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Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Re: Upcoming events

Hi Colleen,

Allow me to introduce Will Farkas, our new Kitchen Team Leader.  He has been a nutrition educator for the past 3 years and is a trained chef with a degree in institutional management as well as a passion for good nutrition, food and practices.  

 

I have accepted a new role at GISD as Head Start Registered Dietitian – Full Time.

 

Thank you.

 

 

Marian

 

Marian Keenan, MSA, RD

Registered Dietitian – Head Start

Kitchen Team Leader

 

Office Location

5075 Pilgrim Road

Flint MI  48507-3493

 

Mailing Address:

Genesee Intermediate School District

2413 W. Maple Avenue

Flint, MI  48507

 

Office Phone:  (810) 591-5134

Fax:  (810) 591-4940

        

Please be advised that effective June 27, 2014, all GISD facilities will be closed on Fridays.   This initiative is part of a continuing effort to substantially reduce energy costs for the district.  The district’s summer business hours will be:  Monday through Thursday, from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.   The four-day summer schedule will end on Friday, August 15, 2014.   The district will resume its regular schedule, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, beginning Monday, August 18, 2014.

 

Free or low-cost health coverage for children under the age of 19 or pregnant women of any age.  Call the MI Child and Healthy Kids hotline at 1.888.988.6300 or apply online at www.michigan.gov/michild

 

From: Matts, Colleen [mailto:matts@ANR.MSU.EDU]
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2014 10:05 AM
To: MIFARMTOSCHOOL@LIST.MSU.EDU
Subject: Upcoming events

 

Greetings,

Here are a number of upcoming Farm to School and Farm to Institution-related events that may be of interest:

 

USDA Farm to School Information Session

with Vanessa Zajfen, Farm to School Regional Lead, Midwest

USDA Food and Nutrition Service

 

Thursday, September 25, 2014

12:00 – 1:30 pm

Michigan State University

Natural Resources Building Rm 338

 

Or join by webinar at the appointed time at http://msucrfs.adobeconnect.com/mfin/ and 1-888-394-8197, Participant Code 405500 for audio.

 

This free information session is sponsored by the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems and the Michigan Farm to Institution Network. 

 

 

How to Join Cultivate Michigan Webinar

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

2:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Institutional food service directors and buyers, join us for a guided tour through the new Cultivate Michigan website and Dashboard.

A project of MFIN, Cultivate Michigan is a statewide local food purchasing campaign targeting institutions, including K-12 schools, hospitals, colleges/universities, early childcare and education settings and long-term care facilities. The campaign and website are designed to provide institutional food buyers with resources to help ramp up their efforts and track purchases of Michigan foods through a personalized Dashboard. By combining this data on the back end, we can better understand and explain the statewide impacts of local food purchases by institutions of all types.

Speakers are Hillary Bisnett & Alyson Oslin of the Ecology Center and co-coordinators of MFIN, and Kathryn Colasanti, MSU Center for Regional Food Systems and chair of the MFIN Impacts subcommittee.

For webinar and call information, please use this link to register.

 

Michigan Green Healthcare Conference

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Grand Rapids

 

Attendees will learn from healthcare experts how the promotion of sustainability initiatives is essential to the improvement of human and environmental health. Registration is available through the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Information regarding lodging is also available online.

 

 

Food, Farms and Health event

Friday, October 10, 2014

Traverse City

Offered by the Michigan Land Use Institute

This free day-long event will include lightning talks, breakout sessions, a locally-sourced lunch, and ample networking opportunities. Registration is required, and space is limited. Register by October 1st. Find more information here.

 

 

Cultivate Michigan Apple Tour: Blake’s Orchard

Friday, October 17, 2014

10:30 am – 1:30 pm

Armada, MI

 

Apple season has begun! Apples are Cultivate Michigan's featured food for winter. Join us on Friday, October 17, for a tour of Blake's Orchard & Cider Mill in Armada, an historic family farm. This tour is free and open to all Farm to Institution practitioners, farmers, suppliers, advocates, supporters and researchers. Lunch will be provided. Please register by Friday, October 10 using this link. 

