Early Bird Registration Closes July 31! Farms, Food and Health Conference in Traverse City

**Please forward to your local food, farming, food access & public health networks, apologies for any cross-posting**

Good Morning Food Systems Colleagues!

The early bird registration deadline for Groundwork's Farms, Food and Health Conference and Culinary Medicine Training is upon us- pricing goes up August 1^st!

DEADLINE FOR EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION IS WEDNESDAY, JULY 31!

Registration is now open for the 2019 Farms, Food and Health Conference and Culinary Medicine Training in Traverse City, MI!

Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities is proud to partner with Munson Healthcare, Great Lakes Culinary Institute of Northwestern Michigan College, and Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District to present the first joint Farms, Food & Health Conference and Culinary Medicine Training. This event will highlight innovative initiatives, engage a large, diverse audience and provide much-needed technical skill-building for healthcare providers and educators. Early bird registration is now open.

DATES: Thursday, September 26th - Sunday, September 29th.

MEETING SPACE: Hagerty Center, 715 E Front St, Traverse City, MI 49686

TO REGISTER: Click here.

2019 will be the first year we bring together cross-sector networking and interactive workshops of Farms, Food and Health with the hands-on culinary training of Culinary Medicine. By tying these activities together, as well as adding a large public keynote address and Farms, Food & Health Expo, we will be able to engage the largest possible audience and provide much needed technical skill-building for healthcare providers.

Farms, Food and Health Early Bird Registration ($115) includes:

· Farms, Food and Health keynote on Friday, September 27th

· All plenary & breakout sessions on Saturday, September 28th

· Meals

o Friday evening reception

o Saturday breakfast & lunch

· Plenty of coffee and tea, and snacks throughout the conference

Conference pricing for healthcare providers interested in attending the Culinary Medicine Training varies depending on professional credentials and hospital network affiliation. Find more details about Culinary Medicine here, or by emailing Groundwork Policy Specialist Paula Martin, paula@groundworkcenter.org.

Farms, Food and Health Friday Keynote $25, included in Conference Registration

Following the Farms, Food and Health Expo will be our large keynote (doors open at 5pm), featuring three amazing speakers representing the three pillars of this work: farms, food, and health.

Dr. Steven Rivard of Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT, an organic farmland investment company, will speak to how investing in organic farmland can help reclaim our health and sustainably grow capital. Oran Hesterman, Founder and CEO of Fair Food Network, will speak about FFN's Double Up Food Bucks program, one of the country's leading nutrition incentive programs making a huge difference in the accessibility of local produce in Michigan and 19 other states around the country. Dr. Drew Ramsey is a psychiatrist, author, and farmer, and one of psychiatry's leading proponents of using nutritional interventions. Dr. Ramsey will discuss his clinical programs designed to address depression, anxiety and emotional wellness concerns through diet. A reception and Q&A with all three speakers will follow.

Attendance at the Farms, Food and Health Expo is FREE and does not require advance registration. The Expo will include over 20 vendors, along with cooking demonstrations and brief "tapas" talks. If you or your organization are interested in registering for the Expo, please contact Groundwork's Events and Outreach Manager, Miriam Owsley, miriam@groundworkcenter.org. Tables are $150, with a $75 rate available for non-profits.

Food System Field Trips taking place Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday include tours of local farms, visits to area food pantries and health centers, yoga classes, farm to table dinners, and more. Pricing and availability for these events varies.

Scholarships may be available. Please contact Groundwork Policy Specialist Paula Martin, paula@groundworkcenter.org for more information.

LODGING: A special group rate is being offered at the following Traverse City hotels.

Cambria Hotel Traverse City

255 Munson Avenue, Traverse City, MI 49686

4 minute drive or 8 minute free bus ride to the Hagerty Center

Rooms must be booked by Monday, August 26 to receive the group rate.

Reserve your room online or call the hotel directly at 231-778-9000. Group name: Farms, Food & Health Conference

West Bay Beach Resort

615 E Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49686

.3 mile walk down the street to the Hagerty Center

Rooms must be booked by Thursday, August 22 to receive the group rate.

Reserve your room by calling 231-947-3700. Group name: Farms, Food & Health.

Meghan McDermott | Food & Farming Program Director

Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities

E meghan@groundworkcenter.org

P 231-941-6584 x718

W groundworkcenter.org

F Groundwork Center

T @grndwk

A 148 E Front St, Suite 301 | Traverse City, MI 49684

The Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities is a Traverse City based non-profit. Our work is member-funded and community-driven. Protect what you love. Become a member of Groundwork today.

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Healthful Food for All Task Force Leader for Northwest Michigan Food & Farming Network

Groundwork Center Fellowship Program Founder

Member Cultivate Michigan; Healthy Kids, Healthy Michigan

Grassroots Council Member, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

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