Ann Arbor Public Market Advisory Commission

FYI, this past Monday the Ann Arbor City Council approved the Public Market Advisory Commission appointments of Shannon Brines, Ken King, Peter Pollack, and Genia Service, all of whom Mayor Hieftje had nominated a few weeks earlier. Additionally, Diane Black was nominated to fill the remaining vacancy.

Something to note is that this incarnation of the Market Commission has a largely advisory role. The recent market ordinance and rules modifications have placed much more decision-making and power into the hands of the Market Manager. Officially announced last week, current Market Manager Jessica Black is transferring to another position at the City. So that position will be vacant and posted soon if anyone out there thinks he or she would make a good Market Manager. You should apply. Thanks Jessica for all your hard work the past couple of years!

Seeds, Hope, and Concrete

This is a well spent 14 minutes, particularly if you are interested in urban agriculture etc..

Kids get fresh in the cafeteria

Hey, I didn't write the headline... but this is always good news. Keep the pressure on school districts to get involved this way: Kids get fresh in the cafeteria - Locally grown fruits, veggies a hit.

Shizen Nouhou, or Natural Agriculture

Hello, I've been away on a vacation to the Northeast US the last 2 weeks before this one... so some exciting photos of gardens, farms, and restaurants I visited while away are to come. Stay tuned for that.

In the meantime, I read in Orion magazine this very interesting story regarding shizen nouhou farmers in Japan: farmers who say farming is more than farming and whose end goals are nothing short of world peace. For the record, I agree with them on most things, most certainly with the world peace goal. I do add a healthy compost soil to my intensive beds in my hoophouse, but other than that I pretty much don't add anything - just working with nature as they do. Here is the online version of the story.