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See what's happening at Tollgate this month!
MSU Tollgate Farm October 2020
Visit Our Website or Follow us on
Save the Date! Upcoming Events
MSU Tollgate FarmNeeds Your Help!
Like many communityorganizations, MSUTollgate relies onprogram and eventrevenue to makebudget goals. With the
many cancellations in 2020, it is likely MSU Tollgate Farm willmiss out on almost $600,000 - 50% of our annual operatingbudget - in revenue generated from our programs and events.MSU Extension supports our efforts through state and federalfunding, but even at the highest levels there is uncertaintyabout our financial future. We need your help to ensure thatthe farm continues to operate in 2020. Please considerdonating to one of our four giving funds. Questions can bedirected to Mike Mathis, MSU Tollgate Farm Director [email protected].
Save the Date! Holiday Lightsat the Farm
Celebrate the holidays with acruise at farm! Guests will enjoyholiday light displays built byvolunteers and businesses fromthe comfort of their cars. Add tothe fun by pre-purchasing acookie and cocoa to-go box for your cruise. $10 a car,registration opens November 16th. All proceeds will supporteducational programming. Click here for more details.
Local Businesses andOrganizations: Help usDecorate Tollgate Farm!
We welcome communityorganizations, businesses, non-profits, and government
organizations to select a display location at the farm todecorate in a theme of their choosing.Decorators provide all their own decorations, lights, artificialor live cut trees, extension cords, and any other supplies andwill set up and take down their display in the designated timeframe. Event and lead sponsors are able to decorate a largedisplay area of the farm, place their own signage within thedisplay, and be cited in extensive event marketing.For more information see our flyer or visit our website.
Individual and FamilyDecorators Needed forHoliday Lights at the Farm
Want to decorate a part ofTollgate Farm for the Holidays?We welcome individuals,families, and volunteers to selecta display location at the farm to decorate in a theme of theirchoosing. This opportunity is FREE to participate in.Decorators will provide all their own decorations, lawndecorations, lights, artificial or live cut trees, extension cords,
and any other supplies on their own. They will also beresponsible for setting up and taking down their display in thedesignated timeframe. We ask all interested parties tocomplete an application so we have more information aboutyour potential display. In your application, you will select yourpreferred decoration location on the farm by viewing thephotos in the image gallery here. All participants must complywith the MSU Community Compact when on site fordecorating and clean-up. Got questions? Please email MikeMathis, MSU Tollgate Farm Director. We can't wait to seewhat all our wonderful volunteers create!
October Curb-side Farm Storeis now open!
Would you like a beautifulpumpkin grown at TollgateFarm? How about some Mums,Honey, or 4-H Goat Milk Soap?We have that and so much more
at our October Farm Store open Thursdays 3 - 6:30 PM,Fridays 12 - 4 PM, and Saturdays 10 - 12 PM. Onlinepayment is preferred at the Farm Store but we will allowpayment with exact change onsite. All proceeds will supporteducational programs.
Free Fall Virtual School GardenEducation Series
Designed for formal and non-formaleducators including school andcommunity garden organizers, thisseries of four interactive, educational garden sessions will beheld every other Wednesday through November 18, 2020from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. October 21, 2020: Indigenous Gardening - Nichole Biber,Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa: Nichole has been anorganic gardener for more than 20 years, is a mother of three,a public elementary school librarian, and an activist forenvironmental justice and a jingle dress dancer. Learn aboutThree Sisters, indigenous gardening methods and native
foodways in this engaging session. November 4, 2020: Interesting Plant Experiments thatEngage Kids - Dr. Norm Lownds, Director 4-H Children'sGarden, MSU: Join Dr. Norm as he demonstrates how toinvolve students in fun experiments that connect them toimportant plant science concepts. November 18, 2020: Engaging Community Partners-Parkview Elementary Second Grade Teaching Team: Learnhow these teachers gained the involvement and support ofsignificant local partners for their school garden. Register here.
Virtual Evenings in theGarden
Evenings in the Garden places afocus on a wide range ofgardening and environmentaltopics hosted by regionalexperts. These virtual sessions
are held on Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. October 29Angie Lucas - Ferntastic!: Learn some fascinating facts aboutferns of the NW Lower Peninsula by joining us for apresentation by Angie Lucas, Senior Land Steward andbotanist at the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy,as she presents an overview of the native fern species foundin the Grand Traverse region and how land protection andstewardship efforts benefits rare and declining species, aswell as some identification tips and resources to use whileexploring the northern forest and wetland trails of northwestlower Michigan. Additionally learn how GTRLC uses varioustools like floristic quality assessments to prioritize restoration,protection and other nature preserve projects.
November 12Will Jaquinde - Integrative Pest Management for Home
Gardens: Will Jaquinde, Tollgate's former SustainableAgriculture Instructor and current Operations Specialist atBowers School Farm, leads this session on pestmanagement. You will learn how to identify common pestproblems in your garden and determine the best control withthe least harm to non-targeted species.
Register for these upcoming virtual sessions here.
