Indiana Jones and the Odyssey of the Mind!
On Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 6 PM the Bay Theatre in Suttons Bay will present a special premiere showing of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Rated PG-13). Special advance tickets are only $5! - so how will they raise any money??!! Tune in to find out!
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Last update: May 15 Sweets are in full blossom to passing and tart cherry trees are in full bloom (or nearly there). We will have excellent blossom coverage through this weekend - make your reservations now!
Dr. Nikki Rothwell, director of the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station, reports that she's seeing a few sweets now. She that although sweets typically blossom first with tarts coming 3-5 days after, there have been years when they've come at the same time. She noted that cherries are only receptive to be fertilized for a week or so, no matter how long the blossoms are out. Years when we do have an enduring blossom can even be detrimental to fertilization as bees don't like to fly when it's cold.
The Leelanau County Cherry Blossom Tour has been scheduled for Saturday, May 10 from 11 AM - 2 PM. The Tour is sponsored by the Leelanau Conservation District, Leelanau Conservancy and the Leelanau Enterprise, with several other organizations presenting a tour of orchards with a leisurely FREE bus ride for folks of all ages (wheelchair lifts are on every bus as well!).
The event will start and end at the Connie Binsfeld Building in Lake Leelanau and features a free ride on busses provided by the Bay Area Transportation Authority. Tour takers can stay on a bus throughout its journey or get off at preplanned stops and catch the next one! There will also be a free lunch with cherry brats from Pleva’s Market in Cedar and those famous Cherry Republic Boomchunka cookies. Highlighted on the tour will be the views offered from a vantage point at St. Wenceslaus Church and the Gregory family's Cherry Bay Orchard.
Years ago, a Blossom Tour was offered annually by agricultural leaders in Leelanau County at about the same time the "Blessing of the Blossoms" ceremony was celebrated in Grand Traverse County. While the blessing event remains today, the blossom tour has long been discontinued — until this year.
The Leelanau MSU Extension will host an organic vegetable farming and gardening event on Friday, April 18 at the NW Michigan Horticultural Research Station.
This session will be of use to organic producers, backyard vegetable growers, those considering organic certification, and anyone else interested in growing vegetables. The program will cover soil management, how organic soils work, cover crops for vegetable production, composting, organic pest management, emerging crops for organic production, the pros and cons of organic certification, the use of hoophouses for season extension. There will also be an experienced farmer panel representing four farms across Michigan to explain their operations and answer first-hand any questions participants may have. A catered lunch will be provided. The cost to attend is $25 per person.
If you're interested, you meed to RSVP to the Leelanau MSU Extension office by Monday, April 10th! Call 231-256-9888.
The Enterprise reports that the Leelanau Conservation District's annual seedling and plant sale is now underway. The sale is a fundraiser where:
Selections are available in quantities ranging from five conifers or deciduous transplants, to thousands of seedlings. Also available are wildlife shrubs, groundcovers, native grasses, ferns and wildflowers.
"With the variety of species available, there are plants to suit every site condition imaginable," said Buzz Long, new executive director of the district. "Whether you desire to plant trees for future timber production or for a windbreak to reduce wind erosion or to provide a snow screen, we offer species that will fit the bill."
The Enterprise reports that the 2007 Farm Bill, which appears headed for passage by the Federal Government in January, streamlines the cumbersome process for farmers to receive federal money for selling development rights on their property to local governments and non-governmental organizations and has additional provisions for specialty crops like cherries, wine grapes, asparagus and organic products.
The new law would raise the deduction a landowner can take for donating a conservation easement from 30 percent of their income in any year to 50 percent.
For those actively engaged in farming, the deal is even better. Qualifying farmers may be able to deduct up to 100 percent of their income from land they have voluntarily donated for a conservation easement. In addition, the new law would extend the carry-forward period for a donor to take tax deductions from five to 16 years.
The Enterprise reports that the Bingham Township Planning Commission held a public forum to discuss ideas that may enhance agricultural tourism in the township, including model zoning ordinance language from the State of Michigan. They quote planner Rochelle Rollenhagen on what is being considered:
"The ideas we're exploring involve expanding the types of activities that might be allowed on agricultural land," Rollenhagen explained. "Agritourism involves some land uses that can be pretty commercial in nature; and a broader range of uses could become allowable in the township’s agriculture district if we follow through with some of these ideas," she said.
The point behind expanding opportunities for agritourism in the township would be to allow farmers and the owners of agricultural properties to stay in business and on their farms, Rollenhagen said. Such opportunities might help prevent residential sprawl.
Leland Public School and the Leelanau MSU Extension are hosting an indoor farmer's market featuring fruits, vegetables and pumpkins for sale next Tuesday (Oct 16) from noon to four o'clock. This will be a great opportunity for children to learn more about our local agricultural community and to reach families that may not already visit the Leelanau Farmer's Markets held around the county.
The staff is excited about the market and hope you come and join the excitement. Public is welcome and encouraged and you can call the school at 256-9857 for more info on Tuesday's event and MSU Extension at 256-9888 for information on the Leelanau Farmers Markets!
Photo credit: Honey Crisp Apples from MSU Extension-Leelanau
Oswegatchi, also known as the D.H. Day Farm, has long been a prominent landmark of what is now the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Oswegatchi? To read about D.H.Day and why he gave the farm this name visit these links from the National Park service: www.nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/dhdayfarm.htm www.nps.gov/slbe/historyculture/dkhday.htm
Last weekend and the early part of this week was simply amazing - sunny & temperatures in the 80s. Then things went south ... or north I guess into the 40s. Somewhere in there we missed that beautiful 60s to low 70s thing.
October 4, 2007: Sunny & upper 70s (78Ëš/46Ëš)
October 5, 2007: Sunny & 80s (84Ëš/57Ëš) Tied record high!
October 6, 2007: Partly sunny, some rain & upper 80s (87Ëš/66Ëš) Record high!
October 7, 2007: Mostly sunny & upper 80s (88Ëš/66Ëš) Another record high!!
October 8, 2007: Mostly sunny & upper 80s (88Ëš/64Ëš) Yet another record high!!!
October 9, 2007: Mostly cloudy, rain & 60s (71Ëš/46Ëš)
October 10, 2007: Wind, rain & upper 40s (53Ëš/44Ëš)
The Leelanau County Cherry Blossom Tour has been scheduled for Saturday, May 10 from 11 AM - 2 PM. The Tour is sponsored by the Leelanau Conservation District, Leelanau Conservancy and the Leelanau Enterprise, with several other organizations presenting a tour of orchards with a leisurely FREE bus ride for folks of all ages (wheelchair lifts are on every bus as well!).
