Support a cohort of Michigan-based hospitals and healthcare systems to advance their procurement of healthy, local foods from a diverse array of community based farm and food businesses. Convene partners, participate in group activities, conduct surv...

Supporting new and beginning teachers has helped to increase the number which stay in the profession and their success as new teachers.

I organized and taught Michigan’s 2022 three-day Drainage Design Workshop. Stakeholders are farmers, drainage contractors, conservation professionals, state employees Goal was to teach drainage design to stakeholders

The Michigan Trails Advisory Council is an advisory body appointed by the governor to provide direction in guidance to developing trails in Michigan and supporting safety, diversity, economic development and public health and recreation through the d...

Helped facilitate a charrette for a group of universities, NOAA, Army Corp of Engineers, and state and local natural resource managers brainstorming a natural resources and community development model for the states along the Gulf of Mexico.

Applied research on animal mortality resulting from the pandemic, to support regulatory development and stakeholder compliance.

Health Care Worker Activity October 11 - 16, 2022: Area health care workers (n=57) participated in either a low (self-guided walking tour of HTRC), mid-level (grooming a horse) equine-assisted service (EAS) or control group (guided walk without horse...

Food SPICE is a USDA Regional Food System Partnership Grant from Center for Regional Food Systems, that is creating stronger pipelines to resources, and more equitable and inclusive resources for farm and food entrepreneurs in Michigan. We are workin...

This USDA RMA Co-Operative Agreement Project is a one-year project that is educating adult small-scale farmers who identify as a person of color, BIPOC, socially-disadvantaged, underserved. We are providing outreach, engagement and zoom-based educati...

Provided direction to state, multicounty and federal resource management personnel dealing with this invasive, tree-killing forest insect. Distributed research results. Created and distributed a pdf with an inexpensive option for hemlock wooly adelgi...

Provided information, including new research, to state and federal regulatory personnel, state, county and local resource managers, outstate extension educators, and arborists.

Projects included: (1) Helping a local company build an infrared machine that can reduce or deactivate lectins in dry beans so that bean ingredients/flours generated can be used to make low-moisture foods (crackers, cookies) that are safe for human c...

10 Cents a Meal for Michigan's Kids & Farms is a state-funded program that matches what schools and Early Care and Education (ECE) sites spend on Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and dry beans with grants of up to 10 cents per meal. It is administe...

Diversity, inclusion, and equity activities have focused on improving the lives of poor smallholder farmers in West Africa. In much of West Africa, women are typically responsible for planting and farming tasks such as weeding, harvesting, and post-h...

Provided an educational field day about the link between soil health and drainage. Organized and taught at the field day, which included a live demonstration of a tile plow for a saturated buffer installation. Attended by 62 participants, including i...

Develop and share actionable information and resources for PFAS-impacted communities.

This project was in partnership with New Level Sports Ministries to develop an urban garden in a neighborhood in Battle Creek, Michigan. The goal is to create a community of gardeners to help thwart hunger among the citizens of inner-city "food deser...

This annual one-day conference highlights current and emerging issues in the Great Lakes and surrounding basin. Attendees, composed of agency personnel, educators, NGO representatives, students, and interested individuals, have the opportunity for an...

Developing an interactive online tool to explore woodshed (wood basket) maps for sawlogs (hardwood and softwood), pulp and pulpwood, and biomass for industry, landowners, and forestry professionals. The tool would help understand the market extent an...

Helped develop a multistate outreach program focusing on harmful algal blooms (HABs). Project goals were to assess current HABs outreach and education efforts, identify needs for HABs information, develop uniform recommendations for the North Central...

Worked with a team of researchers and stakeholders to write a set of best management practices for minimizing harm to pollinators in apple orchards. This work was funded as a joint collaboration between USApple and the Honey Bee Health Coalition.

The North Central Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Center funds working groups each year. These working groups cover a broad array of topics ‒ from crop-related groups to urban ag IPM, school IPM, tick IPM, pollinator and monarch conservation, etc....

The goal of the academy is to introduce students in grades 7-12 to careers in seven biological STEM disciplines in agriculture and natural resources and to engage students in hands-on exercises related to these disciplines. The disciplines are animal...

The Michigan Farm to ECE Network collaborates so children ages birth to 5 can grow, choose, and eat nutritious, local food in early care and education settings. Farm to ECE in Michigan includes local food sourcing, nutrition education, and gardening....

Organized symposium and webinars on PFAS contamination. Testified at the Department of Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Field hearing on interagency collaboration. Also organized an annual retreat and semiregular meetings with the...