Allegan County Food Alliance Coordinator Mary Colborn Monday night told members of the Wayland Township Board that the fifth and final program on promoting local food will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Leighton Township Library Tuesday, Nov. 11.
The alliance is focusing on an effort to make food sources more local because the state and federal governments are not supporting as well as in the past.
Colburn told the board, “So many are dependent on what’s happening at the state and federal levels,” but that process has been failing of late because of political football. Most recently, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has been halted, putting low income people at risk for getting food assistance.
Colburn and the alliance have made appearances at “barnstorming” sessions earlier this fall in Allegan, Plainwell, Pullman and Saugatuck in efforts to invite Allegan County residents to join in order to meet a goal of “a vibrant, affordable, local food community for all across Allegan County… Transforming out food system together.”
The alliance is promoting local programs for growing and raising local food, inviting farmers, foodies, nutritionists and scientists to find ways to make food systems more local and independent of federal and state sources.
An alliance brochure says it’s a commitment “to connect everyone involved in the food system together. That means connecting farmers to consumers and schools connecting kids to where their food comes from… connecting people to each other.”
In regular business Monday evening, the Township Board:
- Agreed to pay Byville Arbor Craft LLC to remove three maple trees from Elmwood Cemetery.
- Held a discussion about adjusting fees for disinterment services at Elmwood Cemetery. Though there seems to be agreement in applying a $200 fee to each local residents, a resolution will be prepared for board consideration at the December meeting.
- Approved a new three-year contract with Assessor Heather Mitchell, including a slight raise. The board board praised her work.
- Agreed to renew a 30-year lease for electrical services from Wolverine Power.
