Great Indoor Folk Festival ~ Feb 12, 2012
The 4th Annual Great Indoor Folk Festival takes place this Sunday, February 12 in Building 50 at the Grand Traverse Commons. The festival runs from noon to 5:30, and it is family-friendly and free, though you're encouraged to donate through "busker buckets."
There will be 6 different stages with over 50 musicians on seven different stages.
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Last week the TC Ticker posted a cool feature on Farm 651 near Cedar. They report that the Farm 651 project was selected from thousands of applications for the "Pepsi Refresh Contest" for November. Each month, Pepsi gives away over $1 million to 60 ideas that move communities forward. You can vote once a day until a winner is awarded at the Farm 651 at Pepsi Refresh. They also write that:
While most farms are shutting down for winter, one area farm is plotting out a path to education.
Farm 651 - an 80-acre, eco-agricultural farm just south of Cedar - is working to become a learning campus for students in pursuit of agricultural skills and knowledge.
“We’ve received intern applications from all over the world - from as far away as Ghana, Chicago, California and, of course, locally,” says Jason Roggensee, who established “The 651 Project” as a licensed Michigan non-profit organization in August with his wife, Junie.
Students can apply to live and work on the functioning farm, while studying specific focuses: organic farming, viticulture, construction technology, agri-tourism, responsible landscape design, and green energy technology.
Housing will be provided, and product sales via farm markets and onsite retail facilities will serve as a living stipend.
The couple’s biggest priority? Building a student “nest.” Starting next spring, they plan to start construction on a two-story, super-efficient farmhouse-style structure that should house six students comfortably.
After the leaves leave, Leelanau County works to build economy less dependent on tourism by Howard Lovy in Crains Detroit talks with J.T. "Chip" Hoagland of the Leelanau County Economic Development Corp and Matt McCauley of the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments about using agriculture, food processing and the growing interest in local foods to create a more robust economy on the Leelanau Peninsula.
According to a report produced by the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments "accommodation and food services" represented about one in six total jobs available in Leelanau County as of 2009. And, increasingly, these jobs are no longer seasonal only.
"It's really interesting how many restaurants are in the county and the fact that most of those stay open year round," said Matt McCauley, director of regional planning for the council of governments.
Like Hoagland, McCauley credits the local-food movement for a restaurant boom that is not so dependent on tourist season.
"Leelanau County is truly a leader in a resurgence around agriculture," McCauley said. "Because of the wineries, hops farms, all sorts of burgeoning agriculture and value-added activity, all sorts of people are choosing to locate here to be part of that."
By "value-added," he means businesses such as Cherry Republic in Glen Arbor, which not only uses local cherries but also turns them into chocolates, jam and other products that then are shipped around the world.
In addition, McCauley said, "The restaurants in the region — and we're getting more and more notoriety as a foodie destination — are choosing and actually seeking out local products for their menu items."
Leelanau Farmer's Markets are underway in Glen Arbor, Lake Leelanau, Leland, Northport and Suttons Bay. They offer you a chance to get out and connect with farmers and other folks who produce food in Leelanau County. Tell us your favorite Leelanau farmers market in our poll!
Tuesdays in Glen Arbor
9 am—1 pm
June 21 - August 30
Location: Behind the Township Hall on Western Ave
Thursdays in Leland
9 am—Noon
June 23 - September 1
Location: Parking lot across from the Bluebird Restaurant
Fridays in Northport
9 am—1 pm
June 17 - September 16
Location: The Depot, next to the marina
Saturdays in Suttons Bay
9 am—1 pm
May 14 - October 22
NEW Location:Â North Park; intersection of M-204 & M-22, water side
Saturdays in Empire
9 am—1 pm
June 18 - September 10
Location: Downtown, next to the Post Office
Sundays in Lake Leelanau
9 am—1 pm
June 19 - September 4
Location: Parking lot across from NJ's Grocery downtown
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Radishes, eggs, salad greens and garlic from Abra at Bare Knuckle Farm
Taste the Local Difference is a comprehensive guide that includes farm, farm market, CSA, winery and other listings with addresses, phone numbers and an index to seasonal food availability. The guide includes farms and winery listings, CSA contacts, addresses, phone numbers and an index to seasonal food availability. A kind of phone book for food. No need to shuffle through the yellow pages--just pick up a guide and start eating!
TV 9&10 News has a great video feature on Leelanau County's various fruit crops where they talk with strawberry farmer Steve Bardenhagen, MSU Hort Station Coordinator Nikki Rothwell and others about the state of the fruit crops.
While farmers (and honeybees) struggled through a cold wet spring, no hard frost was a plus. It sounds like we'll have strawberry shortcake for the 4th and everyone is pulling for the hot temps from recent days to continue!
Taste the Local Difference has released their 2011 Northwest Michigan Food Guide. The pocket-sized guide is packed with information about more than 300 businesses that feature local food: local farms, wineries, breweries, distilleries, farmers markets and retail businesses and food artisans in our 10-county region stretching from Manistee to the Mackinac Bridge.
Leelanau is well represented and you can download the guide as a PDF or pick it up at farms, markets and other places that feature local food across the region. A highlight is their Spend 10 Local Dollars Campaign, which encourages people to make a pledge to spend $10 weekly on local food products. Taste the Local Difference project director Janice Benson says:
"The guide helps people find local food, and combining that with a commitment by families to spend at least $10 each week on local food will significantly boost our local economy. We have a lot of great produce throughout the summertime, but we also have meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, beverages, and much more that is available to us all year long."
