2008 Suttons Bay Jazzfest - this Saturday!
The annual Suttons Bay Jazzfest takes place this Saturday, July 26 at Marina Park in Suttons Bay. The event features fine wines and food from the Leelanau Peninsula and world-class jazz music
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Located in the heart of the Leelanau Peninsula, Lake Leelanau is a pristine lake running through almost the entire county. Lake Leelanau appears to be two lakes, and is even referred to as North Lake Leelanau and South Lake Leelanau, but the two lakes are connected by what is known as "The Narrows," a narrowing of the lake that looks like a river. The village of Lake Leelanau is located at the narrows. South Lake Leelanau is the shallower and warmer lake of the two, but both are breathtakingly beautiful and from top to bottom the North and South Lake total about 22 miles in length.
Lake Leelanau's water levels rose 12 feet when a dam was built on the Carp River (which connects Lake Leelanau to Lake Michigan) in 1854.
Cool things to do: boat around the lake (rent one from Stander Marine in Leland), swim (public access spots: Nedow's Bay, East Leland Park (on 641 at the northern end of North Lake Leelanau), Fisher "Fudgie" Beach (just south of Leland on M-22) Schneider's Beach (at the end of Popp Road (off M-204) 1.5 miles west of the village of Lake Leelanau), fish, or just hang out.
Head into Lake Leelanau for some fantastic vegetarian food and great antique shopping, Cedar for the best processed meat in the area and some great local ice cream inventions, or Leland for great shopping, delicious food, and much more.
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."
Thanks everyone for telling me that the annual Glen Arbor Winterfest already happened. It had been added to our calendar by someone with the wrong date - my apologies! Here's the report on the event from the Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce:
2008 Chili Cook-Off Winners (There were about 400 chili tasters) Traditional Chili
1st place-Peace Pole Makers
2nd place-Glen Lake Schools Non-Traditional Chili
1st place-Bear Paw
2nd place-LaBecasse
Fishing results
1st. Jeremy Plamondon 13.25 in. 16 oz.
2nd. Tim Egeler 13.25 in. 15 oz.
We've created this spot to give Leelanau and Traverse City area businesses a spot to post brief notes of good news and new offerings from their business. This most definitely includes your "help wanted" and job openings!
Please post a note below and feel welcome to link to your web site. Entries that are too long will be edited, so keep it short and sweet!
Although I managed to deftly overlook the first ever National Eat Red Week (Feb 4-10), there's still time for me to save face and remind you that February is National Cherry Month and asking you to eat (or drink) as many of these red beauties as you can find!
Choose Cherries explains that a diet rich in cherries can reduce the incidence of heart disease, provide relief of arthritis and gout, prevent diabetes and cancer and lead to better sleep. To those I'd add the benefits of purchasing cherries and cherry products to Leelanau & Michigan farmers and also the benefit to all of us who live in and visit
The Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association invites you to celebrate Valentine's Day (and wine and chocolate) at their annual "Taste the Passion" wine tour held February 9-10.
The weekend features special pours and tasty chocolate treats and many of the wineries along the wine trail are hosting special events including snowshoeing, cross country skiing, evening parties, a snowman building contest and the first annual Vineyard Snow Angel Contest.
As a bonus, all participants will be entered in a drawing to win one of three great door prizes - romantic weekend escapes featuring lodging and dining at either The Homestead Resort with dinner at Funistrada; Holiday Inn West Bay with dinner at Hanna; Whaleback Inn with dinner at Samuel's.
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 