 

 

Save the Date: Michigan Farm to Institution Network Meet Up

Monday, October 27, 2014

1:30 – 4:30 pm

Lansing, MI

 

This afternoon meeting in advance of the 2014 Michigan Good Food Summit will allow us to continue conversations we began at the Michigan Farm to Institution Network Launch event in April 2014. The session will be facilitated by the MIFFS Facilitation Team and will include network and Cultivate Michigan updates, and conversations around featured foods for 2015 and regional connections. Registration and more details are coming soon!

 

 

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist | Michigan Lead for National Farm to School Network

Center for Regional Food Systems | Michigan State University

480 Wilson Rd | Rm 303 Natural Resources Building | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517.432.0310

www.foodsystems.msu.edu | www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

Upcoming events

Greetings,

Here are a number of upcoming Farm to School and Farm to Institution-related events that may be of interest:

 

USDA Farm to School Information Session

with Vanessa Zajfen, Farm to School Regional Lead, Midwest

USDA Food and Nutrition Service

 

Thursday, September 25, 2014

12:00 – 1:30 pm

Michigan State University

Natural Resources Building Rm 338

 

Or join by webinar at the appointed time at http://msucrfs.adobeconnect.com/mfin/ and 1-888-394-8197, Participant Code 405500 for audio.

 

This free information session is sponsored by the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems and the Michigan Farm to Institution Network. 

 

 

How to Join Cultivate Michigan Webinar

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

2:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Institutional food service directors and buyers, join us for a guided tour through the new Cultivate Michigan website and Dashboard.

A project of MFIN, Cultivate Michigan is a statewide local food purchasing campaign targeting institutions, including K-12 schools, hospitals, colleges/universities, early childcare and education settings and long-term care facilities. The campaign and website are designed to provide institutional food buyers with resources to help ramp up their efforts and track purchases of Michigan foods through a personalized Dashboard. By combining this data on the back end, we can better understand and explain the statewide impacts of local food purchases by institutions of all types.

Speakers are Hillary Bisnett & Alyson Oslin of the Ecology Center and co-coordinators of MFIN, and Kathryn Colasanti, MSU Center for Regional Food Systems and chair of the MFIN Impacts subcommittee.

For webinar and call information, please use this link to register.

 

Michigan Green Healthcare Conference

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Grand Rapids

 

Attendees will learn from healthcare experts how the promotion of sustainability initiatives is essential to the improvement of human and environmental health. Registration is available through the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Information regarding lodging is also available online.

 

 

Food, Farms and Health event

Friday, October 10, 2014

Traverse City

Offered by the Michigan Land Use Institute

This free day-long event will include lightning talks, breakout sessions, a locally-sourced lunch, and ample networking opportunities. Registration is required, and space is limited. Register by October 1st. Find more information here.

 

 

Cultivate Michigan Apple Tour: Blake’s Orchard

Friday, October 17, 2014

10:30 am – 1:30 pm

Armada, MI

 

Apple season has begun! Apples are Cultivate Michigan's featured food for winter. Join us on Friday, October 17, for a tour of Blake's Orchard & Cider Mill in Armada, an historic family farm. This tour is free and open to all Farm to Institution practitioners, farmers, suppliers, advocates, supporters and researchers. Lunch will be provided. Please register by Friday, October 10 using this link. 

 

 

Save the Date: Michigan Farm to Institution Network Meet Up

Monday, October 27, 2014

1:30 – 4:30 pm

Lansing, MI

 

This afternoon meeting in advance of the 2014 Michigan Good Food Summit will allow us to continue conversations we began at the Michigan Farm to Institution Network Launch event in April 2014. The session will be facilitated by the MIFFS Facilitation Team and will include network and Cultivate Michigan updates, and conversations around featured foods for 2015 and regional connections. Registration and more details are coming soon!

