Farmers Andrea and Scott Corpolongo Smith of Wintergreen Farm in Ontonagon County purchased the old Candlelight Restaurant which they plan to convert into a vegetable processing facility. The goal of the new proccessing facility is to increase access to healthy, local food to the entire Western U.P. community.

They plan to offer various products, such as bagged salad mixes, frozen squash puree, dried greens, and zucchini chips, for sale to local institutions (like school cafeterias), restaurants, and grocery stores. Items will be made entirely with Upper Peninsula grown produce, some grown by Wintergreen Farm and some by other area farmers.

Donate and learn more about the project here >

Great Lakes Research Videos including seminars sponsored by the Great Lakes Research Center at Michigan Technological University.
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Date: Saturday, March 7
Time: 10:30am-6pm
Place: Portage Lake District Library

The Co-op and the Portage Lake District Library are collaborating again to bring the day long conference TEDx Manhattan: Changing the Way We Eat on Saturday, March 7. "Free access to some of the most exciting ideas happening in sustainable food and farming."

More info and the list of speakers and topics >

Date: March 13–15, 2015
Place: Marquette
Cost: Free

The Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition is hosting its seventh annual Celebrate the UP event! Celebrate what artists, tribal elders, linguistics professors, botanists, and northern lights watchers among others find so special about life in the UP! View the full presentation schedule and summaries >

Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 7:70–8:30
Place: MTU Forestry Building
Cost: Free ($3 donation suggested)

Explores changes in national attiude from pride in big dams as engineering wonders to growing awareness that our future is bound to the life and health of our rivers. Where obsolete dams come down, rivers bound to life, giving wild fish the right of return to primeval spawning grounds, after decades without access. DamNation’s majestic cinematography and unexpected discoveries move through rivers and landscapes altered by dams, but also through a metamorphosis in values, from conquest of the natural world to knowing ourselves as part of nature. (87 min)

View food/farm events for western, central and eastern regions>

Through SEMCO ENERGY Gas Company’s Efficiency UNITED Program, customers are eligible for rebates and benefits to help save for a strong Michigan. Learn about programs, products and rebates available to you as a SEMCO customer, in addition to finding valuable resources and information. Whether you need help finding a contractor or need a rebate application. Learn more>