ISLAND’s Summer “A Place of Art and Farming” Challenge

A generous donor has offered to triple your contributionif you give before July 31st.

Food, farming and art are at the heart of great community. Help ISLAND raise  $15,000 to invest in the small places where we all live.

First, your contribution supports the brand new Farmer Residency Program. This is a prototype farmer incubation program, currently hosted by the Maple Bay Farm. Similar to a medical residency, the Farmer Residency helps to close the gap between basic farmer training and full farm management. Graduates of the program will gain the agricultural experience they need to tackle farming as a lifelong career. ISLAND is honored to be working alongside the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy and a host of other food and farming organizations who share our passion for seeing this sorely needed program take permanent roots in the region.

Second, your contribution invests in the Food Preservation Trailer, a mobile three-season educational canning kitchen on wheels. Currently under construction, the trailer will allow for up to a dozen people to gather on local farms at the peak of produce ripeness, to learn, upgrade their skills, hang out and turn food preservation from seasonal drudgery to a party. Plus, this trailer connects the dots between putting food by and our local farm economy, adding more value and resilience to our small places.

Finally, your contribution supports the Hill House Artist Residency, supporting the time and space for gifted musicians, writers and artists to create new work. Now in its fourth year, the Hill House hosts artists from as far away as Hong Kong and Paris, as well as a regular stream of some of our best Michigan talent. The Hill House connects the ecology of our local community to the power of artmaking. 

Your dollars make all of this happen. Will you meet the challenge, triple your gift and join our generous donor? Help support sustainable agriculture, the arts and ecology in these great places we call home. 

Three easy ways to give:

• Donate online at www.artmeetsearth.org.
• Become a sustaining member! Sign up for a subscription contribution to automatically donate every month. Online at www.artmeetsearth.org.
• Send your check to: ISLAND at 5870 Cottage Drive, Bellaire, MI 49615

PS: There are only a few short weeks before our July 31 deadline. Your gift will be
matched two to one. Please give today!