 

 

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist | Michigan Lead for National Farm to School Network

Center for Regional Food Systems | Michigan State University

480 Wilson Rd | Rm 303 Natural Resources Building | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517.432.0310

www.foodsystems.msu.edu | www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Seeking Farm to Institution Data Manager

Greetings,

The MSU Center for Regional Food Systems seeks a part-time hourly Farm to Institution Data Manager. Please see the job description, with application requirements, attached, and feel free to share with those who may be interested. The deadline to submit an application is 5 pm on Wednesday, September 24th.

 

Thanks,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist | Michigan Lead for National Farm to School Network

Center for Regional Food Systems | Michigan State University

480 Wilson Rd | Rm 303 Natural Resources Building | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517.432.0310

www.foodsystems.msu.edu | www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Deadline to Register for the Michigan Farm to School Trainings

One last reminder that the MI Farm to School Trainings are happening this month and the deadline to register is this Friday, September 19th. Hope to see you at the trainings! 

Sincerely, Julia 


We are excited to inform you that the MI Farm to School Trainings are getting ready! These trainings are a great opportunity for schools, early childcare programs, farmers, and other organizations interested in learning about farm to school or farm to early childcare and preschool. Below is a list of the locations and times for the trainings across the state. There is also a link for you to register for the location in which you would like to attend. Just click on the link to register. 

Please share with those who may be interested and contact me if you have any questions. 

Look forward to seeing you at the trainings! 



MI Farm to School Training Locations 

Saginaw

MSU Extension Office

1 Tuscola Street

Saginaw

48607

 

September 22nd, 12:30 to 4:30 in the main conference room




Saint Ignace

Little Bear East Arena and Conference Center

275 Marquette Street

St. Ignace

49781

 

September 23rd, 12:30 to 4:30 in the conference room in the community center


Detroit 

Catherine Ferguson Academy

2750 Selden Street

Detroit

48208

 

September 26th, 9:30 to 3:30 training will be held in the gymnasium

Lunch will be provided

Guest speakers include Vanessa Zajfen, Farm to School Regional Lead, Midwest of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Amy Rosenthal of School Food FOCUS and Ashley Atkinson of Keep Growing Detroit

 

 

Muskegon

Hilt Building

427 W Western

Frauenthal Center

49440

 

September 30th, 9:30 to 3:00 in Johnson Hall

Lunch will be provided

An additional presentation on Cultivate Michigan, a local food purchasing campaign of the Michigan Farm to Institution Network, will be provided.

 




Photo Courtesy of Detroit Food Warriors 



Julia Smith, PhD
Farm to School Specialist 
Center for Regional Food Systems

Department of Community Sustainability
Michigan State University
480 Wilson Rd, Rm 309
East Lansing, MI 48824

517-432-4525




Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Farm to School Fundraising

Have you heard about FarmRaiser?

FarmRaiser is an exciting new option for school fundraising available in Michigan today! 

FarmRaiser connects farmers and food artisans to student-led fundraisers, turning energetic students into healthy-eating advocates that sell locally-grown and -made products.  Our kids, our schools and our communities need an alternative to the typical product fundraisers that have our kids pushing wrapping paper, candy bars, cookie dough and other preservative-filled or high-priced, low-value products each year. 

We believe the way to sustainably strengthen our schools and communities is by embracing local food systems and the farmers, artisans and businesses that make these economies thrive. By giving student the tools to advocate for healthy eating and food selection and allowing them to sell wholesome, locally-grown and-made products, FarmRaiser is restoring value and purpose to an annual ritual that has lost its way in a sea of sugar and junk food. 

Interested in learning more? Visit www.farmraiser.com today to find out how you can get involved!



