Nice Barbecue Foods photos
Some cool barbecue foods images:
Birmingham Farmers Market Photo by Michigan Municipal League
Image by Michigan Municipal League (MML)
The Michigan Municipal league is doing a series of case studies or how-to reports about placemaking activities taking place throughout the Great Lakes State. The League recently completed an in-depth look at the state’s rapidly growing farmers market movement. In doing the study, the League visited about 40 of the 300-plus markets in Michigan.
We took photos of each market observed and are posting them here on flickr so that the world can see the important role that farmers markets can play in making vibrant communities. Feel free to use any of these photos from our visit to the Birmingham Farmers Market in the summer of 2014. We just ask that photo credit be given like this: flickr photo/Michigan Municipal League, mml.org.
You can view the farmers market case study here: placemaking.mml.org/michigan-farmers-markets and a blog and slideshow about the farmers markets here: placemaking.mml.org/2014/09/15/placemaking-in-action-mich…. You can view all our how-to reports here: placemaking.mml.org/how-to/. Go here to view our flickr entire collection of farmers market photos: www.flickr.com/photos/michigancommunities/collections/721…
Here are some details about this case study and what we found during our statewide farmers market tour in the summer of 2014:
The 300-plus farmers markets that exist in Michigan come in all shapes and sizes. They’re in large urban centers and tiny villages. They pop up in parking lots, fields, roadsides, on main street and in permanent, historic structures.
They sell traditional farmers market fare – corn, apples, maple syrup, potatoes, and pumpkins – and the unexpected – homemade spices, baby clothes, fresh-caught fish, jewelry, and even sea urchin. You can get your knives sharpened, your face painted and your groceries for the week. At a farmers market you can find old friends and meet new ones. And you can talk to the vendor who grew the melon or flowers you’re thinking about buying.
Farmers markets can even help create a place for people to gather and revitalize a community and give an economic boost to existing businesses and inspire new merchants to open.
In writing a how-to case study about Michigan Farmers Market for the Michigan Municipal League, I got the chance this summer to visit about 30 markets across our great state. I saw thousands of people pack into the new location for the Flint Farmers Market to great fanfare for its grand opening in downtown on June 21. I smelled the yummy salsa dish a woman was preparing for her church fundraiser at the Dansville Farmers Market. I saw a man holding a rooster in Birmingham, a robotics team in Grand Blanc, violinists performing in East Lansing and Traverse City, and Spanish mackerel on sale at the new Downtown Market in Grand Rapids.
I’ve always enjoyed going to farmers markets but the sights and sounds I experienced in my market tour this summer were truly inspirational, exciting and simply fun. While I saw many successful markets, I did experience some that seemed to need a shot in the arm. I also attempted to go to a couple markets that I eventually learned are no longer in operation.
So what makes one market flourish as another withers on the vine?
The success or failure of a market can come down to three words: Relationships, relationships, relationships, said Dru Montri, director of the Michigan Farmers Market Association, an East Lansing-based non-profit organization that tracks and provides support to farmers markets throughout the state.
Montri said the 320 farmers markets in their data base this year is a record high since the association formed and starting tracking farmers markets in 2006. While some close each year many more open.
“Farmers markets are based on relationships,” Montri explained. “That’s the best thing about markets, and it can also be the most challenging aspect of markets. It’s relationships between farmers themselves, relationships between vendors and the market management, relationships between the market manager and sponsors and relationships between vendors and shoppers. All of those are very, very important. People love farmers markets because of that. People love going and talking to vendors about how things are grown.”
But Montri said when relationships sour that can impact everything in a market. A successful market will have strong leaders who can forge good relationships on all levels. She suggests a market have a board of directors or advisory team to oversee it.
Montri said the number of farmers markets in Michigan have doubled since 2006 for several reasons.
Those reasons include an increase in consumer interest about where and how their food is made and processed; a growing awareness among community leaders about the value a farmers market can have in economic development and creating a sense of place and community in their town; and a desire by farmers and vendors in direct marketing options, which tend to be more profitable.
She believes the number of markets will continue to grow for the foreseeable future, especially as more markets start to offer financial assistance programs to those in need, such as the acceptance of SNAP Bridge Cards and related services.
“There is such a large number of consumers who haven’t even yet considered shopping at farmers markets,” Montri said. “As long as we have the potential to bring more people into farmers markets, we have the opportunity to expand the number of markets. As long as we are strategic about growth, we can avoid these saturation points. But, starting a market a mile away from an existing market on the same day of the week, for example, can cause over saturation.”
This post and related case study was written by Matt Bach, director of media relations for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at mbach@mml.org.
LNY Elite Event: Pelicana Chicken
Image by Yelp.com
The Yelp Year of the Goat/Ram/Sheep got off to a chicken gorging start thanks to our friends from Pelicana Chicken (www.yelp.com/biz/pelicana-chicken-flushing-2) and a never ending flow of Korean beer and Coors (www.coors.com). This is the first ever event in Flushing’s infamous KTown, the largest on the east coast. See the reviews here: www.yelp.com/biz/elite-event-lny-at-pelicana-chicken-flus… @PelicanaChicken
SBK Sachsen – Kammerversammlung & Sommerfest 2015
Image by Steuerberaterkammer des Freistaates Sachsen
29. Kammerversammlung mit Sommerfest, Fire Training Flughafen Leipzig/Halle am 02.07.2015 (Fotograf: Sandrino Donnhauser)
Nice Recipes photos
A few nice recipes images I found:
Recipes – Breakfast Cups
Image by planetirony
Recipes
Duchess Bake Shop Cookbook Launch
Check out these cookbook images:
Duchess Bake Shop Cookbook Launch
Image by mastermaq
Duchess Bake Shop Cookbook Launch
Turkey
Image by sweet mustache
My newest cook book. Will have pictures soon of meals I’ve made.
Lahmacun
Rice on Green Beans
Braised Lamb in Yogurt Sauce
Chicken Ragout
Ladies Thighs
Chicken Ragout with Shallots
Cool Recipes images
Check out these recipes images:
Potato Kugel (03)
Image by Thomas Cizauskas
Nana’s Potato Kugelis (with some veg-adaptations).
STEP 3
In separate pan, make roux with flour and soy margarine. Cook until fragrant and just beginning to brown. Fold into sautéed vegetable mixture.
************************
Step 1
Step 2
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
Recipe for POTATO KUGELIS Ambraziene: here.
************************
Photo by Yours For Good Fermentables.com.
Recipes – Pasta Salad II
Image by planetirony
Recipes
13
Image by Nell Lewin
Plant Based Diet
A few nice diet images I found:
Plant Based Diet
Image by Thomas Hawk
5570 Plea
Image by rynsms
Further confirmation that I am truly obsessed with Diet Mountain Dew. The soda (pop) machine in our office building did not store the elixir of life (Dew) and I was pushed to drastic measures. This is the note that I taped on the Pepsi machine. Three days later, Mr. Pepsi Man came through with a simple "It’s in there" scribbled on my note, as well as a completely Dew-stocked machine. I made 5 copies in case any houligans decided to foil my plan. Luckily enough, no foilings were set in motion and our protagonist prevailed.
I am happy and gracious and the poorer for it. Here’s to you, Mr. Pepsi Man!
