New Slogan Marketing Resources

Plant a Row Logo

Please contact iccfoodnetwork@gmail.com for an original if you need a better copy of these graphics.

Instructables Site

Check out this cool website!  They have a whole lot of ideas for interesting container gardening.  I can't wait to do some exploring!

Whether you feel constrained by space or are just looking for new ways to display your garden, "Creative Container Gardens" is for you!  You'll find unique ways to display your plants using everything from bottles, to walls, to imaginatively re-purposed household objects. All projects come from Instructables.com, are written by our creative community, and contain pictures for each step so you can easily make these yourself.

Instructables is the most popular project-sharing community on the Internet. We provide easy publishing tools to enable passionate, creative people like you to share their most innovative projects, recipes, skills, and ideas. Instructables has over 40,000 projects covering all subjects, including crafts, art, electronics, kids, home improvement, pets, outdoors, reuse, bikes, cars, robotics, food, decorating, woodworking, costuming, games, and more.  Check it out today!
Sarah James
Editor, Food & Living
Instructables.com

Upside Down Planter

Global Youth Service Day!

April 25, 2013 Volume 20, No. 17  Circulation: 41,500 THIS WEEKEND, YOUTH CHANGE THE WORLD The world's young people are serving and celebrating as part of the 25th anniversary of Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) this weekend, April 26-28, 2013. At least 1 million children, teens, and young adults in more than 100 countries across 6 continents will lead service or service-learning projects as well as events celebrating the good work youth are doing in their communities year-round. Global Youth Service Day shines a bright light on the unique perspective, compassion and creativity that young people contribute to their communities. This is a time for young people to find their voice, take action, and serve - not as the leaders of tomorrow, but as the leaders of today. Find GYSD projects in your area: www.GYSD.org/map  Connect with YSA        YSA Funding Partners

25 Years of Global Youth Service Day 25 years ago, YSA sent photographers out across the United States to capture images of children and youth serving their communities. We called it "A Day in the Life of Youth Service", and the public was stunned at the depth and breadth of their energy, commitment, idealism, and creativity. That original day became the annual National Youth Service Day, and in 2000, Global Youth Service Day. See more important milestones from the 25 years of Global Youth Service Day:www.GYSD.org/25years   Learn more about GYSD in Montcalm and Ionia County at http://ioniakidsclub.org/service.html Find volunteer opportunities on HandsOn Connect!

A Webinar for Michigan's Small Food Processors

Working with Your Food Safety Inspector: A Webinar for Michigan's Small Food Processors

Monday, May 13, 2:00-3:30 p.m.(Eastern Time)

Web addressLink and information for online audience will be at
https://www.msu.edu/~jbuckley/events/

To attend in personMichigan State University
Communication Arts and Sciences Building, Room 145
404 Wilson Rd.
East Lansing, Mich.
Building and parking directions are below.

The webinar will be recorded and archived.

Small-scale food processing is a growing trend in Michigan, and meeting food safety regulations is essential to operating a successful food processing business. This panel discussion brings together representatives of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and small Michigan processors. Presenters include:

• Laurie Sorensen, Food Safety Inspector, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
• Gordon Robinson, Dairy Supervisor, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
• Pearl Brown, Baker, Old Mission Multigrain, Traverse City, Mich.
• Sue Spagnuolo, Cheesemaker, Greenbush Farms and Dolce Vita Dairy, St. Johns, Mich.
• Moderator: Jenifer Buckley, Michigan State University

Speakers will discuss successful approaches to developing positive relationships with inspectors and meeting regulations. 

*** Pre-registration is not required, and there is no registration fee. ***

Farmers accepting Bridge Cards!

Like last year, we have created posters in English and Spanish that show which Farmers and Community Farmers Markets accept Bridge Cards.  I have attached electronic copies of the posters so they can be easily shared or printed off as handouts. 

This year's the posters are in color to make them more visible and to easily differentiate between farmer and community farmers markets posters.  We also show which farmers markets accept WIC Project Fresh and senior Market Fresh.

