Upcoming ISLAND Events

ISLAND Benefit Concert, Shave-Raiser and Silent Auction

Saturday, May 4
from 4pm to late
at Short's Brewing Company
121 North Bridge Street, Bellaire

7th Annual ISLAND Benefit Concert, Silent Auction and Shave-Raiser, featuring local musicians and a silent auction of local foods, handmade goods, and donations from local businesses. Music by Seth Bernard, May Erlewine, Graham Parsons and the Go Rounds, Elisabeth Pixley-Fink, Joe Reilly, and DJ Martoosh. Money raised supports ISLAND's Hill House artist residency and other ISLAND projects.

Suggested donation $10-$20 sliding scale at the door.

For more information or to donate to the silent auction, contact Yvonne at (231) 622-5252 or email yvonne@artmeetsearth.org.



Many thanks to our sponsors: 

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Mushroom Growers Guild Event: Growing Wine Caps in Your Garden

Wednesday, May 8
from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
at the Stephens' Residence
4067 West Eddy School Road, Bellaire

Jason and Yvonne Stephens have been growing mushrooms in their backyard since 2008. You will get to tour their shiitake yard, and learn how to establish a wine cap, or Stropharia mushroom garden border in this guild event. Limited to 12 participants.

Donations Accepted. A partnership of ISLAND and the Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference.

To RSVP or for more information contact Yvonne at (231) 622-5252 or yvonne@artmeetsearth.org

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Bines and Vines: Growing Hops and Grapes on the 45th Parallel

Saturday, May 11
from 2:00 pm to 6:30 pm
at the Maple Bay Farm & Preserve
US 31 N, three miles south of Elk Rapids

Northern Michigan’s location along the 45th parallel links us geographically to the most famous grape and hop-producing regions of the world. Join vintners, hops producers, the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, and ISLAND for a half-day conference on the many exciting developments taking place in northern Michigan’s emerging agricultural markets. 

The afternoon begins with a walk through the gorgeous natural setting of the Maple Bay Preserve, which includes a discussion of the unique characteristics of cultivating grapes and hops in our region, followed by a presentation on options for processing and marketing these crops in our area. The afternoon will conclude with a tour of Short’s Brewery in Elk Rapids, led by local brewers. 

2:00-3:00 pm Beach Walk with Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy Farmland Program Manager Brian Bourdages

3:00-4:30 pm Bines & Vines Workshop with Chantal Lefebvre of WaterFire Vineyards and Joel Mulder and Brian Tennis of MI Hop Alliance

4:30-6:30 pm Tour of Short’s Brewery in Elk Rapids 

This event is part of a series organized by the Small Farm Guild, and is sponsored by ISLAND, the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, the Michigan Hop Alliance, Short’s Brewing Company and WaterFire Vineyards. The event is also supported by the Great Lakes Bioneers and the Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference. 

Donations appreciated. Registration required for the brewery tour at: http://bit.ly/YQ3cu0

For more information contact Mary at mary@artmeetsearth.org or call 231-622-5252

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Beekeepers Guild Open House

Sunday, May 19
from 1pm to 4pm
at the Bellaire Community Hall
202 North Bridge Street, Bellaire

Local beekeepers Keith Kintigh and Yvonne Stephens invite you to the ISLAND Beekeepers Guild Open House. They will be building hive components and rendering wax throughout the day, and will be available to answer beekeeping questions. Come meet your fellow guild members, or learn how to join. Beekeeping resources will be available. Light refreshments provided. 

Donations appreciated. A partnership of ISLAND and the Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference. 

For more information call (231) 622-5252 or email yvonne@artmeetsearth.org

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Wild Leek Preservation

Wednesday, May 22
from 6:00 to 8:00 pm
at the Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center
5745 North M-66  East Jordan

There are many ways to preserve wild leeks. This workshop will cover how to sustainably harvest, then dry, freeze, pesto and pickle these members of the Allium or onion family that grow in our north woods. Each participant will take home one half pint jar of pickled leeks. This event is a partnership of ISLAND and The Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center WEEDS foraging group (Wild Edibles for Ecological Dietary Sustainability). To learn more visit their website:eataweed.blogspot.com

$8-12 sliding scale. Pre-registration required, class size limited to 10 participants.

