Wassailing Winter Celebration

Date and Time: Saturday, January 21st, 6pm
Location: Wagbo
Cost: FREE

Join the Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center for a potluck and winter celebration! Dinner begins at 6pm with a potluck in the farmhouse. Bring a dish to pass if you can, but it's not required. Wagbo provides drinks and table service.

The wassaling begins at 7pm. Wassaling is an ancient rural tradition of toasting to the health of an orchard in hopes that a bountiful crop will ensue the following year. A community celebration, Wassailing is done on a January night beginning with a feast and libations, followed by a short procession to the orchard where toasts are made and torches lit. Bring a sled! Immediately following will be a sledding party!

Wild Game Potluck

Wild Game Potluck 
Date and Time: Saturday, January 14th, 6pm
Location: Wagbo
Cost: FREE

Come out to the Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center for our third annual wild game potluck! Join us at the Wagbo farmhouse at 6pm and share in the bounty of northern Michigan foods. Bring a dish of wild or local food to pass if you can, but it’s not required for attendance. Wagbo provides drinks and table service.

The potluck wraps up with a showing of the film The Complete Angler at 7pm. Set admist the beauty and tranquility of Irish and English waterways, this visual poem celebrates the joys of nature and literature, of solitude and beauty and the elegant art of fly fishing. Called "a visual journey for the fisherman's soul," this film reinforces the notion that fishing is more than recreation: it cleanses the soul and allows a simple reconnection to nature. 47 min.

Holiday Greens Workshop and Potluck

Date and Time: Saturday, December 10th, 12 pm
Location: Wagbo
Cost: FREE

Come out to the Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center for our monthly potluck program! The potluck begins at 12 pm with lunch in the Wagbo farmhouse. Bring a dish to pass if you can, but it’s not required for attendance. Wagbo provides drinks and table service.

The program begins at 1 pm with Alana Haley of Roots & Wings Herbs teaching a Holiday Greens Workshop. Make a wreath or swag from fresh cut greens, berries, twigs and cones. Even if you’ve never made a wreath before, you’ll be amazed at what you can create. If you plan to make a wreath, bring a grapevine wreath for the base.

Limited to 15 people. Call 231-536-0333 to register.

Potluck and Cider Making Demo

Potluck and Cider Making Demo
Saturday, November 12th, 12pm 

Come out to the Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center for our monthly potluck program! The potluck begins at 12 pm with lunch in the Wagbo farmhouse. Bring a dish to pass if you can, but it’s not required for attendance. Wagbo provides drinks and table service.

The program begins at 1 pm. Homebrewers Keith Kintigh and Jason Stephens will provide an introduction to the art of making "hard" cider. Discussion will include history of cider making, the role of apple varieties, and the importance of yeast choice. This is the perfect opportunity to find a delicious use for the glut of apples that have grown this year!

Autumnberry Harvest and Picnic Potluck

Date and Time: Saturday, October 8th, 4pm
Location: Raven's Roost Farm
Cost: FREE

Join the Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center for our monthly potluck program! This October, WEEDS (the Wagbo foraging group) will host the event. Activities begin at 4pm with a journey into the world of autumnberries. Autumnberry (aka Autumn olive) is a common invasive shrub throughout the United States, but few realize the berries are edible and choice! Come join us in this forager's foray and learn how to identify, harvest and prepare this delicious fruit.

When everyone's worked up an appetite we will start our picnic potluck! Bring a dish to pass if you can, but it's not required to attend. But please bring your own plate, bowl, utensils, and a chair if you'd like a seat. (We will have some on hand, but not enough for everyone!) Berry pickin' will resume until folks have enough; there will be plenty for all.

Raven's Roost Farm is located at 2398 Vandermark Road in Bellaire. For directions, see Google Maps

Benefit Concert to Raise Funds for Wagbo Roof

Courtesy of Chris Bathgate

The Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center is excited to present a benefit concert and raffle to raise money for their farmhouse roof. Working with Ric Evans of Paradigm Energy Services, they have developed a model to repair and reengineer the roof to improve its insulation value, thereby increasing its energy efficiency. To help cover the costs of this venture they have launched a “Raise the Roof” campaign which will be capped off on Saturday, September 24th with a benefit concert and raffle at the beautiful Banks Township Hall in Ellsworth, located at 6520 Center Street. This event will bring in local and regional musicians, dance instructors, artists, and farmers to share their skills and goods with the community. “Our events really attract a diverse crowd— it’s great to see people of all ages, beliefs, and lifestyles come together and have fun,” Maria Wesserle, Wagbo Program Coordinator said. Ticket prices are sliding scale $10 to $20 per adult, kids 12 and under get in free.

