MSU Tollgate Farm April 2021MSU Tollgate Farm April 2021

Check out our new MSU Tollgate Kid's Corner in the Opportunities and Spotlights!Check out our new MSU Tollgate Kid's Corner in the Opportunities and Spotlights!

Upcoming EventsUpcoming EventsMSU Learning From the Farm toMSU Learning From the Farm toYou:You: From the Farm-to-SchoolVirtual Programs Now AvailableVirtual Sustainable StewardsVirtual Sustainable StewardsSeries for Ages 15-19Series for Ages 15-19: April23rd and May 21stVirtual Stewards SeriesVirtual Stewards Series: June 3:4-5 PMMSU Tollgate FarmMSU Tollgate FarmHomeGrown Gardening SeriesHomeGrown Gardening SeriesSponsored by Bordine'sSponsored by Bordine's:Second Saturdays 10 amthrough September 2021Evenings in the Garden: SpringEvenings in the Garden: SpringSessionsSessions: April 29th, 20214-H Virtual Interactive Follow the4-H Virtual Interactive Follow theNutrient Trail (Grades 3-5)Nutrient Trail (Grades 3-5):weeklong from April 26-304-H Virtual Interactive Plants4-H Virtual Interactive Plantsand Their Partners (Grades 1-3)and Their Partners (Grades 1-3):weeklong from May 3-7 ORweekly May 4-June 1Goat Shouts Are Back!Goat Shouts Are Back! All YearLongIn Person Summer Camp 2021:In Person Summer Camp 2021:Complete the SurveyComplete the Survey

News & AnnouncementsNews & AnnouncementsUpdates from the SustainableAgriculture TeamMeet the Newest Addition to theFarm: MalcolmApril Oakland County 4-HApril Oakland County 4-HNewsletterNewsletter

Opportunities & SpotlightsOpportunities & SpotlightsInterested in Volunteering atInterested in Volunteering at

A Sweet Start to ourA Sweet Start to ourVirtual Programming thisVirtual Programming thisSpring: Maple SugaringSpring: Maple SugaringMichigan’s Sweet TreatMichigan’s Sweet TreatDuring 2021, students have experienced feweropportunities to experience place-based andoutdoor learning. At MSU Tollgate Farm, weknew we could help teachers and families byproviding students with an opportunity to connectwith and learn from the farm.

Our staff have recreated school and communityprograms in an interactive virtual format bringingthe farm to life for the learner in new ways. WithMSU Tollgate Farm’s remote learningadventures, students in their home or classroomhave been able to explore agriculture and thenatural world as they explore sciencephenomena happening on the farm. Replicatingour in-person programs, inquiry learning isutilized through interactive sessions in whichstudents are encouraged to share their ideas,

Tollgate?Tollgate?MSU Tollgate Kid's Corner AprilMSU Tollgate Kid's Corner AprilGoat Milking ActivityGoat Milking Activity

draw, act things out, write, collect, categorize,and experiment. A blog with accompanyinglessons, journal pages, extended the experienceto provide deep authentic learning.

The History and Science of Maple SugaringAdventure, one of many such series, broughtexperiential farm-based learning and socialemotional connection to classes of 4th and 6thgrade Hamtramck students at Dickenson EastElementary and students at Niji-Iro JapaneseImmersion School in Livonia. Students exploredthe pivotal role of Native and Indigenouscommunities in maple sugaring now and in thepast. Want to learn more about this program?Click the button below.

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Upcoming EventsUpcoming Events

Thank You For Your Donations toThank You For Your Donations tothe MSU Tollgate Farm Wheelchairthe MSU Tollgate Farm WheelchairAccessibility Initiative!Accessibility Initiative!

Thank you for all of your generous donationsto the MSU Tollgate Farm WheelchairAccessibility Initiative on Give Green Day.This initiative raised $5,980, including $1,000from Oakland County Farm BureauOakland County Farm Bureau that willsupport installation of a permanent path tothe MSU Tollgate animal barn. We arecurrently considering a number of options formaximizing the impact of the Give Green Daydonations to improve accessibility at the farm.Improvements could include a wheelchair liftfor our wagons, roll-able walk-ways,permanent pathways, or even a specializedaccessible trailer. We are grateful for all thesedonations that will help make MSU TollgateFarm accessible to more visitors in the future.

Interested in Volunteering at MSU TollgateInterested in Volunteering at MSU TollgateFarm?Farm?

We are grateful and appreciate our volunteers at MSUTollgate Farm. Did you know in the month of March ourvolunteers logged 677.25 hours at the Farm? This includedgarden volunteers, sustainable agriculture volunteers, maplesugaring volunteers, and educational program volunteers.Would you like to volunteer at Tollgate? Check out thePowerPoint from our April 12 Volunteer Orientation withdetails on how to start the process to become a MSUTollgate Volunteer. Question? Email Carmen HamiltonCarmen Hamilton.

