Guides

Local Food for Little Eaters: A Migrant & Seasonal Head Start Guide to Local Food Purchasing

Published on November 1, 2018
Using the step-by-step instructions and interactive tools, Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs can learn how to purchase and use more local foods in their programs serving children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers.
2018 Charter Summary

Published on October 19, 2018
This summary reports on progress made toward achieving the 2020 goals set by the Michigan Good Food Charter.
Michigan Guide to What's in Season Now - Mobile Version

Published on October 3, 2018
Save this guide to your mobile phone. Check it when you’re at the store, farmer’s market, or eating out so that you can support Michigan farmers all year long.
Michigan Guide to What's in Season Now - Print-at-Home

Published on October 3, 2018
Print, fold, and carry this guide somewhere handy. Check it when you're at the store, farmer’s market, or eating out so that you can enjoy Michigan-grown produce all year long!
Seed Production Guide Curriculum for Malawi - A Farmer Field School Approach

Published on April 1, 2018
This is a manual to guide educators across the globe to help farmers learn to grow legume seed for production and for sale. The information on teaching suggests using a participatory and experiential learning approach.
Action Learning: Teaching Others to Engage with Learners

Published on April 1, 2018
Everyone can learn; it’s just that not all people learn best with the same approach. This module offers a mixture of different teaching approaches to maximize learning by all.
Scale of Production Matrix

Published on January 29, 2018
This part of the Toolbox for Vegetable Farm Viability provides a detailed look at potential infrastructure and equipment investments for different size small farms to help in planning and growth.
Pathways to $100K in Farm Sales: A Starting Point for Reaching Farm Sustainability

Published on January 29, 2018
This part of the Toolbox for Vegetable Farm Viability provides a look at sales volumes, pricing and outlets you might need to reach $100,000 in sales.
Market Channel Selection Tool

Published on January 29, 2018
This part of the Toolbox for Vegetable Farm Viability provides a look at potential considerations when choosing which channel or market option you might use to sell what you raise.
Sizing Up Diverse Vegetable Farms: A Narrative Companion to the Scale of Production Matrix

Published on January 29, 2018
This part of the Toolbox for Vegetable Farm Viability provides a look at potential infrastructure, equipment, time and labor investments, as well as skill development and possible sales and income for different size small farms.
Beginning Farmers: Finding the Money You Need

Published on November 3, 2017
This guide is meant to provide a road map to loan readiness and conventional and alternative credit access for beginning farmers. Access to financial capital is one of the largest obstacles for beginning farmers.
Beginning Farmers: 10 Steps to Loan Readiness

Published on October 30, 2017
At some point, most farmers need to make some changes and grow to sustain their business. Based on his lending work with hundreds of Michigan farmers, Mike Jordon developed the 10 steps contained in this guide to aid the growth of farming operations.
Beginning Farmers: Crowdfunding for Small Farmers

Published on October 2, 2017
Crowdfunding is becoming more popular for small and beginning farmers. This guide aims to address how small and beginning farmers can use crowdfunding as a fundraising tool.
Beyond the Numbers, Food Business Decision Making Series: Buying or Leasing a Food Hub Truck

Published on August 9, 2017
This guide presents the pros and cons of a food hub buying or leasing a truck for distribution.
Tools for Assessing Economic Impact: A Primer for Food System Practitioners

Published on July 11, 2017
Designed for local food system practitioners, this guide presents summaries and comparisons of several tools for assessing economic impact and growth, along with related examples.
Local Food for Little Eaters: A Purchasing Toolbox for the Child and Adult Care Food Program

Published on June 8, 2017
This toolbox supports early childhood programs in starting local food purchasing initiatives to help meet Child and Adult Care Food Program guidelines for healthy meals.
Healthy Soil for Healthy Crops and Seeds: Action Learning Curriculum for Small-Holder Farmers

Published on April 1, 2017
This curriculum can be used by any educator as a guide to engage farmers to better understand soils and how management of soil impacts the crop.
Meat Marketing Series: Inventory Management Through Buffers

Published on February 20, 2017
This guide outlines methodology for managing inventory via buffering. It is intended for meat marketers that provide direct delivery to wholesale customers.
Meat Marketing Series: Selling the Whole Animal and Managing Variability

Published on June 9, 2016
Demand for local meat has been growing exponentially for years. Actually building a successful and profitable meat marketing program is easier said than done. Our report outlines a general solution for the problems.
An Annotated Bibliography of Farm to Institution Research in Michigan

Published on November 18, 2015
Farm to Institution work in Michigan centers on efforts to increase the amount of local foods purchased and used in food service programs at schools, early childhood programs, hospitals, colleges, and other institutions.