Tilian Farm barbeque

We had a really fun evening at the Tilian farm barbeque on the north side of Ann Arbor. It was great to come to show our support for the revitalization of farms in the region. This one is used to  give the opportunity for anyone to get started and try farming for a couple of years before getting their own land.

These are the three farms which are part of Tilian Farm: Bending Sickle, Green Things Farm and Seeley Farm.

I love their mission so much that I just wanted to mention it in full:

The mission of Tilian Farm Development Center is to facilitate new farm-business development in order to increase diversified production for local markets, year round in our food shed.

“Tilian” is is the Old English root of to till or to cultivate; to strive; to obtain.

The Steering Committee, representing the Four Season Farmer Development Program, The MSU Student Organic Farm, Food System Economic Partnership, and SELMA Café chose the name it to represent the dream work they are developing:
– To have a vital local farm economy to transform the land & people in and out of city so that one day everyone in the integrated mosaic of our food shed feels they could survive on local food and have access to it (without even going into a grocery store)
– That all farmland land in our food shed would be preserved and farmed for local consumption, and there would be farm stands everywhere
– That when one walks and bikes around, they sense themselves as part of a tight-knit farmer network/community.

The bottom line is that this effort is way more than just about food. It’s about enhancing our own local culture by rediscovering some aspects of our roots to enrich our future.

Here are my favorites moments of the evening:

Carrot lovers…

Delicious local food…

and spectacular dessert from Miette with Tilian’s farm eggs and milk! It’s hard to be more local than that!