Fermented Punch

According to Sally Fallon's Nourishing Traditions, "punch" come from the Hindu word meaning "five," because it was crafted from five ingredients. During American colonial times, recipes called for water, sugar, lemons, tea, and liquor. In this version we use raw cane sugar (which would have been traditional in India) and whey (also readily available in India.) This results in a delicious lacto-fermented drink that's a great pick-me-up during the day!

Easy Home-made Cream Cheese

You don't need fancy cultures, special equipment, or technical knowledge to make your own tasty cream cheese at home! All you need is yogurt, a strainer, and some thin cloth. This type of cream cheese, also called yogurt cheese or labneh is far superior to most commercial varieties. This is because the beneficial bacteria in the yogurt transfer to the yogurt cheese, so you get a live-cultured product that is good for your digestion and immune system. Plus you are left with the yogurt liquid, called whey, which you can use for other fermentation adventures!

Home-made Goat Cheese

Making your own cheese has many benefits. You select your preferred type of milk, you control exactly what goes into the cheese (instead of some far-away factory!) and you can make it exactly how you enjoy it. Plus it's just plain fun! Learn how to make simple cheeses in your own home following this recipe.

September Potluck

Second Saturday Potluck

Barter Circle

Saturday, September 10th, 12pm

Join the Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center for our monthly potluck program! The food is delicious, the company enjoyable, and the programming delightful- what more could you ask for? The event begins at 12pm with a potluck in the Wagbo farmhouse. Bring a dish to pass if you can, but it’s not mandatory. Wagbo provides drinks and table service.

The program starts at 1 pm with a barter circle. Traditionally practiced for hundreds of years (if not more), barter circles bring together diverse groups of people to respectfully share their bounty with one another. Trading transfers goods to people who need them, builds relationships, and strengthens communities. So bring your handmade crafts, garden produce, agricultural products, gently used items, or anything else you find appropriate and become part of a tradition! (Remember, however, that this is not a garage sale or a place to dump unwanted items; rather bring something you think others will enjoy and hope to come away with something useful in return!)

Raise the Roof Benefit Concert and Raffle

"Raise the Roof" Benefit Concert and Raffle
An evening of folk dancing, local music, and good food to raise money for our roof 

Date and Time: Saturday, September 24th, 7 pm
Location: Banks Township Hall, Ellsworth
Cost: Sliding Scale $10-$20 per adult; Kids 12 and under are free

Support the Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center by coming out to our "Raise the Roof" benefit! Starting at 7 pm the Peacemeal String Band will play old-timey music with Dan Gorno and Jan Fowler calling contra and square dances. We welcome dancers of all levels of experience; if you've never participated in these group dances before, now is the time to discover what fun they are! Folk musician Chris Bathgate will perform starting at 9:30pm. We will also sell raffle tickets for three gift baskets, plus a grand prize of a side of pork from Providence Farm and CSA (valued at approximately $250!) Finally, be sure sure not to miss our complimentary food, tea, and coffee; enjoy samples of wild edibles; check out our merchandise table featuring handcrafted goods; and browse installations of local art. Come prepared for a fun time, and bring the whole family!

Photo courtesy of Chris Bathgate

Sponsored by Providence Farm and CSA, BC Pizza and Jo Jo's Natural Market

Read more about our benefit on our website.

New Website!

Check out the new website for the Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center at www.wagbo.org

Canoe for Cattails!

WEEDS Event: Canoe for Cattails

Saturday, June 18th, 5 pm

Bring your own canoe as we float the Jordan River downstream from Rogers Road in search of the edible flower spikes of the wonderful cattail. Likened to miniature corn-on-the-cob, this vegetable tastes mild and delicious. Try it out yourself! Float will end with a potluck at Sportsman's Park. Please bring your own plates and utensils. Free and open to the public.

Click here for a map of the canoe launch area.

Wild Edibles for Ecological Dietary Sustainability (WEEDS) is a Northern Michigan Foragers Group devoted to wildcrafting food for fun and sustenance as we reconnect to the Land. Check out our blog at http://eataweed.blogspot.com.

Event Cancelled!

From Pest to Pesto, the garlic mustard harvest scheduled for Saturday, May 28th, has been CANCELLED. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. Please stay in touch for future Wagbo events. Thank you!