You can get all the details and make the pledge, search farm markets & businesses for all kinds of products, view tasty recipes and more at localdifference.org.
Try some of these ways to make a difference in your community with $10 or more a week!
Shop at one of the weekly Leelanau Farm Markets!
Buying local meat, fish, eggs, and produce from your local grocer, restaurant, or farmer.
Ordering a glass of local wine, cider, or other beverage that includes locally grown items at dinner.
Ordering a menu item that includes locally grown items at a restaurant.
Becoming a member of a CSA farm.
Ordering food for office lunches and parties that includes locally grown items.
Purchasing locally grown food products for holiday gifts and entertaining. (Jams, honeys, cheeses, dried cherry mix, salsas, etc.)
Buying local cream for your daily coffees and local teas that include locally grown herbs and fruit.
Last year the Leelanau Conservancy purchased the Sonny Swanson Farm along with 90 acres including 73 acres of wetlands and 2000 feet of shoreline on Little Traverse Lake. One of the Conservancy's goals was to see agriculture return to the 15-acre farmstead. Numerous local farmers applied and Ben Brown's business plan was selected. The Conservancy explains that:
The bearded, bespectacled Brown, 27, earned a degree in Ecological Agriculture from the University of Vermont in 2007. He has apprenticed or worked on seven different farms—from family operated CSAs in Pennsylvania to cherry orchards on Old Mission Peninsula. Most recently he has worked growing vegetables for Leelanau Cultured Veggies, while running his new business Haymaker Poultry Co. on rented land. .
...The Conservancy's Board recently approved a 30-month lease with an option to buy possible after 24 months, if both parties are satisfied with the arrangement at the time. As for Brown, he can't wait to get going. "I've been looking for something to call my own," says Brown. "Something permanent." The agreement is expected to be signed soon.
The young farmer hopes to be stocking the famous yellow stand with at least a few varieties of vegetables this summer and is allowed to also bring in 50% of what he sells from other local farms too. But his main source of income will come from small-scale, grass-fed poultry raised on site that will also help restore the land's fertility and eliminate the need for any fertilizer or chemicals. Chickens and turkeys will graze in the fresh air in moveable, open pens, foraging for insects, grazing on rotated crops, while simultaneously enriching the soil. The result: hormone-free, antibiotic-free chickens and turkeys he will sell right from the farm. (To receive an order form to purchase a fresh bird – available every two weeks June through October, email Ben/Haymaker Poultry Co. at shasta707@yahoo.com.)
Farmers Nikki and Steve Sobkowski are relying less on cherries, and more on hops -- a key ingredient in making beer. The hops crop was grown widely on the peninsula 50 years ago, but a disease in the plant brought that practice to an end.
The Sobkowski's have 20 acres of hops in production and grow even more on the Leelanau Peninsula. At a manufacturing facility the Sobkowskis turn the plant into pellets, which brewers prefer.
A brewer already using the Old Mission hops is Mike Hall, master brewer at the North Peak Brewery. Hall and his staff created the "Furry" and the "Wanderer." Hall says the locally grown and processed hops is fresher and has a superb aroma. Now he'll be making fewer orders for hops grown in the Pacific Northwest.
The Leelanau Farmers Markets Association will hold their Annual Kick-Off Meeting and Potluck next Wednesday, May 11 from 6-8 pm at the Leelanau County Government Center, 8527 E Government Center Drive, Suttons Bay. Join Board members, market vendors and community supporters for information, networking and camaraderie. Guests are asked to bring a dish to pass and their own table service; beverages are provided.
There will be a presentation by Local Orbit to learn about buying and selling local products for delivery at the new local “hub” - the Suttons Bay Market on Saturday mornings. Also on the agenda will be information on the acceptance of EBT Bridge Cards at the Suttons Bay Market, and a Q & A Session to answer any questions about any of the six Leelanau Farmers Markets.
The 2011 season begins at the Suttons Bay Market on May 14. Check out www.eatleelanau.org for dates and times of all the Leelanau Farmers Markets in Empire, Glen Arbor, Lake Leelanau, Leland, Northport and Suttons Bay. For more information contact Debby Disch, LFMA Board Chair, at 231-386-5686 or Leelanau MSU Extension at 231-256-9888.
The third video we'd like to share comes via the Glen Arbor Sun and it's packed with springtime fun!
Forest Rebecca Olson enjoyed an early spring day the right way in northern Michigan — by tapping a maple tree and enjoying the sap from which we make maple syrup. In succession, the flowers bloomed, the snow began to melt, the chickens came out to play, and her daughter Roen greeted the farm animals.
February is National Cherry Month and Leelanau County is Cherry Ground Zero! Before we get to this great video of cherry harvesting at Shimeks' Maple Ridge Orchard in Maple City, here are a ton of cherry features on Leelanau.com including:
A little about the history of cherry blossoms in Leelanau County (hint for folks wondering "When will the cherries blossom?": it's usually 10-14 days in early to mid May and we never know when until we're getting close!)
...and don't miss the cherry slideshow in the Leelanau.com group on Flickr
Great Indoor Folk Festival ~ Feb 12, 2012
Last week the TC Ticker posted a cool feature on Farm 651 near Cedar. They report that the Farm 651 project was selected from thousands of applications for the "Pepsi Refresh Contest" for November. Each month, Pepsi gives away over $1 million to 60 ideas that move communities forward. You can vote once a day until a winner is awarded at the Farm 651 at Pepsi Refresh. They also write that:
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Last year the Leelanau Conservancy purchased the 