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Exploring Stewardship with Teens: ForExploring Stewardship with Teens: ForAges 13-19: April 23, May 21Ages 13-19: April 23, May 21

MSU Tollgate Farm is offering this freefree virtualSustainable Stewards Series for those teens who wantto explore how to be a strong environmental steward.Join peers and community partners for these paneldiscussions and Q&A to help you prepare for collegeand career and discover how sustainability will impactyour future in meaningful ways.

Water World - April 23, 2021 4–5 p.m. ESTWater World - April 23, 2021 4–5 p.m. EST – ErinCassidy and members of Friends of the RougeFriends of the Rouge seek to restore, protect, andenhance the Rouge River Watershed through individualand community actions. Along with other teen leadersand Friends of the Rouge staff and volunteers, exploreissues facing a local watershed and how you can makea difference in the health of your water.

Climate Science and YOU - May 21, 2021 4-5 p.m. ESTClimate Science and YOU - May 21, 2021 4-5 p.m. EST- Lindsey Kemmerling, MSU PhD Candidate, MSUKellogg Biological StationWhat do you know about how climate change impactsyou and how you impact climate change? Exploreclimate science and climate change with PhD candidateLindsey Kemmerling and explore your own carbonfootprint and engage in conversation about how you canmake a difference.

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Virtual Evenings in the GardenVirtual Evenings in the Garden

Our popular Evenings in the Garden series is nowvirtual. These sessions are held on Thursdays,6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. All sessions will be helddigitally. A video link will be sent prior to thesession and a recording will be made availableafter the meeting.

April 29 - April 29 - Dr. Wynne Wright, Associate Professor,Department of Community Sustainability at MSU -A New Way to Farm: Why is Lavender FarmingGrowing in Michigan?

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Learning Leadership TogetherLearning Leadership TogetherJune 3, 4-5 PMJune 3, 4-5 PM

All teens ages 13-19 are invited to join us for

our final spring virtual Tollgate steward/SITtraining for music, fun, leadershipdevelopment, and teambuilding at the AllSteward/SIT Virtual Leadership Training June3 at 4 PM.

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Growing Fun: Vegetable GardeningGrowing Fun: Vegetable GardeningWith Kids: Saturday, May 8, 10 amWith Kids: Saturday, May 8, 10 am

Join the MSU Tollgate Farm HomeGrownGardening Series and Dr. Norm Lowds, MSU 4-HChildren’s Garden Director, for some fun withvegetable gardening ideas. Explore how to putkids, vegetables, and the garden together. Connectto some of the vegetable theme gardens andplants in the Children’s Gardens. Join us for anhour of veggie fun!

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Learning Fresh from the FarmLearning Fresh from the FarmSustainable Agriculture Programs forSustainable Agriculture Programs forSchool and Home-Based LearnersSchool and Home-Based Learners

This Spring, join us at Tollgate Farm for two virtualinteractive farm-based series. Programs areguaranteed to be interactive, hands-on,educational, and of course, FUN! Standards-aligned and coupled with projects that allowlearners to make a positive difference in theirworld, there’s also a blog, videos, and follow-alongjournal pages. For teachers or homeschool groupleaders who want to offer this opportunity for theirstudents, email Ellen KoehlerEllen Koehler. A financial aidprocess is availableavailable.

MSU Tollgate Farm 4-H Follow the Nutrient Trail MSU Tollgate Farm 4-H Follow the Nutrient Trail Mon-Fri, April 26 - 30, 3:30 – 4:45 pmLet's follow the nutrient trail of consumers,producers, and decomposers as we meet ourgoats, chickens, and red wiggler friends, theworms! Visit the garden, greenhouse, orchard, andanimal barn to investigate how plants depend onanimals and insects for their survival and how theenergy of the sun and nutrients travel through thenutrient cycle.

REGISTER HEREREGISTER HERE

MSU Tollgate Farm 4-H Plants and Their PartnersMSU Tollgate Farm 4-H Plants and Their PartnersMon-Fri, May 3 - 7, 2 – 3 pm

Tuesdays, May 4 – June 1, 3:30 – 4:30 pmHow do plants grow and how do they depend onother living things? Students explore plantstructure and function and what plants need togrow. Visit the garden, greenhouse, gardens,fields, and animal barn, students will carry out funinvestigations on pollination, pollinators, seeddispersal. Through lots of STEM learning activities,students take a close look at where our foodcomes from as we explore ways we can make adifference in our world.

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Goat Shout-Outs are Back!Goat Shout-Outs are Back!

Send a fun message to a loved one or friendfor their special occasion with the help of theMSU Tollgate goat herd. Write a brief custommessage and a staff member will craft a 30second private video link from our goats toyour recipient. Messages like, "HappyBirthday Jack. You are no longer a kid!" or"Congratulations on your graduation from doeand buck!", are a perfect way to share somelove. Requests will be fulfilled within 7business days and will be sent by email. Allproceeds from the $20 fee go to supportingthe care of livestock at the farm.