For 2013, there will be 50 farmers accepting Bridge Cards (up from 30 in 2012).  Therefore, it was necessary to make multiple farmer posters with one poster showing just Ottawa and adjacent counties.  I believe only these posters are the only resource showing farmers accepting Bridge Cards.  

Community farmers markets accepting Bridge Cards have many strengths. 

• They can be virtually a destination and offer a wide selection of products. 
• They can enable things like education and cooking demonstration. 
• Community farmers markets can offer the Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB).  There are other sources of information on community farmers markets accepting Bridge Cards like DUFB, Michigan Farm Market Association (MIFMA) and the USDA farmers markets listings but they don't identify community farmers markets where only some farmers accept Bridge Cards (8 in the area) and none of the 50 area farms. 

Farmers accepting Bridge Cards have many strengths too.

• There 50, over 2 times as many farmers accepting Bridge Cards than community farmers markets. 
• Markets on farms are often open 6 to 7 days a week usually from 8 AM to 6 to 8 PM.
• Therefore, farms are often the most convenient way for families to access locally grown health food, especially in rural areas as they are open many more hours  and days of availability/accessibility of local healthy food with their Bridge Cards and other food benefits (see attached).
• Markets on farms have the educational benefit of putting families and their children in contact with the sources of their food. 
• Finally, many farms are U-Pick and offer experiences like petting farm animals.

We are establishing a new web site that should be operational around May 1st that list all farms and community farmers markets accepting Bridge Cards in an 8 county area in West Central Michigan.  It will have search and mapping functions www.westmichiganfarmmarkets.org.

Please let me know how many posters your agencies would like for your agency and that you feel you could distribute.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Gordie Moeller
Food Security Advocate

2013 Farmers to the EAST
2013 Farmers to the East Spanish
2013 Farmers Markets
2013 Farmer Markets Spanish

Bridge Card Access at Farms

MI Farm to School Grant Program

From: "Anne Scott" <annemisener@ANR.MSU.EDU>
To: MIFARMTOSCHOOL@LIST.MSU.EDU
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2013 8:55:17 AM
Subject: 2013-14 MI FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

Please forward through your networks!

With funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems is now accepting applications for the MI Farm to School Grant Program for the 2013 - 2014 school year.

The MI Farm to School Grant Program offers Planning and Implementation grants:

Planning Grantshelp schools/districts and early child care and education programs plan for integrating local foods into their meal programs ANDultimately develop a Farm to School Action Plan to begin a Farm to School program.

Implementation Grantshelp schools/districts and early child care and education programs put existing Farm to School plans into action AND ultimately develop a Farm to School Sustainability Plan to keep the program going and growing in future years.

Eligibility requirements:

• Only food service/nutrition directors/providers of schools/districts or early child care and education programs are eligible to apply.
• Schools/districts and early child care and education programs must have at least 50% free and reduced-price meal enrollment or equivalent.

(See application for more details on applicant eligibility)

The MI Farm to School Grant Program will award up to 20 Michigan K-12 schools/districts and early child care and education programs with funds ($2,000 maximum each) to plan for or implement Farm to School programs. The grant year is September 3, 2013 – June 6, 2014.

Applications are due by 5 pm on Friday, May 10^th, 2013.

Informational webinars for prospective applicants will be held on

April 22, 2013 at 10am and 3pm on April 25^th .

To join a webinar, log in at the appointed time to:

http://msucrfs.adobeconnect.com/mi_fts/

Dial in: (888) 394 8197 (CODE 405500).

For applications and additional information, please see the attachments of this email or visit the Michigan Farm to School website, www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu under the “Grants” tab. Feel free to contact the MI Farm to School Grant Program Coordinator, Anne Scott, at scottann@msu.edu or 517-353-0751 with any questions.

