Our events so far...

April 2006 - Dave Jacke, author of Edible Forest Gardens, gave a free evening talk and held a full day workshop on Edible Forest Garden design - what a way to kick off our programs!

Also in April, Unity Fair Trade Marketplace held their grand opening. ISLAND has kept roughly 200 books on ecology, design and art there as a public resource.

October 2006 - our first Great Lakes Bioneers Preconference, called Relocalizing. 60+ members of the greater Grand Traverse community gathered to hear Megan Quinn of Community Solutions speak on Peak Oil. From there Bill Palladino of Krios Consulting led an extended community brainstorm about what a more self-reliant Northwest Lower Michigan would look like.

January 2007 - our first benefit concert! Musicians: Brandon Foote & Laura Bates, Seth Bernard & Daisy May and Claudia Schmidt. Venue: Shorts Brewing Company. We raised enough money for us to cover expenses to the Alliance of Artists Communities Regional Conference in Chicago. Thanks everyone!

April 2007 - Sandor Ellix Katz, author of The Revolution Will Not be Microwaved, visits Traverse City and joins forces with Nancy and Pat Curley of Leelanau Cultured Veggies to talk about fermented foods, underground food movements and kick off LCV's products!

Summer 2007 - we mostly focused on our upcoming property purchase (more news soon!), but Brad did take time to deliver a talk to the Charlevoix Energy Fair and begin working to bring recycling to Antrim County. Amanda and Brad also began their relationship with the Parkside Arts Council, working to support the arts in Antrim and Kalkaska Counties.

September 2007 - our first Board Retreat - 8 of us gathered on Torch Lake to vision and focus on the next stage of ISLAND's development, from community outreach to the land purchase and beyond. As part of that retreat, we committed to holding at least 6 events in 2008! So stay tuned!

October 2007 - the 1st annual Skill Swap - about 55 folks came together to teach and learn practical, hands-on skills from sock knitting to brewing cider - 10 skills in all. Keep your eyes open for a 2nd annual Skill Swap in the spring of 2008!