The Michigan Land Use Institute honored Senator Debbie Stabenow with its Helen Milliken Legacy Award at a July 27 dinner in honor of the former first lady and Gov. William Milliken. MLUI created the award to recognize those who carry forward Helen Milliken’s legacy of environmental advocacy and civil discourse. Stabenow is the first recipient.
Taste the Local Difference (TLD) has had a decade of success connecting farmers with consumers. The TLD Food & Farm Guide is the iconic symbol of our small-farm community in northwest Michigan. In annual, pocket-sized, editions, it has listed a growing number of farms and food system partners. This year, we’re taking the successes of TLD and giving them an upgrade.
The statewide, nonprofit program helps financially struggling families eat healthy while supporting business for farmers. It doubles the money that people who receive SNAP Bridge Card assistance (food stamps) have to spend with local farmers at farmers markets. That means it’s helping federal dollars governed by the Farm Bill have much more of an impact on local farm economies than, say, the grocery section at Walmart.
Despite chilly temperatures and the constant threat of rain from the dark skies, Central Grade School was buzzing with activity on June 2nd as teachers and faculty, parents, and students came together to celebrate their new school garden and participate in some spring planting.
We are happy to introduce our new summer intern, Zoë McAlear. She’ll be helping out in our communications department, so you’ll be seeing her name pop up often over the next two months. Rather than let us tell you about her, here’s a brief introduction in her own words.
Schools in Leelanau, Grand Traverse, Benzie, and Antrim counties will celebrate the inaugural School Garden Week next month to draw attention to the diversity of school-based gardening projects in our region. From June 2 to June 6, the public is welcome to visit schools for “Garden Tour Days” to learn more about these projects, participate in fun garden activities, and meet the staff that helps run these programs.