Munising Hoophouse Becomes Reality

Bringing Knowledge to Life! / Partner Report / Alger County
413 Elm Avenue Suite 5
Munising, Michigan 49862
Phone: 906-387-2530 / E-mail:
Fax: 906-387-2710
Web: msue.msu.edu/alger
Director: Jim Isleib
August 2009

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

Munising hoophouse becomes reality

In fall 2007, discussions began among a group of Munising area leaders about developing a community-based, passive-solar greenhouse, also called a hoophouse to grow vegetables that could be available to residents year round.

The group decided to submit a grant proposal to Project GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to meet Economic and Environmental Needs), the plant industry initiative at MSU.

Alger County MSU Extension director Jim Isleib explored the potential for a new farmers’ market in the Munising area that could provide vegetable marketing opportunities. He also agreed to serve as a technical resource for those who took on the task of managing the project.

Dr. Jeffrey Dwyer, Munising resident and associate dean for Research and Community Engagement in MSU’s College of Human Medicine took the lead in submitting the grant.

In the end, the group received $30,000 to construct and begin nearly year-round vegetable production in a 30’ X 48’ hoophouse. Adam Montri, outreach specialist in the MSU Department of Horticulture, assisted with the planning and construction and will continue to provide technical support.

Community volunteers, youth workers on a Michigan Works summer program, trustees from the Alger County jail, and workers from the local community mental health employment program all took part in the construction.

The hoophouse will be managed by Pathways for Healthy Living, a four-county mental health agency. It will use grant funds to subsidize labor costs for the first year and proceeds from crop sales will subsidize wages in the future. Pathways workers are enthusiastic about the project and feel a strong sense of ownership.

The purpose of the hoophouse project is to increase consumption of fresh, local vegetables among low-income and vulnerable populations in the Munising area, including seniors receiving subsidized meals, hospital and nursing home residents and others with limited access to fresh vegetables. Excess produce will be marketed to local restaurants and the broader community.

This project also provides meaningful work for disabled community members, enhances the supply of fresh, healthy foods for disadvantaged local residents and provides an opportunity for educating the public in nutrition and new local food production systems.

New 4-H activities highlight Alger County Fair

Two new 4-H activities were offered at the Alger County Fair this year designed to broaden participating youngsters’ learning experiences.

MSU Extension 4-H Educator, Liana Graves organized a scavenger hunt that required 4-H members to take time to learn about the fair, meet their peers and interact with vendors. Nearly 30 youths participated in hopes of earning cash prizes.

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New 4-H activities—continued

The hunt took the youths across the fairgrounds. They were required to watch the parade, participate in the cake walk, collect business cards from vendors and find out who earned a best of show for their fresh cut floral arrangement. To top it off, they needed to participate in the 4-H Introduction to Shooting Sports activity.

The second new event, the 4-H Introduction to Shooting Sports, gave youngsters the opportunity to meet the new certified 4-H instructor and volunteers from the Alger County Chapter of U.P. Whitetails and the Tri-Range Shooting Club. They could also try their hands at archery and BB gun use.

The BB guns were provided by the UP Whitetails Association and the archery equipment was provided by Superior Central Public School. Seven adults participated, and three parents expressed interest in helping organize a 4-H shooting sports program in Alger County.

Youth participation exceeded volunteers’ expectations with 115 youth taking part, many of whom came back repeatedly to try again. Of those, 28 asked to be contacted when the shooting sports program gets underway.

One teenager who participated in the scavenger hunt said that he had a lot of fun and discovered the Introduction to Shooting Sports as a result of participating in the hunt. A parent said that she will be happy to drive 30 minutes for club meetings because she knows her son will have fun and learn a great deal in the process.

Local youths get cookin’ during summer programs

More than 100 local youngsters learned how to cook healthy meals, snacks and desserts, thanks to the MSU Extension Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-ED) this summer.

SNAP-ED associate Vicki Ballas, alias “Captain Nutrition,” taught participants in the “Life of Lake Superior” program how to make such items as wheat bread salad bowls in an outdoor bread oven and veggie and fruit snacks on an open fire.

The youths also planted lettuce flats to take home to grow. While building a salad, one 10-year-old girl told Ballas, “Thanks for teaching us to make healthy foods instead of the usual hot dogs and burgers.”

The youths also learned about the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPyramid food groups and serving recommendations.

During the Alger Parks and Recreation’s Day Camp program, Ballas taught youngsters between ages five and 10 about food safety, sanitation and nutrition through “Kids R Cooks” activities.

The participants also learned about exercise and how to make healthy food choices. These youngsters eagerly cooked their lunches in an oven, outdoor grill, open fire pit, outdoor bread oven, electric skillet and in a blender.

Every lunch provided opportunities for youth to choose from an array of colorful fresh foods from every food group. Several youth commented, “It’s easy to eat healthy,” “It’s easy to eat all of the food groups,” “I like eating all of these foods,” and “I didn’t know I liked vegetables!”

Good nutrition is fair game for MSU Extension staff

MSU Extension staff participated in two Munising health fairs this spring. One, the annual Community Health Fair, took place April 4. More than 90 adults sampled healthy breakfast snacks, learned about nutrition and MSU Extension programs and received health assessments.

Munising middle and high school students took part in interactive taste testing program with help from SNAP-ED associate Vicki Ballas and MSU Extension educator Joan Vinette during an all-school health fair.

Students could choose lesser-known foods from each category in the food guide pyramid. Each student was asked to sample two foods he or she had not eaten before. Students were asked whether they liked the taste of each sample and whether they would eat it again.

Both events were planned by the Alger County Community Collaborative’s Health Advisory Work Group. Vinette represents MSU Extension on this committee.