Designing Resilient Farms and Homesteads

Designing Resilient Farms and Homesteads
Friday, June 21 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at Grace Episcopal Church, 341 Washington St., Traverse City
Learn to maximize farm and garden productivity and reduce off-site inputs with the use of tree crops, food forests, swales, earthworks, and more with Trevor Newman and Mark Angelini of ecological design firm Roots to Fruits. $5-$25 suggested donation. For more information call 231-622-5252 or email yvonne@artmeetsearth.org.

ISLAND Property Walk-About
Saturday, June 22 from 1pm to 3pm at 2550 Orchard Hill Rd, Bellaire
Roots To Fruits founders Mark Angelini and Trevor Newman will lead an evaluation/design oriented walk-about on the ISLAND homestead site. Participants will learn techniques for observation and strategies for site evaluation; the basics of the holistic design process; recommended species selection for NW Michigan design approaches for integrating pasture, tree crops, livestock; and other ecological land management strategies in a permaculture context. $10-$30 suggested donation. For more information call 231-622-5252 or emailyvonne@artmeetsearth.org.

Program partner:

Farm to Frame: Good Food, Good Neighbors

Showcasing the beauty of small farms and local food through three different categories: from the farm, from the market, from the table

Call to artists: All photographs must have been taken in Emmet or Charlevoix Counties and must not have been previously exhibited at Crooked Tree Arts Center. Jury selected photographs will hang in an exhibition at Crooked Tree Arts Center in the Atrium Gallery; cash and prizes will be awarded to all winning entrants. Top photos may be featured in Edible Grande Traverse and at Palette Bistro. Submit work online atwww.crookedtree.org.

Deadline: September 12, 2013.

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

Awards reception October 22, 5pm to 7pm at Crooked Tree Arts Center

Exhibition October 22 to December 16 at Crooked Tree Arts Center

Traveling exhibit at the Charlevoix Library in January 2014

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Many thanks to our sponsors:

Beards Brewery
Bill’s Farm Market
Bluestem Farm
Boyne City Farmers Market
Coveyou Scenic Farm
Crooked Tree Breadworks
Farming For Our Future’s Petoskey Community Victory Garden
Freshwater Gallery
Fustini’s
Harbor Springs Farmers Market
Julienne Tomatoes
Mackinaw Trail Winery
Maple Moon Family Sugary
Pond Hill Farm
Toski Sands
Two-Acre Farm

Introducing Summer/Fall 2013 Hill House Artists in Residence

The Hill House Artist Residency program supports talented emerging songwriters, writers at all stages of their career and non-studio artists with a two to four week stay in a secluded log cabin near East Jordan, Michigan. Artists are provided the time and space to create new work.

A total of thirteen artists were selected for the Hill House Artist Residency program for May through November 2013. We are proud to support the work of the following artists:

Telaina Eriksen
Writer
East Lansing, MI
May/June

An essayist, poet and memoirist, Telaina believes the best writing occurs when the author takes the greatest risks. "I try to write from a place of vulnerability, from a place where I try very hard not to care what anyone might think of me. My goal is to write in a way that exposes the true human condition, which isn't always a place that has a clean narrative arc." 

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Gail South
Writer
Charlottesville, VA
June

Gail's manuscript, The Solitude of Memory, was a finalist for the 2012 PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction. The Hill House residency will give her time and space for the final rewrite. “I work best in long stretches of solitude; a cabin in the woods is perfect. I would love to finish this novel in Northern Michigan, the place it began and the place I find the most inspiration." 

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Sean McConnell
Emerging Musician
Phoenix, AZ
July

http://coldcountry.bandcamp.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cold-Country/389453301070362

Sean has decided to make 2013 his "year of music" and support his livelihood solely from writing and touring. "I feel that the Hill House Emerging Musician Residency will aid in my completing this project. I plan on writing and recording, utilizing my own tools as well as the unique space I will be occupying while there." 

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Alec Hershman
Writer
St. Louis, MO
July/August

Alec plans to use the solitude of his residency to create new poems, as well as work through a pile of existing poems to develop a book manuscript. "The private and unstructured time that the Hill House program affords its residents is exactly the kind of circumstance in which I can be most engaged and develop as an artist." 

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Janice Dumas
Non-studio Artist
Milford, MI
August

"For the last ten years I have been enjoying plein air painting whenever I get the chance. This summer I plan to travel around Michigan and paint the beautiful scenery that we are blessed with. Janice feels the Hill House, "...is surrounded by some of the landscape I would love to include in my travels. I know I could spend two weeks painting the great concentration of natural beauty in your area and still not exhaust all the opportunities!"

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Christine Khandjian
Emerging Musician
Paris
August/September

myspace.com/christinekandel

Christine is a French songwriter and singer, and feels the Hill House, "...would be a perfect quiet place for inspiration to write and compose.” She plans to work on her third album, create new songs, and finish her fifth musical production. 

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Lucas Oswald with Dimon Dixon and Aaron Little
Collaborative Non-Studio Artists
San Antonio, TX, Corpus Christi, TX, and Columbia, MO
September/October

http://lucasoswald.blogspot.com/

“I have a lot of songs in me and I'd like to come up there to that cabin to get some more of them out. I've always had to go through the 'creation process' alone in a sterile environment and I want to have the disciplined and monastic experience of being in an isolated space for a designated amount of time with two other musicians, to focus on making something beautiful together.” Lucas Oswald will be working with Dimon Dixon, a drummer, and Aaron Little, a bassist and multi-instrumentalist on two albums worth of material, 22 songs in all.

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Three Thirds
Alex Wand, Claire Chenette, and Heather Lockie
Collaborative Emerging Musicians
Los Angeles, CA
October

www.threethirdsband.com

Comprising the band are: Claire Chenette, oboe; Heather Lockie, viola; and Alex Wand, guitar. Together, 3/3rds pushes the boundary between experimental improvisation and the more formal concept of the traditional "folk song." A unique fusion happens when they play each other's songs. As a group, 3/3rds appreciates close harmonies, wordcraft, interesting rhythms and clever storytelling, and the music leans unavoidably toward the experimental.

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Stacy Elko
Non-Studio Artist
Lubbock, TX
November

http://www.stacyelko.com/recentwork.htm
http://thedreamingofthetrees.blogspot.com/

“Working with both physical and ephemeral media over the years, I have been evolving my ideas of transformation to be less personally hermetic and more inclusive of ideas of social and environmental awareness. In a world on the brink of potentially devastating environmental changes, it is of the utmost importance that we transform ourselves and our way of living. This residency would give me the opportunity to concentrate on a suite of artist books, both physical and ephemeral.” 

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Special thanks to the Begonia Charitable Foundation for supporting the Hill House.

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.