ATTACHMENTS:

MI FtS Grant Program –Planning Application 2013

MI FtS Grant Program –Implementation Application 2013

Anne Scott, MPH

Center for Regional Food Systems 

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

480 Wilson Rd, Suite 303

East Lansing, MI  48824

scottann@msu.edu  

Implementation Application

Planning Application

Upcoming Events

Global Youth Service Day April 22nd-27th: 

Please register your garden or pantry clean up project at http://ioniakidsclub.org/service.html

• The Animal Shelter Garden will have a clean up day on April 27th beginning at 9 am
• The Greenville Trailside Garden will be a guest at WGLM Radio on April 23rd

Volunteer Appreciation Dinner: April 25th at Belding HIgh School from 6-8pm, please RSVP at iccfoodnetwork@gmail.com or call the UW at 1-800-417-2622 Awards from the Community Food Network will include: Volunteer of the Year, Partner Agency of the Year, Outstanding new Garden for 2012, and special recognition to all gardens who have met the 2013 requirements for registration.

Join the Ionia Kids Club in supporting Ionia County Food Pantries!

DoSomething.org is helping to raise support on the local level through service groups holding PB&J Slams! For each 10 jars collected, youth are able to enter for a chance to receive a $4,000 scholarship.

GenerationOn.org is also raising support on a local level through service groups with the "What will you bring to the table?" promotion. 

Ionia Kids Club Members have decided to combine resources and work on both of these like minded projects together! They will be collecting PB&J from April 11th to May 16th then passing on the donations to local food pantries. Then they will be making table cloths that will be distributed to local Community Gardens through the Community Food Network to give volunteers a clean place to enjoy eating fresh produce.

Here is how YOU can help!

Donate jars of Peanut Butter and/or Jam during our Thursday after meetings. Drop your donation off April 11th- May 16th during our regular hours of Ionia Kids Club.

You can also drop off donations at PromoPrint&Stitches2 or WION Radio to vote for "PB" or "J" on the Wednesday Morning Show! Donations can be dropped off any time during business hours throughout April!

Hunger EXPO: May 18th at the Ionia Fairgrounds from noon-4pm. Please let Penny know if your organization would like to set up a booth or demonstration about your community garden, food pantry, or other hunger issue.

You can also review the Community Food Network Meeting Notes from our April Meeting at this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1t-4GOfZbh_ht4Wd7MIV0eu2X2GLoHKryhpMW8IcVKjg/edit?usp=sharing

What will YOU bring to the Table?

What will YOU bring to the Table?

What Will You Bring to the Table? is an initiative to mobilize youth from across the country to address child hunger in the U.S. by gathering around tables to create service projects that raise awareness and bring collective action to this critical issue. The goal is to engage 300,000 kids and teens in raising 1 million meals for children experiencing hunger in the United States.

There are nearly 17 million kids in the United States who encounter hunger at any given time throughout the year. One in five don’t know where their next meal is coming from.

What Will You Bring to the Table? is powered by generationOn, the youth service enterprise of Points of Light. www.WhatWillYouBringtotheTable.org 

Ionia Kids Club members in partnership with the Community Food Network are asking the community this very important question!  The facts about Hunger Issues effecting our area are clear:

•   1 in 5 kids are not sure where their next meal is coming from.
•  Often families with 1 parent working full time must choose between paying for health concerns or paying for food. 
• It is cheaper to buy a box of mac and cheese then it is to provide healthy fruits and veggies for a family struggling to have enough food to eat.  
• 3 out of 5 teachers see kids who come to school hungry every day! 

The Community Food Network works to support community-grown food sources and related distribution systems in order to increase access to locally grown, fresh produce and promote it's use through educational opportunities within the community.  The Ionia Kids Club supports this mission by working with the Washington St Community Garden.  Each year youth decide on a theme for the garden, work together to plant and harvest the garden, and enjoy a community meal from the garden.  This year's theme will be soup!  This is the 4th year for the Washington St Garden and Kids Club members have helped with many food drives along the way.  But this year the focus is on soup because it is a simple way to feed many people with healthy veggies at a low cost.  Many people in our community have never HAD to eat at a soup kitchen.  And in reality our soup kitchens serve more just soup.  But still the name "Soup Kitchen" comes from a time when most people in America suffered from Food Insecurity.  A time when you could only get by because neighbors were helping neighbors.  A time when kids ate first because there may not have been enough food for everyone.  Times have changed!  And it is amazing to here that there are still kids struggling with having enough food to eat.  Studies show that Americans throw away nearly half of the food that is purchased.  So why do we have kids who are hungry? And what can YOU do to help?  Here are a few ideas to get you started:  