For more information call (231) 622-5252 or email yvonne@artmeetsearth.org

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Mapping the Local Fiber Shed Roundtable

Thursday, May 23
from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
at the City Hall, Boyne City
319 North Lake Street, Boyne City

Calling all fiber lovers! Growers, spinners, weavers, knitters, dye farmers, and interested folks will discuss the possibilities and details involved in Mapping the Local Fiber Shed, a future project in the region.

Organized by the ISLAND Small Farm Guild.

A partnership of ISLAND, the Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference and the Great Lakes Bioneers.

For more information contact Jen at jen@artmeetsearth.org or call 231-622-5252

Save the Beards!

7th Annual ISLAND Benefit Concert at Short's Brewing Company in Bellaire
Saturday, May 4 from 4pm to late • $10 to $20 sliding scale
With special guests Graham Parsons & the Go Rounds, Joe Reilly, May Erlewine & Samuel Seth Bernard, Joshua Davis, Elisabeth Pixley-Fink and DJ Martoosh
Silent auction of handmade goods, art, local food and donations from local businesses
Have a donation for the silent auction? Contact Yvonne at yvonne@artmeetsearth.org

Save the Beards!

The second annual ISLAND shave-raiser is on! Once again during this year's benefit, contestants will be putting their beards on the line. But this time there's a twist—at the end of the night only one beard will remain! Last year, Seth Bernard topped the fund raising effort, and for that good deed, he lost his beautiful beard. This year, he who raises the most gets to keep their beard!

Be ready to hear some campaigning from this year's contestants. There will be donation jars for each contestant during the benefit. Give generously to those who you'd like to see keep their beard. If there's someone you'd love to see shaven, team up and support one of the other contestants! And gentlemen, if you've been unfairly coerced into volunteering for this contest, make your plea! Save your beard!

Between now and the day of the benefit, ISLAND is seeking volunteer beards to join into this fun. If you've been contemplating a little spring cleaning, or just believe your beard has what it takes to take on the rest and come away victorious, volunteer to be a participant in this year's shave-raiser. Send us a picture and a brief biography of your beard, and we'll add you to the pool! Contact Yvonne at yvonne@artmeetsearth.org.

Beard Bios

Marty Heller

Age:  the annual winter's growth
Texture:  smooth & silky on the sides, kinky-scratchy down the middle
Amount of gray: hmmm...20%?
Contemplated styles:  "Friendly Mutton Chops"?  "Hulihee"?
Quote: I love the transformation that a little facial hair gives me...nothing forces the contemplative "who is this man in the mirror?" like a complete profile overhaul. Facial hair is sculpture.  Sculpture is art.  Life is art.  "VIVA LA BARBA!!!!"

Save Marty's beard! Donate online here.

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Jason Stephens

Age: 5 years
Texture: damp steel woolAmount of gray: 0.8%
Average depth: 2 knuckles
Special talents: serves as a golf tee holder during the summer months!
Why should I get to keep my beard? Simply put- nobody wants to see a baby cry, right? My little boy Jacob is a very happy baby. He loves to grab hold of his dad's beard and pull...HARD! It makes him laugh. Why would you deprive my baby boy of such joy? Please give to the my beard, and keep Jacob pulling!

Save Jason's beard! Donate online here.

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Keith Kintigh

Let me introduce you to my friend, Beer'd. He is a seasonal visitor in our household. My old friend usually shows up around September; fresh, thin, whispy and full of promise. His presence makes us happy then as he represents the sweet anticipation and embrace of the cold months to come. As the chilly winds begin to howl; we have some great days afield. Beer'd keeps me warm and magically creates cute little ice nuggets from my warm breath. When we are out together, people will comment , "nice beer'd" and I will say "I know, isn't he". But come February, the tension starts to builds in our house. Beer'd has become a gluttonous fool; large, wiry and gray around the edges. He begins hoarding little bits of food, beer foam and such. My wife will lean in and whisper "shouldn't your friend go now? He has outstayed his welcome! I think he has been here long enough!" He becomes a cruel reminder of the long, dark winter. Though she would see him go, I love my friend Beer'd! Please help me to save him, so he can hang around for just a bit little longer.

Save Keith's beard! Donate online here.  