Terra Bogart 
Campaign Coordinator
Terra@FarmRaiser.com
231.486.5322

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter 

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Mi Farm to School Trainings

Repost of training information. Please share out. Thanks you, Julia 



We are excited to inform you that the MI Farm to School Trainings are getting ready! These trainings are a great opportunity for schools, early childcare programs, farmers, and other organizations interested in learning about farm to school or farm to early childcare and preschool. Below is a list of the locations and times for the trainings across the state. There is also a link for you to register for the location in which you would like to attend. Just click on the link to register. 

Please share with those who may be interested and contact me if you have any questions. 

Look forward to seeing you at the trainings! 



MI Farm to School Training Locations 

Saginaw

MSU Extension Office

1 Tuscola Street

Saginaw

48607

 

September 22nd, 12:30 to 4:30 in the main conference room




Saint Ignace

Little Bear East Arena and Conference Center

275 Marquette Street

St. Ignace

49781

 

September 23rd, 12:30 to 4:30 in the conference room in the community center




Detroit 

Catherine Ferguson Academy

2750 Selden Street

Detroit

48208

 

September 26th, 9:30 to 3:30 training will be held in the gymnasium

Lunch will be provided

Guest speakers include Vanessa Zajfen, Farm to School Regional Lead, Midwest of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Amy Rosenthal of School Food FOCUS and Ashley Atkinson of Keep Growing Detroit

 

 


Muskegon

Hilt Building

427 W Western

Frauenthal Center

49440

 

September 30th, 9:30 to 3:00 in Johnson Hall

Lunch will be provided

An additional presentation on Cultivate Michigan, a local food purchasing campaign of the Michigan Farm to Institution Network, will be provided.

 




Photo Courtesy of Detroit Food Warriors 



Julia Smith, PhD
Farm to School Specialist 
Center for Regional Food Systems

Department of Community Sustainability
Michigan State University
480 Wilson Rd, Rm 309
East Lansing, MI 48824

517-432-4525




Friday, September 5, 2014

MI Farm to School Grantees 2014-2015

Happy Friday! 

We would like to congratulate the 2014-2015 recipients of the MI Farm to School Grant.  This year we welcome a range of K-12 schools, preschools, and early childcare programs from around the State of Michigan that have been awarded funding in the amount of 2,000.00 dollars. Funds will be used to plan or implement farm to school activities that promote procurement of fresh local foods in meals and snacks served to children.  For more information on the MI Farm to School please visit http://foodsystems.msu.edu/activity/info/farm_to_school for more information on the MI Farm to School Grant please visit http://foodsystems.msu.edu/activity/info/michigan_farm_to_school_grant_program and for a list of current and past MI Farm to School grantees please see  http://foodsystems.msu.edu/resources/mi_farm_to_school_grantees


Congratulations to the following schools, preschools, and early childcare programs! 


A & W Daycare – planning grant

Anchor Bay School District – planning grant

Berrien County Juvenile Center – implementation grant

James & Grace Lee Boggs School – implementation grant 

Boyne Falls Public Schools – implementation grant 

Bridgeport- Spaulding School District – planning grant 

Building Blocks Childcare Center – planning grant 

Chippewa Hills School District – planning grant 

Detroit Achievement Academy – implementation grant

Detroit Public Schools – implementation grant 

Genesee Intermediate School District – implementation grant 

Hart Migrant Head Start – planning grant 

Hillsdale Community Schools – planning grant 

Janel's Daycare – planning grant

Kalamazoo Public Schools – planning grant

Leelanau Children's Center – planning grant

Muskegon Public Schools – implementation grant 

Our Father's House Child Care Center – implementation grant 

Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of the Chippewa Indians – planning grant 

Tri-County Education Center – planning grant 

Waterford School District – implementation grant 




Julia Smith, PhD
Farm to School Specialist 
Center for Regional Food Systems

Department of Community Sustainability
Michigan State University
480 Wilson Rd, Rm 309
East Lansing, MI 48824

517-432-4525