SIGN UP HERESIGN UP HERE

2021 Summer Camp Update: Hopeful2021 Summer Camp Update: Hopefulto Host Camp at a Reduced Capacityto Host Camp at a Reduced Capacity

MSU Tollgate Farm is waiting for determinationfrom campus regarding whether or not we will beable to host in-person camp this summer. Whilewe remain hopeful, MSU Extension is currentlyaccepting requests for in-person programs on acase by case and month by month basis. We willlearn if we can host program for a specific month inthe preceding month.

Despite this uncertainty, we are still offering thisinterest application as a way to gauge interest inour hopeful summer schedule. Given the risingnumbers COVID-19 cases in the local area and theuniversity approval process, we are planning tohost all the camps listed in this survey at areduced capacity. If summer camp programs areable to move to forward, pending approval toreturn to in-person programming from theUniversity, we will give those who fill out thisapplication early-bird access to our registration.Fill our your interest application with the buttonbelow.

INTEREST APPLICATIONINTEREST APPLICATION

Preparing for MSU Tollgate FarmPreparing for MSU Tollgate FarmPumpkinfest: October 2-3, 2021Pumpkinfest: October 2-3, 2021

Are you interested in being a part of the 2021Tollgate Farm Pumpkinfest volunteer team? We'reexcited to invite you to join a group of dedicatedvolunteers who help bring this fun fall communityevent to life. Our hope is that in-personprogramming is able to resume by fall with safetyprecautions in place. As more is known, the sizeand format of Pumpkinfest 2021 will be determinedby university and state guidance related to Covid.Come for a shift, come for day or two, or join us tolead an area as key volunteer. Proceeds fromPumpkinfest help support educationalprogramming at the farm. Join us to help make adifference! Extension Master Gardeners, be sureto sign up for select roles marked 'EMG credit' toqualify for volunteer hours. If you are not currentlya volunteer at MSU Tollgate Farm and want tolearn more about becoming one, check out thearticle at the top of the newsletter for informationon the volunteer selection process.

SIGN UP NOWSIGN UP NOW

News and AnnouncementsNews and Announcements

Updates from the SustainableUpdates from the SustainableAgriculture TeamAgriculture Team

Spring is here and as always it is a busy timefor the Sustainable Agriculture Program!Planting and preparations are already in fullgear for the first CSA distribution of the seasonat the end of May. This time of year, we arebusy planting cold tolerant crops out into thefields such as kale, collards, pac choi, headlettuce, kohlrabi, etc. Despite the warm springwe have had this year, we still adhere to May 4being the annual last frost date. You neverknow what Michigan weather might throw at us!

Even if you cannot predict the weather, you canpredict the emergence of the garlic! This garlicwas planted in October 2020, started toemerge at the end of February, and has put onalmost a foot of growth in the proceeding time.This patch will provide the CSA will green garlic

in May, scapes in June, garlic bulbs throughoutthe late summer and fall and the seed stock forthe 2022 garlic patch!

Meet the Newest Addition to theMeet the Newest Addition to theFarm!Farm!

Please help us welcome our new herd side,Malcolm! Malcolm, a 75% Dorper ram, joinsMSU Tollgate Farm from Willowcreek Farm inWebberville, MI. Dorpers are a hair breedoriginating in South Africa, and have all thequalities we are looking to infuse into ourflock. They are hardy, good mothers, andVERY squat with incredible muscling. Malcomwas born in February and is already around75lbs! Malcolm's 25% non-dorper geneticsmeans that while maintaining the "meaty"dorper quality, he has some extra height thatwill allow him to more easily breed our tallSuffolk-ewes. Malcolm is pictured here withour Interim Livestock Coordinator, SamStokes.

This Month's 4-H Newsletter is Here!This Month's 4-H Newsletter is Here!

Oakland County 4-H Connections is a monthlynewsletter for 4-H members, families, and thegeneral community with news and informationabout 4-H youth development activities in OaklandCounty.

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Opportunities and SpotlightsOpportunities and Spotlights

MSU Tollgate Kid's CornerMSU Tollgate Kid's Corner

Do you have kids at home looking for some funhands-on seasonal activities? We have youcovered! Each month we will feature a seasonalactivity from the farm. Last month we had manynew "kids" join us on the farm and we are nowbusy milking their mamas. Click below to see thevideo and follow along to practice milking at home!

GET THE ACTIVITYGET THE ACTIVITY

MSU Tollgate Farm and Education CenterMSU Tollgate Farm and Education Center

28115 Meadowbrook Rd. Novi, MI 48377248-347-0269

http://tollgate.msu.edu/

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extensionprograms and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender

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