Barter Circle and Potluck

First Saturday Potluck

Barter Circle

Saturday, June 4th, 12pm

Join the Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center for our monthly potluck program! The food is delicious, the company enjoyable, and the programming delightful- what more could you ask for? The event begins at 12pm with a potluck in the Wagbo farmhouse. Bring a dish to pass if you can, but it’s not mandatory. Wagbo provides drinks and table service.

The program starts at 1 pm with a barter circle. Traditionally practiced for hundreds of years (if not more), barter circles bring together diverse groups of people to respectfully share their bounty with one another. Trading transfers goods to people who need them, builds relationships, and strengthens communities. So bring your handmade crafts, garden produce, agricultural products, gently used items, or anything else you find appropriate and become part of a tradition! (Remember, however, that this is not a garage sale or a place to dump unwanted items; rather bring something you think others will enjoy and hope to come away with something useful in return!)

From Pest to Pesto

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED!

From Pest to Pesto

Saturday, May 28th, 4pm

The garlic mustard harvest has been CANCELLED. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. Please stay in touch for future Wagbo events.

Join the Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center for garlic mustard identification, harvest, and preparation at Raven’s Roost Farm in Bellaire. Learn how to transform this invasive weed into tasty table fare while clearing it from the forest. We will have a propane burner to cook some on the spot, and send everyone home with recipes. Free and open to the public.

Mother's Day Morel and Leek Walk

A Partnership of ISLAND and the Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center

Sunday, May 8th at the Wagbo Farm

Morel and Leek Walk: 10 am to noon.
Come take a walk and learn about wild edible plants and spring mushrooms. We will cover what habitat to look for and identication of wild plants and mushrooms. Please remember to dress for the weather, wear hiking footwear, and bring a basket. Stick around to learn how to pickle leeks and preserve morels at a workshop to follow!

$5-$10 suggested donation. No preregistration required. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Morel and Leek Preservation Workshop: 1 to 2:30 pm.
There are many ways to preserve morels and leeks. We will cover how to dry and freeze morels, and how to dry, freeze, and pickle wild leeks. Each participant will take home one half pint jar of pickled leeks. If you didn’t attend the walk, that’s okay! Anyone can attend the workshop.

$5-$10 sliding scale. Pre-registration required.

May Potluck: Wild Edibles Hike

First Saturday Potluck: Wild Edibles
Saturday, May 7th, 12 pm

Join the Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center for an afternoon of good food, fun company, and inspired programming. This month the potluck starts at 12 pm. Bring a dish to pass if you can, but feel free to attend with a dish or without.

The program begins at 1 pm with a hike on the Wagbo property to locate wild edibles! Learn to identify, harvest, and prepare springtime fare. We will also provide recipes to turn your harvest to a tasty dish!

Free and open to the public. For more info, contact Wagbo at 231-536-0333 or wagbo@torchlake.com.

Wild Parsnip Diggin

WEEDS Event: Wild Parsnip Diggin'
Saturday, April 23rd, 3 pm

WEEDS (Wild Edibles for Ecological and Dietary Sustainability), a project of the Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center, is a Northern Michigan forager group devoted to wildcrafting food for fun and sustenance as we reconnect to the land. We meet throughout the year in Antrim County and beyond to harvest and prepare our wild bounty. Learn more at the WEEDS blog.

Few know that wild parsnip, an invasive bane of habitat restorers, is the exact same plant you buy in the store! Bring a shovel to harvest this delicious root vegetable and help preserve native wildflowers. Free and open to the public.

For more info, contact Wagbo at 231-536-0333, or email wagbo@torchlake.com.

Maple Sugaring Open House Update

Our Maple Sugaring Open House-- scheduled for Saturday, March 26th, 10am to 3pm-- is still happening in spite of the weather. However, we are making a few changes for your convenience, and the convenience of those working for us.

The following activities have been canceled:

• Live music
• Naturalist-led hike to sugarbush

The following activities have been moved indoors:

• Bake sale
• Syrup sales
• Drawing for gift baskets
• Syrup samples served over ice cream

The sugar shack tours and farm animal visits are scheduled to continue as planned. Furthermore, we will have recorded music; maple sugaring displays; and hot tea, coffee, and cocoa inside.

We hope you can still make it out to the farm!

