Groundwork’s work is really about building environmental and economic resilience for the future. And that’s what really keeps me going: knowing that Groundwork is creating a better Michigan that my daughters and their generation can enjoy.
GROUNDWORK News
Food Pantry Cooking Classes Teach Healthy, Local Eating
Manna Food Project (Manna) held its sixth regional Crock-Pot cooking class at the Moms & Tots Center in Ellsworth on Thursday, Dec. 14. Twenty-five food pantry clients living in the area learned about planning healthy meals, the importance of eating more fresh vegetables, and supporting local growers.
Local Food Alliance Builds Local Food Awareness “Around the Table”
The Local Food Alliance (LFA) of Northern Michigan, which works to enhance the culture of local food and farming in the Northern Farms Foodshed, will hold its next local food potluck on Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 6-8 p.m., at the Boyne District Library in Boyne City.
Agriculture Forum: 10 Cents a Meal Grantees Expand
Fourteen school districts in northwest Lower Michigan are among 32 statewide that have extra funding this school year to purchase locally grown fruits, vegetables and dry beans. That’s thanks to a second year of the state’s 10 Cents a Meal for School Kids & Farms pilot grant program. Together the districts serve 22,567 students in our region.
Traverse City Passenger Train Team Hired; Study Begins
The effort to reestablish passenger rail between southeast Michigan and the Traverse City and Petoskey areas reached another major milestone when the Groundwork Center and the Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA) selected rail industry experts, Transportation Economics and Management Systems (TEMS), to explore costs and create a business plan for regular train service.
East Jordan Incorporates Local Produce into Cafeteria and Curriculum
Elementary School, K-6, and preschool students at East Jordan Public Schools are eating more local farm-fresh fruits and vegetables thanks to “Try Days” which the Charlevoix County school is holding early each month. In order to connect nutrition with classroom learning, students also watch a series of videos featuring one-minute health tips, and vote whether they “tried it”, “liked it” or “loved it”.