• VOLUNTEER - give a little of your time helping a community garden, food pantry, or with a food drive.  
• DONATE - Several organizations hold small food drives all year long.  (Kids Club Members are collecting Peanut Butter and Jelly right now!)  Each can that you donate adds to the bigger picture and helps to support local pantries.  
• SHARE - Invite a family that is struggling to join you for dinner one night.  Do you find that you buy a bag of apples or bunch of bananas only to have some go bad?  Look around your neighborhood for a child that might be struggling and ask their parent if you can give them an afternoon snack each day after school.  
• TEACH - share your love for gardening, cooking, canning, etc with a young mom or teen that wants to learn.

Together WE can make a difference in the lives of the children in our community!  No one person can change the world, but together WE can make a difference.  What will YOU bring to the Table?  What can YOU do to END Hunger?

  

On April 11th, Kids Club Members will gather to decorate 12 tablecloths with the message, "What will you bring to the table?"  Tablecloths will be passed out to Community Food Network partners where they can be displayed at special events in community gardens, food pantries, and partner locations.  Each time someone makes a donation or volunteers, their name can be added to the tablecloth!

From April 11th to May 16th, Kids Club Members will be holding their Peanut Butter & Jam Slam!  Donations can be dropped off at the First Christian Church on Thursday afternoons from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm.  For each 10 jars collected, youth will be able to enter for a chance to win $4,000 in scholarships!

On May 18th, the Community Food Network will be hosting their first ever Hunger EXPO at the Ionia Fair Grounds in partnership with the MSU Extension 4-H Day.  Learn about local food pantries, gardens, and other hunger resources by attending this event!

Name the "New Community Garden!"

For Immediate Release                                                                                  Contact: Courtney Miller

April 2, 2013                                                                                                   (616)527-5341

Name the Community Garden Contest

Ionia- The Ionia County Health Department in partnership with the Ionia County 4-H are starting a community garden located at 3853 Sparrow Dr in Ionia. The community gardens mission is to be an educational and community-motivated garden that will serve to provide hands-on learning for community youth and adults while providing extra support to our local food pantries.

The garden organizers need your help in naming the garden! We invite kids from Ionia County to enter the name the community garden contest. The winner will be revealed at the Spring Planting event, TBD and receive a $25 prize being donated by the Ionia County 4-H Advisory Council. The guidelines to enter the contest are that you must be between the ages of 5 and 18 and the garden name should be simple, but creative.  

Please submit all garden name entries no later than April 19, 2013 either via email to dthalison@ioniacounty.org or mail to the Ionia County Health Department, 175 E. Adams Street, Ionia, Michigan 48846. Good Luck!

CFN Updates

REMINDER:  Meetings taking place April 8th at the Mid-Michigan District Health Dept

12:30 pm - Working lunch planning meeting for the Educational Committee (bring your own lunch!)
1:30 pm - Community Food Network Meeting
3:30 pm - Garden Planning Meeting for anyone starting a new garden, wanting more information about local community gardens, or wanting to talk with other gardeners about 2013 plans.

An Agenda for the CFN Meeting can be found in Google Docs

Also if you are starting a new garden or planning on continuing a community garden this year and hope to receive supplies from the Community Food Network you must register your garden.  2013 Garden Survey  If possible, please do this before the meeting.  If you need help, you will be able to complete this at the meeting.

Also, here are a couple more links for recent articles and blogs posted by the Ionia Sentinel Standard about the Community Food Network and our partners!

Ionia County Peace Community Blog - Peace Talk:  Garden NEWS

Seed starting day grows community gardeners - published April 5th

And don't forget to register your Garden CleanUP project for Global Youth Service Day!

And check out these pictures from the Belding Community Garden last year!

Thanks Andrea!