It Takes A Village

Every local community has a unique network of components that make up the supply chain for food. In the environmental world, this is called “the loop”. Think of a collective effort by various industries all working together to make sure that residents and businesses can obtain food, products and services for survival.

One of our long-term goals at Lake Michigan Farms is to do a deep dive into the elements of each component and gain a better understanding of how our intricate Beaver Island food system operates. This comprehensive research will allow our organic farm to create a long term plan with functional steps that eliminate our island’s dependence on agricultural imports.

It is so important that our remote community is involved in this process! By joining us for our I.S.L.A.N.D. Initiative meetings and contributing your input and feedback along the way, together we can Implement Sustainable Local Agriculture and Nutrition Development!

Our Approach

The “loop” of components that make up our local food system is a way for us to break things down to size. Within each target section are specific entities and operations that contribute to how the residents of Beaver Island survive. Our approach is to tackle each section one by one to learn about the inner workings of our food system. This process will allow us to gather information and data which can then be put together into a functional plan for implementation.

The purpose of our research isn’t just to identify how the food system operates currently but also to learn what YOU would like to see happen in the future. Ultimately, our goal is to establish independence from agricultural imports where each member of our community can have year-round access to nutritional sources of food right here on the island. All without compromising the sustainability of our delicate ecosystems.

We will be hosting community gatherings, family events and small scale focus groups throughout the year with announcements posted on our website, social media and at local venues.

Take a peek below at a more detailed view of each food system component. Clicking on one (or more) that apply to your lifestyle will open a new page with surveys and key information points specific to that section. These will be consistently updated as we move along to help you follow our journey of discovery.

If you would like to participate in our research activities on the island or have any questions about the work that we are doing, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Beaver Island Food System Components

If you’re a Beaver Island resident, we want to hear from you! This isn’t a one size fits all scenario, your lifestyle may fit multiple categories and that’s okay! As an island community and residents ourselves, we know that wearing various hats is a part of surviving here. The most important aspect of our work is ensuring that your input and feedback are heard! Open each section below that applies or interests you to learn more.

Don’t forget to bookmark this page and follow us on social media to stay in the loop when we add more information.

Farmers, Ranchers, Foragers

Are you an island resident who is currently growing food, managing livestock or hiking for wild edibles and selling to the public? Click below to learn more.

Food Processors

From restaurant owners/employees to farm suppliers and even makers or artists, if your lifestyle involves processing food in any capacity, we want to hear from you!

Food Transporters

If you are affiliated with food transportation to or from Beaver island via ferry boat/plane or deliver food to residents on island, click the button below to learn more.

Food Distributors

Wholesale food suppliers, retail store owners/employees, restaurants and farmers markets, this section is for you! Click the button below to learn more about our research.

Waste Management

All forms of waste management play a vital role in Agriculture. If you participate in any activities related to the Beaver Island Transfer Station, biofuel utilization or composting, this section is for you!

Organizations

Local organizations bring passion and purpose together in our community to implement positive change. From the food pantry to faith-based groups and everything in between, we would love to hear from you!

Government

As a part of Charlevoix County, Beaver Island has two townships: St. James and Peaine. To learn more about how our local government is involved in our food system, click the button below.

Natural Resources

Our island's delicate ecosystem depends on us to survive and thrive. We would love to hear from residents who have implemented techniques and systems that preserve natural resources.

Community

Above all else, our community comes first! From seasonal residents to year-round warriors, we want to hear about your relationship with food and ways that you'd like to see our food system improve.

Education

One of the most important actions we can take is expanding local education to include Sustainable Agriculture. If you are involved in Beaver Island education on any level, this section is where to start!