Learning Fresh From the Farm
Fall has proven to be an activeseason on the farm with wellover 20 weekly virtual programsfor area elementary students. Avirtual classroom series withMSU Tollgate Farm andEducation Center is designed for students to explore naturalresources and agriculture while learning about sustainabilityand the environment. Aligned with literacy, math, and NextGeneration Science standards, programs utilize inquiry place-based learning and action projects. Life cycles and systemsinterdependency are revealed as students virtually visit thefields, forest, greenhouse, and farm animals to investigatescience phenomena taking place on the farm. Virtual serieswith Tollgate Farm are scheduled September through earlyJune. Series for 2021 will include Maple Sugaring, Sheep toSweater, Plants and Their Partners, and Vet Science.Sustainable Agriculture and Soil Science programs can betailored for high school students. A financial aid process isavailable. For questions or to tailor a program to meet yourteaching goals, please email Ellen Koehler. For moreinformation or to register, click here.
Join us for Goat Story Timeon select Fridays!
Join us select Fridays on thefarm (virtually of course!) from 4-5 PM to hangout with ourdoelings, read a beautiful story,
and learn about all our goatfriends on the farm. Do you havea younger child in your familywho has also been missing MSUTollgate Farm? Well,our kids want to share some oftheir favorite books with yourkids!
Find more information or registerhere.
Collaborative TeachingSupport Network
Teachers, are you interested inexploring the potential for - andchallenges to - incorporatingexperiential learning andoutdoor education for studentsduring this COVID-19 adaptedschool year? MSU Tollgate Farm and North Farm atthe Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center arepartnering with Kellogg Biological Station to have a state-wideconversation about place-based outdoor teaching andlearning. Please join us on November 9th from 4-5 PM!Register here.
MSU Tollgate FarmLeadership Opportunities forAges 15-19
Stewards Teen LeadershipSteering Committee
Stewards ages 15-19 interested in serving on a steeringcommittee for the Winter Virtual Stewards Series, pleasecontact Ellen Koehler by November 10, 2020.
Stewards Sustainability Leadership Institute The Stewards Sustainability Leadership Institute (SSLI) is aworkforce development program that provides 15-19 year-
olds from Tollgate Farm a chance to gain career andworkforce preparation in fields related to sustainability.Through a tiered mentorship model which includesprofessional adult volunteers, MSU Extension faculty, collegestudents, and younger campers, the 4-H teen stewards willexecute place-based capstone projects. The program willplace an emphasis on improving the communities whereparticipants live, gaining mastery in important career skills,serving others through mentorship, and being a leader atcamp. This experience includes a virtual meetings Januarythrough April, a weeklong in depth training, campus visits, awilderness trip (if in person programs are possible) and aleadership role in the Tollgate summer camp program. Toindicate interest in SSLI, email Ellen Koehler.
Virtual Goat Experiences
Last time we checked goatscan't use phones very well, butluckily our MSU Tollgate staffcan! Want a personal goatencounter? Sign up for Goat toMeeting or Goat Shout Outs! Learn more about our newvirtual goat experiences here.
This Month's 4-H Newsletter isHere!
Oakland County 4-HConnections is a monthlynewsletter for 4-H members,families, and the generalcommunity with news andinformation about 4-H youthdevelopment activities inOakland County.
October Newsletter
Tollgate News & Announcements
Holiday Donations needed!
We are getting in the holidayspirit here at MSU Tollgate Farmbut we are asking for your help!Do you have bins or a garagefilled with outdoor holidaydecorations? Would you like your holiday gear to be used in away that brings the community together during a troubling andisolating year? We are seeking holiday decorations donationsfor our Holiday Lights on the Farm Drive Thru event thiswinter!
Donations include, but are not limited to lights, extensioncords, holiday displays, and generators. Please contact MikeMathis to schedule a drop off or click here to learn more aboutthe Holiday Lights on the Farm Event.
MSU Tollgate EducatorNewsletter
Formal and non-formaleducators, be sure to check outthe MSU Tollgate EducatorNewsletter with educationalresources and articles onoutdoor learning during covidtimes. Included is a link to anExtension-wide survey forteachers, school administrators,and support services. Read thenewsletter here.
Meet Our Staff & Volunteers!
Curious about everyone whoworks at MSU Tollgate Farm?Every Monday on our Facebookand Instagram we feature a staffmember or volunteer. The last
month we have featured JohnWoodrich, a Maple Sugaringvolunteer, Sara Mund, our DayCamp Coordinator, SusanWalters-Klenke, a 4-H Clubvolunteer, and Mike Mathis,MSU Tollgate Farm Director.Read more about these staffand volunteers here.
Interested in Volunteering atTollgate?
We are grateful and appreciateour volunteers at MSU TollgateFarm. We are now able to allowExtension Master Gardenersand Non-Extension Master
Gardener volunteers to return to the farm once they havecompleted our new volunteer selection process. If you wouldlike to begin the steps to volunteer, please visit our blog forthe full instructions. Please remember that we cannot allowvolunteers to enter the farm until they are completed thisprocess and have permission from our Farm Manager, RoyPrentice, or Education Coordinator, Ellen Koehler.
MSU Tollgate Farm and Education Center offers programsthroughout the year designed to allow adults and children to
experience learning hands-on, explore the joys of gardening andthe natural world, appreciate and promote locally grown food, and
build community.
MSU Tollgate Farm and Education Center28115 Meadowbrook Rd.
Novi, MI 48377248-347-0269
http://tollgate.msu.edu/
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State
University Programs and materials are open to all, without regard to race,color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, height, weight,
disability,political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital, family or veteran status.
STAY CONNECTED with TOLLGATE:
