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.
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.
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”.
Nathan Bates and Boyne Falls Public School are a shining testament to the impact of northwest lower Michigan’s flourishing farm to school movement. It is a movement that is benefiting schoolchildren both nutritionally and academically and, at the same time, is giving small and mid-size farmers a growing market for their crops and helping them stay on their land.
The Groundwork Center in early April hired Jennifer Schaap to join the Traverse City-based nonprofit’s food and farming program team. Schaap, a longtime Petoskey resident, brings a wealth of experience, relationships, and knowledge about the regional food system.