Part two of our Mission -
We need to create a place were the small farms can show people what and how they raise or grow what they produce, Sort of a village or small town of store fronts of farms, all in one spot so you can see all that is growing and meet the farmers who could supply your food needs. The way things are now, you have no idea who you are buying from or even if the person you are buying from, even has a farm, when you go to a farm market. To much of the money we spend on food never makes it to the farmer who actually grows what we eat. You need to deal direct. For the farmer, this would give him more time to produce more, better, food. You know, to pick off the bugs on his plants so he's not in a hurry as much to spray the pesticides. He wouldn't have to drag his farm product all over town, Hoping to sell it before it goes bad. A place like this would give the farmers a place to meet other farmers, compare notes, learn and share other Ideas on growing, get the support of the group, To organize as a group so that we could, stagger production, diversify production, Combine product to supply, larger, more diversified orders. People wouldn't need to spend a day calling all the farms to see who's got what and when. We could Make it as easy as running to the super market. This is going to get more important as gas price's head back up over $3 a gallon. We answer the phone 20 times a day to a person asking where they can find this and that, mostly wanting to come and pick there own, with the kids. You gotta remember people, the farmer is working with little time and only making penny's on what he grows, So he don't have the time to stand around and talk to every person who just decided yesterday that they should start worrying about the food, we feed our kids, Most farmers have been worried for years. I can't tell you how often I talk to people who read something about food, that is just not true at the small farms.
If you are one of these people that would like to get involved ? Please become a member. As a member, we will get the members and farmers together year round, Maybe have a potluck or a campfire where you can come and ask the questions, talk about needs and share Ideas.
If you have ever been to Destiny farm, you know we are all about being open to all, all the time. This new place will be a larger version of what we have here. Everyone and every farm, who helps by becoming a premium member will be included with every part of what goes on here. from setting it up to how its run. If your a farm, a group, or just someone who would like to rent a spot of land and produce, We will help you get your plot setup and producing. If you have a farm, this would be an extension or a store front for your farm, to show and sell from and hopefully draw more like minded people to what you produce. The Town as a whole would be non profit , Rent for a members space would be at cost, just to maintain the place.
Please, even if you would just like to hear about how it goes and care about the future of farms and local food in Michigan, Please donate. If you Donate, we will send you regular emails on the progress on getting it started. If enough people show support, we can use it to show the state that people do care about what they feed their family's and that you support your local small farms ...
Please understand that I am a farmer and not real good with explaining it all. Just know that we care and want you to be involved. We talk to allot of customers, farmers, future farmers and people who just care, we want to get us all a place to do all the things we have been talking about. We need to educate, organize,support and act, together to preserve all Michigan farms have to Offer. The farmers are there to help, are you? Lets get us a place to make it all happen.
We have found a 128 acre farm that has a lake and a great layout that we could use to build the town on, even room for a members campgrounds. When it fell in our Laps and we went to see it, we knew it was a gift from God. As soon as enough people show support, we will have a meeting on the property, a farmers picnic for all, and you will know, as we did, this is the place for this to happen. Every person who has been to this place has said the samething, " O my God, this place is just to cool" It has everything we need to setup the farm market of the future a sort of super CSA, Run by the farmers who grow and the consumers who need all the great food Michigan has to offer. Full access to all members all the time, Agriculture is a 24/7 thing, not just
at the state fair..
We are trying to build this on our own, We ran this by The AG extension and he agree'd that this is a great thing, Should be done and would be good for everyone and to Let them know when we get the financing? This is way bigger than Destiny Farm, Mike & Joni or a hand full of people. Although the people who own the property have been great and say they will do whatever it takes to help us get it going, They are in the same boat as the rest of us and we need to relieve some of the load as soon as possible. This is our chance to do this, If we do this thru normal lending channels we will be joining the same situation that created the need for it. We are on our own.
Maybe we could sell family shares or ? like a church to support this for years to come?
Please show your support and donate, send us a note of your own concerns, then send Congressmen, Mike Rogers an email telling him that you support Destiny Farm and the need for AG Town & Small Farm Central.
If you Donate $20 to be a member, as things develop, you will be notified everytime something happens and will be invited to the Organizational picnic on the property we hope before October?
If you Donate $1000/ year to be a premium member, you will be invited to the Picnic, Notified as things happen and when enough support is shown, you will be invited to help in setting up every part of Farm Central.
All the donations will sit in a PayPal account Till the time of the Picnic, Then we will see what support we have and try to figure out who will do what and when? Like I said, We are just Farmers and need your help......
The reason for the two types of membership is to see how involved you would like to be?
If by October nothing has happened or the whole deal falls apart, All money will be returned in full to all who Joined.. Pray for us...