Many thanks to our sponsors:
Edible Grande Traverse
WNMC 90.7 FM
Short's Brewing Company
Tandem Ciders
Viva! Wines
Higher Grounds Trading Company
Applesauce Inn
Rising Star Wellness Center
Oryana Natural Foods Market
Inner Journey Tours

7th Annual ISLAND Benefit Concert

Saturday, May 4 from 4pm to late $10 to $20 sliding scale Silent auction of handmade goods, art, local food and donations from local businesses The return of the shave raiser! Many thanks to our sponsors: Edible Grande Traverse WNMC 90.7 FM Short's Brewing Company Tandem Ciders Viva! Wines Higher Grounds Trading Company Applesauce Inn Rising Star Wellness Center Oryana Natural Foods Market Inner Journey Tours

ISLAND in April

Even with snow still on the ground, we're planning for spring! For details about these and other ISLAND events, please visit our website.

Art, Film, Philosophy
Every other Wednesday from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at the Bellaire Community Hall

• Business and Marketing for Artists, April 10
• Art, Film, Philosophy meets Spirituality UnTapped: Monoculture, April 24

Guilds Events and Workshops

• Growing and Processing Oilseeds for Local Markets, Thursday, April 11, 6:30pm to 8pm at Northwest Biodiesel, Traverse City
• Pruning Young Apple Trees, Friday, April 12, 4pm to 7:30pm at Pleasanton Brick Oven Bakery, Traverse City
• Home Mushroom Production, Sunday, April 21 (please note date change), 9am to 4:30pm at The Ware Farm, Bear Lake, $110
• DIY Grain Milling for Animal Feed, Tuesday, April 23, 6:30pm to 8pm at the Bellaire Community Hall
• Moondog Farm Hoophouse-Raising Workbee, Saturday, April 27, and Sunday, April 28 from 10am to 5pm at the Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center, East Jordan
• Hoophouse Roundtable, Tuesday, April 30, 6:30pm to 8pm at the Bellaire Community Hall

ISLAND Benefit Concert
Saturday, May 4, 4pm to late at Short's Brewing Company in Bellaire

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Many thanks to our partners, sponsors, and supporters: Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference, Great Lakes Bioneers, Ware Farm, Parkside Arts Council, Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center, Short's Brewing Company

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Download the free Earthwork Music Late Winter Sampler here! It includes work from some of our favorite musicians, including former musicians in residence Joshua Davis and Elisabeth Pixley-Fink.

ISLAND in Spring

Here in Bellaire, winter is dripping into spring. Fluffy, white snow is giving way to the slushy mess of thaw. We are excited to offer this slew of events to get spring started! It is a wide range of events from Petoskey to Bear Lake—we hope you can join us. For details about these and other ISLAND events, please visit our website. Art, Film, Philosophy Every other Wednesday from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at the Bellaire Community Hall Community Building, Resilience and Preparedness, March 13 Reading and Mini-Workshop with Hill House Writer in Residence Ashley Siebels, March 27 Business and Marketing for Artists, April 10 Art, Film, Philosophy meets Spirituality UnTapped: Monoculture, April 24 Guilds Small Farm Guild (West Bay) Information Session, Monday, March 18, 6:30pm to 8pm at the Traverse Area District Library Small Farm Guild (East Bay) Information Session, Tuesday, March 19, 6:30 to 8pm at the Bellaire Community Hall Orchard Guild (West Bay) Information Session, Monday, March 25, 6:30pm to 8pm at the Traverse Area District Library Orchard Guild (East Bay) Information Session, Tuesday, March 26, 6:30pm to 8pm at the Bellaire Community Hall Small Farm Guild (Little Traverse Bay) Information Session, Thursday, March 28, 6:30pm to 8pm at North Central Michigan College in Petoskey Workshops Beekeeping Basics: Build a Langstroth Hive, Thursday, March 21, 6pm to 8pm at the Bellaire Community Hall Get Your Garden Started: Seed Starting and Garden Planning, Thursday, March 28, 6pm to 8pm at the Bellaire Community Hall Renovating Mature Apple Trees, Friday, March 29, 2pm to 4:30pm at Mallery Residence, Williamsburg Home Mushroom Production, Saturday, April 6, 9am to 4:30pm at The Ware Farm, Bear Lake Growing and Processing Oilseeds for Local Markets, Thursday, April 11, 6:30pm to 8pm at Northwest Biodiesel, Traverse City DIY Grain Milling for Animal Feed, Tuesday, April 23, 6:30pm to 8pm at the Bellaire Community Hall ISLAND Benefit Concert Saturday, May 4, 4pm to late at Short's Brewing Company in Bellaire

Join an ISLAND Guild!

Guilds provide an informal way for folks to sharpen skills and share work, and are open to anyone interested in continuing to learn their craft. ISLAND has started four guilds: theSmall Farm Guild, the Mushroom Growers Guild, the Orchard Guild and theBeekeepers Guild. These guilds meet periodically for tours, informal workshops and potlucks. The only requirement for membership is a desire to learn.

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Small Farm Guild

For more information about becoming a Small Farm Guild member, please contact Mary Brower atmary@artmeetsearth.org or 231-622-5252.

Upcoming Small Farm Guild Events

Small Farm Guild (West Bay) Information Session
Monday, March 18
6:30 to 8:00pm at the Traverse Area District Library, Woodmere Branch
610 Woodmere Avenue, Traverse City

Small Farm Guild (East Bay) Information Session
Tuesday, March 19
6:30 to 8:00pm at the Bellaire Community Hall
202 North Bridge Street, Bellaire

Small Farm Guild (Little Traverse Bay) Information Session
Thursday, March 28
6:30 to 8pm at the North Central Michigan College Library Conference Center
1515 Howard Street, Petoskey

Special thanks to North Central Michigan College for their support of the Small Farm Guild of Little Traverse Bay

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Beekeepers' Guild

The Beekeepers' Guild of Northern Michigan is an informal group of folks interested in beekeeping, from hobbyists to commercial beekeepers. Members learn from each other through hive visits, potlucks and work bees. For more information about becoming a member of the Beekeepers' Guild of Northern Michigan, please contact Yvonne Stephens at yvonne@artmeetsearth.org or 231-622-5252. To sign up for the Beekeepers' Guild, please complete this form: http://goo.gl/SPQ2E

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Mushroom Growers Guild

The Mushroom Growers Guild of Northern Michigan's focus is on growing mushrooms at home or on the farm. It is an informal group interested in learning more about mushroom production through mushroom yard tours, potlucks and informal workshops. You need not grow mushrooms to join the guild. For more information about becoming a member of the Mushroom Guild, please contact Yvonne Stephens at yvonne@artmeetsearth.org or 231-622-5252. To sign up for the Mushroom Growers Guild, please complete this form: http://goo.gl/RPyJq

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Orchard Guild

Northern Michigan's climate is ideal for fruit production, be it in a backyard garden or a large orchard. Members of the Orchard Guild benefit from the community of fruit tree growers through workshops (like grafting and pruning), events (including a scion swap and fruit tastings), and potlucks. For more information about becoming a Orchard Guild member, please contact Mary Brower atmary@artmeetsearth.org or 231-622-5252.

Upcoming Orchard Guild Events

Orchard Guild (West Bay) Information Session
Monday, March 25
6:30 to 8:00pm at the Traverse Area District Library, Woodmere Branch
610 Woodmere Avenue, Traverse City

Orchard Guild (East Bay) Information Session
Tuesday, March 26
6:30 to 8:00pm at the Bellaire Community Hall
202 North Bridge Street, Bellaire

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ISLAND's guilds are a partnership with Great Lakes Bioneers and the Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference

Oryana Members: Vote for ISLAND's Canning Trailer

Picture a small enclosed trailer that can be pulled onto any one of a hundred small farms at the peak of produce ripeness. Folks gather, the trailer doors open, and in about 30 minutes everyone is getting to work in a three-season high-efficiency food preservation kitchen. A tent keeps wind, sun or rain off of a bank of high-BTU burners, boiling away at hot water baths and pressure canners. Inside the trailer, a sink and food prep station allows up to six people to work at prepping produce. Beyond canning, the trailer will support drying, fermenting, smoking and meat curing.

With this trailer we can:

1. make food preservation a party. Folks can come to learn, or to update their skills, or they can come to meet new folks, hang out with friends and keep the drudgery away.
2. close the gap between a small farm's surplus and the cellar pantry for scores of families.
3. connect the dots between food preservation and the economy, culture and ecology of our small places.

How to Vote
Current members of Oryana Natural Foods Market in Traverse City may select from among five finalists for the 2013 Community Grant. Voting runs through April 15. The winner will be announced at the General Membership meeting on April 18 at Traverse City Central High School. Get your ballot from the Customer Service counter at Oryana. Read more about the Oryana Community Grant Program here: http://www.oryana.coop/community-grant-2013-finalists

Not an Oryana member, but would like to support the canning trailer? Donate here!