Dear MIFFS Supporters,
We are hiring! MIFFS is excited to announce a new position at our small but mighty non-profit team: Communications and Outreach Coordinator! We are seeking a passionate, creative, and engaging individual. Responsibilities include overseeing and implementing MIFFSā communications and providing outreach to farmers to assist with navigating the plethora of resources that are available. This is an important role responsible for connecting farmers to resources, telling MIFFS' story, and supporting fund development. The Coordinator will work closely with MIFFS staff and contractors to manage weekly deliverables. For more information about the position, see the position description here Please email your resume and a cover letter describing your interest and relevant experience to lauren@miffs.org by September 24.
Things are moving along with the planning committee for the next Michigan Family Farms Conference. The planning team meets every other Tuesday and you are welcome to join us at anytime! We are currently looking for keynote and speaker referrals for the conference and they can be submitted here.
An exciting funding announcement! USDA is scheduled to release a Requests for Applications for the new Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant program to open on September 23! This grant is open to food processors, distributors, farmers markets, and producers to respond to coronavirus, including for measures to protect workers against COVID-19. While this is a couple weeks out, you can preview the application here and you must have, or apply, for a free DUNS number BEFORE you can apply. Get more info and support for obtaining a DUNS number here.
Newly eligible producers who need to submit a CFAP 2 application or producers who need to modify an existing one can do so by contacting their local FSA office. Producers can find their local FSA office by visiting farmers.gov/service-locator. Producers can also obtain one-on-one support with applications by calling 877-508-8364. All new and modified CFAP 2 applications are due by the October 12 deadline.ā
Whew! That was a lot of information- as always if you need help or have questions about the resources here or around, reach out to us. There has been a lot of funding applications and programs rolled out in the past week and we are sure to see more again soon! Be sure to Check out the resources below and find more at our resources page today and updated funding, workshops, and jobs throughout the month.
On the eve of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, let us each take a moment to remember those lost and recognize the trauma that still remains. Take this moment to pause, reflect, remember and honor:
"Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11." -Barack Obama
With Energy,
The MIFFS Team
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Michigan Family Farms Conference Updates |
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The planning team is back together working hard to imagine what the 2022 Michigan Family Farms Conference might look like. One thing is for sure ā the conference will happen, whether it is in-person, virtual, or a hybrid of the two ā and we are so energized by the thought of seeing you all again! We are currently looking for keynote and speaker referrals for the conference and they can be submitted here.
Join the planning team! The planning team is always looking for new voices and ideas and there are many ways to get involved. Whether you can attend bi-monthly meetings, want to be a part of a sub-committee curating a conference track, or want to share your ideas one-on-one, we want as much community and farmer input as possible. Just send an email to mffc@miffs.org and weād be happy to chat with you! Some financial compensation is available for participation; we strive to compensate folks for their time and efforts and will be prioritizing compensating those who are experiencing current financial challenges. Join us for our next planning meetings on Tuesday, September 14 and 28 at 10 am via Zoom here Password: MFFC
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Voices of Sustainable Agriculture, Part 1 September 10, Part 2 October 22 11:00am. What does on-farm sustainability look like? How can farmers implement practices that support their personal, community, and environmental well-being? In this special virtual speaker series, farmers and other participants will learn from farmers, researchers, and educators about healthy soil and water, successful farming practices, seed sovereignty, resilience, and more. More info and registration here
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Black Farming: Community Land & Food Sovereignty Conference, September 10-11. This year's conference will focus on the economic impacts and the power of the cooperative business model with an emphasis on the power of growing your own food, from seed saving to community gardening, and celebrating the contributions of our black and underrepresented food and farming community. Keynote speakers include: Dr. Jessica Gordon Nembhard, Leah Penniman, Malik Yakini and Ira Wallace. More info and registration here
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Bug Bites: Best practices for handing and releasing biological control agents, September 14, 11:00am. Bug Bites! is a series of four short online seminars by industry experts on specific topics in greenhouse biocontrol. This session of bug bites will be presented by John Sanderson, associate professor of Entomology at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. His research is focused on reducing the occurrence of pesticide resistance in controlled environment agricultural crops through the use of biological control and other integrated pest management tactics. More info and registration here
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The Power of Food: Cultivating equitable policy through collective action, September 20-22. The Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future (CLF) is organizing the first-ever national forum for food policy councils and similar groups. A forum is a place or event where people exchange ideas and discuss issues, especially important public issues. Unlike a conference, we are not inviting formal presentations; we want to use this time and space to strengthen relationships, recognize our collective power, share experiences, learn new skills and re-energize for action. We may ask for volunteers to talk about their experiences to initiate a discussion, but we want to avoid ātalking atā participants in such a way that discourages conversations. More info and registration here
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Michigan Cottage Food Law, September 21 6:00pm. Learn how to prepare and sell foods to the public under Michiganās Cottage Food Law. This two-hour workshop combines education about the Michigan Cottage Food Law and the food safety aspects of preparing and selling cottage foods safely and successfully. Michigan Cottage Food Law allows residents to manufacture foods in home kitchens and storing those products at home. Topics include preparing, packaging, labeling, storing, and transporting cottage foods. More info and registration here
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COVID Vaccine & Resources |
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COVID-19 Hotline: 888-535-6136 Monday-Friday 8am-5pm Saturday/Sunday 8am-1pm
Vaccination Services for Homebound Individuals in Ingham County:
If your or someone you know is homebound and is interested in getting vaccinated, please contact the ICHD COVID Vaccine Hotline at 517-887-4623. The resident or their caregivers can also email the ICHD COVID Vaccine Hotline at covidvaccine@ingham.org and the team will arrange a vaccine date/time.
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Phone: 517.709.8271 Email: info@miffs.org |
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