From Seeds to Supper Project Overview

As people interested in sustainable and locals foods we all have some grasp of what happens a farm, who we come to love at the market. Takes a seed, puts it in some dirt, and then miraculously after a few weeks or months we have something delicious to eat. It's AWESOME! But there's so much more to it, there has to be. There has to be a demand to keep these farmers going and like every other business there is a lot that goes into the finished product and the marketing of it.

I want to understand more about the farmers, their farms, and how they keep them going. I recently spent time on a friend's sheep farm and got cozy there thinking, well this is something I could do. I want to look into what it takes to make that happen. Everything from where/how to get land, amount needed to survive, how people deal financing the farm, and what they have to do to create a name for themselves. In doing so I hope to gain a better understanding for what's on my plate and the wonderful people who grow it.

As of now the final project will hopefully be some sort of brochure/pamphlet about what really happens behind the scenes of the markets and back on the farms so that consumers will have a better understanding of what they're buying.

Great local food sources, if you don't already know them:

Bear-foot farms - organic (non-certified) meats, eggs, and produce from Paw Paw, MI

Mattawan Creamery - goat cheese and yogurt, Mattawan, MI

Jake's Country Meats - Nitrate free, not necessarily organic/grass fed BUT good MI sourced fish!  Decatur, MI

Elder Fire Farm

Bonamego Farm - Having a foraging class on the 28th! $20/person, Lawrence, MI

And of course many more!!


Locally-Made and Some Locally Sourced Value-added Products:

Cherri's Chocol'art - has teamed up Bear-Foot Farms to produce delicious chocolate cover bacon! She also just has stellar caramels

Bilberry Jams - Spiced tomato jam is a personal favorite

Kahoona Kitchen Granola - the chocolate mint bars taste like Andes mints

Tudor House Tea Company - Chocolate-chai walnuts, hand made by the owner

Dough Chicks - gluten free orange cranberry biscotti

Bakewell Co. -  quiches that are to die for!

Sunpenada - amazing specialty empanadas! The Bella Vita is a personal favorite

Lupita's - salsa, chips, and tamales

Anything and everything from Can-do Kitchen!

... etc.

And remember only 1 more week on the indoor markets and then it's back to Bank Street! Wohoooo!

Farmer Panel at the Portage Library

WHO’S YOUR FARMER?

Wednesday, April 10th
6:30 – 8:00 PM

Location: Portage District Library (http://www.pdl.lib.mi.us/)

Come join us to learn why eating closer to home and supporting local farmers and farmers' markets is healthy for our economy, our community and you!

Meet a panel of SW Michigan farmers & growers.

Learn places to shop for fresh, local produce, meats & dairy products.

Co-sponsored by: The People’s Food Co-op, Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA) & Portage District Library