Music at the Open House

We will be presenting live music at the Maple Sugaring Open House on Saturday, March 26th. The musicians will play from 10 am to 2 pm, and include:

• Dwain Martin
• Kelly Shively
• Robin Luce
• Ryan Luce
• Michael Lee
• Gordon Howie

You may be familiar with these folks from Back Porch Music at the Front Porch Cafe in Ellsworth. Types of music will include folk, soft rock, mountain, blues,and originals; with instruments including guitar, fiddle, harmonica, ukulele, banjola, mandola, mandolin, and banjo, among others. Come out and see it- you'll be sure to have fun!

April Potluck: Woodcock Walk

Second Friday Potluck: Woodcock Walk

Friday, April 8th, 7 pm

Come out to our monthly potluck program for an evening of good food, fun company, and interesting presentations. The potluck starts at 7 pm. Bring a dish to pass if you can; but it's not required, so don't feel obligated! Wagbo provides drinks and table service.

The program begins at 8 pm with an evening viewing the spectacularly dramatic courtship display of the woodcock. Find out why they are nicknamed “the Little Brown Ghost” as we sneak through forest and field to experience our local harbingers of spring. Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to encounter the wild animals that live in the Jordan River Valley. Great for individuals, couples, and families! Free and open to the public.

For more info, contact Wagbo at 231-536-0333, or email wagbo@torchlake.com.

Maple Sugaring Open House

Maple Sugaring Open House

Saturday, March 26th, 10am to 3pm

Come out to the Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center for a fascinating glimpse into our maple sugaring operation! Browse our maple-themed bake sale, take a naturalist-led hike out to the sugarbush, receive a tour of our sugar shack, and watch maple syrup being made right in front of you. Bring your kids out to meet our friendly farm animals. We will be serving samples of maple sap and syrup served over ice cream. There will be a drawing for three syrup-themed door prizes. Donations suggested.

For more info, contact Wagbo at 231-536-0333, or email wagbo@torchlake.com.

March Potluck: Maple Tree Tapping!

Potluck and Maple Tree Tapping

Saturday, March 5th, 12 pm

Join the Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center for an afternoon of good food, fun company, and inspired programming. Potluck starts at 12 pm. Join us with a dish to pass or without. Wagbo provides drinks and table service.

The program begins at 1 pm with an excursion to the Wagbo Sugarbush to tap maples with the Friends of the Wagbo Sugarbush (FWSB)! Our sugarbush is a half-mile hike from the farmhouse, so come prepared for the trip. Bring snowshoes or skis if you have them (and if there's snow on the ground!) and dress for the weather. And remember, the time you spend working for FWSB earns you sweet syrup in exchange!

No experience necessary. Bring a cordless drill and 5/16" bit if you have one. Free and open to the public. Located three miles south of East Jordan on M-66. For more info, contact Wagbo at 231-536-0333, or email wagbo@torchlake.com.

Film Showing: The Economics of Happiness

Film Showing: The Economics of Happiness
Friday, February 18th, 7 pm
Donations Suggested

The Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center invites you to participate in the exciting launch of the new film from the International Society of Ecology and Culture (ISEC) titled "The Economics of Happiness," which has been shown this month to sold-out audiences in Seattle, San Francisco and Portland.  The film describes a world moving simultaneously in two opposing directions: while government and big business push for a globalized economy based on high technology and increased trade, people all over the world are working from the grassroots to nurture small scale, ecological, local economies. Running time of 67 minutes, followed by discussion. Snacks and refreshments will be served.  Donations suggested. For more information, follow this link to view a trailer of the film and learn  more about the localization movement: http://theeconomicsofhappiness.org

Guided Winter Hikes

Guided Winter Hikes 

Saturday, February 12th and Saturday, February 19th 1 pm

Cost: $5 per person 

Join the Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center for a guided winter ecology hike through the Jordan Valley. Learn to identify animal tracks, trees, bird calls, and other winter wonders. Hike ends with sledding and a warm meal! Cost: $5 per person. Located three miles south of East Jordan on M-66. For more info, contact Wagbo at 231-536-0333, or email wagbo@torchlake.com.

February Potluck: Biomass Presentation

Potluck and Biomass Presentation

Friday, February 11th, 6pm

Join the Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center for an evening of good food, fun company, and inspired programming. Potluck starts at 6 pm. Join us with a dish to pass or without. The presentation begins at 7 pm with Anne Zukowski and John Teesdale of the Friends of the Jordan River Watershed speaking about the problems of wood-burning biomass plants. Learn about the threats these plants pose to Michigan's forests and our health. Free and open to the public. Located three miles south of East Jordan on M-66. For more info, contact Wagbo at 231-536-0333, or email wagbo@torchlake.com.  See also the FOJ page on biomass.