friends,

Seven years ago Ryan Mlynarczyk completed our very first
Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour in Oregon. Like it does for
many other participants, the program changed his life - he dropped
out of law school and eventually rode his bicycle 6500 miles around
America with his fiance, Mandy, making a video documentary about
sustainable community

Watch their movie trailer - and vote to help them spread the
message even farther with a $10,000 grant:

http://possiblefuturesfilmcontest.org/watch-vote/film-detail/?film_id=24425485

After Ryan and Mandy met over 20,000 people and interviewed over
600 of them, they were greatly inspired about a positive future
happening now in the USA, and want to share what they learned with
the world. Can you please help them do that by going to the
website above, watching the trailer and voting for them if you
feel that their message is worth spreading?

Watch their movie trailer - and vote to help them spread the message
even farther with a $10,000 grant:

http://possiblefuturesfilmcontest.org/watch-vote/film-detail/?film_id=24425485

Much gratitude,

Vladislav Davidzon, Founder and CEO

--
Common Circle Education
phone: 1-800-376-3775
web: www.commoncircle.com
mail: 14525 SW Millikan Way, Suite 17760, Beaverton, OR 97005
LOVE us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/commoncircle

Re: Organic Chicken feed

Thanks all, this is excellent info I'm passing it along to my friend.

She & her kids are raising somewhere around 10 hens & they do feed them a lot by allowing them to graze, catch bugs, eat food scraps, etc.... but she is looking for some supplement for them & for winter time.

Thanks again,

jen

On Thu, Jul 14, 2011 at 7:02 PM, jennifer davis <jen1kanobi@gmail.com> wrote:

I have a friend looking for a source for local organic chicken feed, She is in Ann Arbor

thanks,

jen davis

jen1kanobi@gmail.com

Organic Chicken feed

I have a friend looking for a source for local organic chicken feed, She is in Ann Arbor

thanks,

jen davis

jen1kanobi@gmail.com

USDA picks Michigan for food program

Hi all,

See below for an article from today's Lansing State Journal about Michigan, along with Florida, being chosen to participate in a USDA pilot program to allow school food service/nutrition directors to use some USDA entitlement dollars to purchase local food starting in 2012! This is a great opportunity for our state and will hopefully give our school food service directors more flexibility to purchase and serve foods they choose locally, but surely many details of this program are yet to be worked out. Stay tuned for more information as we learn more! 

 

Best,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

Michigan State University

303 Natural Resources Building

East Lansing, MI 48824-1222

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

 

USDA picks Michigan for food program - Laura Misjak, Lansing State Journal

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201107120400/NEWS01/107120307

Michigan is one of two states chosen by the United States Department of Agriculture to participate in a pilot program that will make it easier for locally grown food to end up in school cafeterias.

Officials are expected to announce the program today, with Michigan and Florida schools able to purchase the locally grown food in 2012, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan said in a Monday interview with the State Journal.

 

"It's really about making bureaucracy work better by using existing entitlement dollars and increasing the flexibility of how those entitlement dollars can be used," Merrigan said.

 

School districts will be able to use the USDA funds they receive to purchase locally grown food.

 

The effort is expected to increase nutritional value in school lunches, boost the state's agricultural economy and give students the opportunity to see where their food comes from, Merrigan said.

 

The pilot program has great potential to positively impact Michigan's economy, said U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing.

 

"I think Michigan particularly will benefit because we grow just about everything we need here," she said. "Our schools are very eager to be able to purchase from their local community because they can get apples, cherries, blueberries, celery, and everything from local farmers."

 

Local growers will have to be on an authorized list of vendors through the USDA, Merrigan said, and details on how to get on that list will be released in coming weeks.

 

Michigan was chosen because of a high interest in farm-to-school programs, along with the wide variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables.

 

The state's agricultural diversity is second only to California's, officials said.

 

Diane Connors, a food and farming senior policy specialist with the Michigan Land Use Institute, said the program will provide more flexibility for food service directors to serve Michigan-grown foods.

"It's fantastic to get more flexibility with USDA funds for schools in Michigan to purchase produce from local farmer and to get healthy foods to kids in school," she said. "It's also good to build local food economies in Michigan where farming is such an important part of our economy."

 

 

MI Farm to School Grant Program Grantee Announcement

Farm to school friends and partners,

 

With funding from the WK Kellogg Foundation, the C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at Michigan State University will award up to $2,000 for schools/districts around the state to plan for or implement farm to school programs. We are excited to announce that EIGHT school/district applicants have been selected to participate in the first grant year! 

 

The grantees for the new Michigan Farm to School Grant Program 2011 ? 2012 grant year are:
 

School/District	County	Type of Grant
Bear Lake School District	Manistee	Implementation
Clare Public Schools	Clare	Planning
Gladwin Community School	Gladwin	Implementation
Kaleva Norman Dickson School District	Manistee	Implementation
Montrose Community Schools	Genesee	Implementation
Reed City Area Public Schools	Osceola	Planning
South Haven Public Schools	Van Buren	Planning
Traverse City College Preparatory Academy	Grand Traverse	Planning

Each grantee is unique, with exciting and innovative ideas for planning for or implementing farm to school programs.  Since a goal of this grant program is to help vulnerable children find more healthy and local food choices in school meals programs, each school/district selected to participate has at least 50% free and reduced-price meal enrollment (as of application date). 

 

This grant program is a direct way to help food service directors across the state overcome some of the many challenges they face when working to initiate and expand farm to school programs.  Not only will grantees be awarded up to $2,000 dollars in funding, they will also be provided with technical assistance and training opportunities to help develop, support and enhance of their farm to school activities and programs. 

 

Please stay tuned for more information and updates!