Rocky Top Preserve

10/08/2024

The sky is a canvas of mystery and magic.💫

10/03/2024

Northern Lights are predicted to be off the charts this weekend! Come up and see!

09/18/2024

A world of endless amazement.

09/14/2024

This course is a major labor of love. Dreams coming to fruition today at the Rocky Top Open. We’ll see 77 players this morning!
🥏💫💕🌊✨❤️💫😎💃🏻🛸

09/12/2024

Magical!💫✨

09/11/2024

We have an opening at Pop’s Pride this weekend during the disc golf tournament.

09/09/2024

Just a few spots left for the Rocky Top PDGA disc golf tournament Aloft Disc Golf on Sept 14th.
Sign up at .com/RockyTop24.
Camping available!

08/30/2024

Things are looking up.

08/28/2024

About last night. 💫✨🌟

08/23/2024

Autumn camping is the best camping.
Come on up.

07/22/2024

Magical retreat weekend at the farm.💫

07/20/2024

So much beauty in the stone circle.
Come on out for the ecstatic dance party tonight at 8.

07/18/2024

Here’s the schedule for this weekend’s retreat at Rockytop! If you would like to join us for any part of it, contact Sunny or Shannon.
Also!! Ecstatic dance party Saturday night at 8pm. All are welcome. Suggested $5 donation to the dj.
Going to be a lovely weekend. 💫

07/18/2024

Sweet part time gig at a great school!

🚜 Join Our Team! 🌱

Ellsworth Community School is hiring a Farm to School Coordinator! This is an exciting, part-time position where you can make a difference in our community by connecting our schools with local farms, enhancing nutrition education, and promoting healthy eating habits.

Position Highlights:

🍎 Part-time: 15-25 hours per week
🌽 Grant-funded: Guaranteed for at least two school years
🌿 Collaborative Role: Work with students, staff, and local farmers
🥕 Impactful Work: Promote healthy eating and nutrition education
🏫 Community Engagement: Facilitate farmers markets and garden programs
Interested in making a positive impact? Apply today and help shape the future of our Farm to School program!

📅 Hours: 15-25 per week
💼 Duration: At least two school years (grant-funded)

For more details, see the complete posting below.



Farm to School Coordinator

As part of the state-wide Michigan Integrated Continuous Improvement Process focusing on the Whole School, Whole Community, and Whole Child, Ellsworth Community School is moving to offer farm-to-school support to local schools’ nutrition programs. This new role will be highly collaborative and integrative among our region of northwest lower Michigan. It will serve to work toward our goals of ensuring that holistic well-being is robust in our schools region-wide, that Ellsworth Community School is a leader and model of rural school nutrition, and that every child has access to a fulfilling relationship with food.

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Ellsworth Community School Farm to School Coordinator will support Whole Child wellness through three main pathways, with tasks that may include but are not limited to:

Healthy School Meals
* Collaborate with school food service professionals to enhance scratch cooking, local procurement, and culturally relevant meal planning, preparation, and service.
* Work together with relevant individuals to share and implement feasible scratch-cooked school meal practices.
* Engage and integrate student voices in school meal decisions.
* Assist schools with administrative and engagement-related tasks to support the use of 10 Cents a Meal funds.

Hands-On Nutrition, Cooking, and Garden Education
* Lead lessons and cooking demonstrations.
* Create and maintain lesson toolkits for teachers who want to incorporate lessons but don’t have time to prepare or clean up.
* Act as a liaison between the High School Agriscience class, the District's food service program, and local farmers.
* Provide some nutrition instruction and support related activities.

Community Engagement and Culture of Wellness
* Facilitate Pop-Up Farmers Markets at schools and communities.
* Coordinate school garden building and maintenance with schools and communities to provide support in training/tool/timing access.
* Collaborate with school Wellness Committees on Wellness Policies and related endeavors.
* Identify and motivate staff and community members who are passionate about farm to school.
* Communicate farm-to-school stories from around the region through newsletters, social media, and/or other writing.
* Build and maintain positive relationships with community partners, organizations, and stakeholders.

POSITION DETAILS

This is a new, part-time position offering a unique opportunity for the right candidate to develop and shape the Farm to School program. The successful candidate will have the flexibility to innovate and tailor the role to fit the needs of the school and community, with the following tasks and ideas as potential components of the program:

Hours: 15-25 hours per week, during the school year.
Pay Rate: Starts at $18.60 per hour.
Duration: This is a grant-funded position guaranteed for at least two school years.

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

* Experience in kitchens (preferably school or other institutional kitchens), education (formal or informal), farming/gardening.
* Strong connections to local farms and a passion for food and nutrition in schools.
* Excellent communication and organizational skills.
* Ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups, including students, staff, and community members.
* Flexibility and creativity in developing and implementing farm-to-school programs.

PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS

* Passion for improving school nutrition and promoting healthy eating habits.
* Excellent communication and organizational skills.
* Ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups, including students, staff, and community members.
* Flexibility and creativity in developing and implementing farm-to-school programs.

To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your qualifications and interest in the role to:

Ellsworth Community School
Aaron Gaffney, Superintendent
9467 Park Street
Ellsworth, Michigan 49729
[email protected]

Deadline to Apply: Friday, August 2, 2024

07/14/2024

Shannon and I’s retreat Celebrating the Sacred Self: A Playful Nature Retreat starts Friday and we still have space. One activity I’ll be leading is a beginners class on Plein Air or painting beautiful landscapes outdoors. Art supplies are included in your ticket. We’ll take a meditative, non judgmental approach to this. Finding a quiet solitary space on the amazing grounds of the Rockytop Preserve you’ll take some time to explore the peaceful surroundings with your own creative expression. To register click here 👉 https://www.thesacredflowering.com/schedule/5ff5f26a-35d8-4219-9e43-c0e903a954c4_1721422800

07/11/2024

Interested in camping up north this weekend, but don’t want to haul your stuff?⬇️⬇️⬇️