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2024
EGLE Newsroom | December 3, 2024
“The new contingent of 31 MHC Corps members will work through October 2025 to develop practical resources for Michiganders, bolster the state’s clean energy and sustainability workforce, build climate action capacity in communities across the state…”
https://www.interlochenpublicradio.org/2024-11-14/smashing-pumpkins-in-traverse-city-to-reduce-trash
Interlochen Public Radio | November 14, 2024
“The city, Carter’s Compost, and the nonprofit SEEDS held the “Pumpkin Smashing Extravaganza” after more than a week of collecting pumpkins at the new composter. The underlying goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions coming from landfills, like methane that comes from food waste.”
https://www.traverseticker.com/calendar/2024/11/09/pumpkin-smashing-extravaganza/
Traverse City Ticker | November 9, 2024
“The City of Traverse City is teaming up with Carter’s Compost & SEEDS at the City’s in-vessel composting unit, located at 143 Beitner Rd. The City hopes to divert 1 ton of pumpkins from landfills. Composting pumpkins helps reduce greenhouse gases, diverts waste, & returns nutrients to the soil, improving environmental health.”
Traverse City Ticker | November 6, 2024
“Last week, the City of Traverse City launched the “Pumpkin Smashing Extravaganza,” a program with a goal of diverting post-Halloween pumpkin waste from landfills. On Tuesday, the city announced that, in just the first three days of the program, it met its goal of collecting 1 ton of pumpkins. Now, the city and its partners have set a new goal of logging 2 tons of pumpkin waste by the time the program concludes this coming Saturday, November 9.”
https://www.northernexpress.com/news/feature/smashing-pumpkins-for-compost/
Northern Express | November 2, 2024
“Take part in the Pumpkin Smashing Extravaganza and help our environment! The City of Traverse City is teaming up with Carter’s Compost and SEEDS at the city’s in-vessel composting unit, located at 143 Beitner Rd. on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 10am-1pm.”
https://compostingtechnology.com/traverse-city/
Green Mountain Technologies | October 2024
“The Earth Flow IM20 in vessel composting system is the hub of an impressive partnership between Traverse City, Carter’s Compost and the SEEDS Ecology and Education Center.”
Traverse City Record-Eagle | October 23, 2024
“In 2021 SEEDS commissioned a “market analysis” of the local organic waste stream and diversion opportunities in the 10-county region. SEEDS’ research showed that in Grand Traverse County, more than 15,000 tons of organic material were being landfilled annually, producing the equivalent of greenhouse gases from around 2,000 vehicles. The study identified the need for a centralized composting facility to process additional food waste along with the yard waste already composted by the city.”
Traverse City Record-Eagle | October 2, 2024
“SEEDS Ecology and Education Centers was recognized during the State of Michigan’s Race to Talent event, part of this year’s Michigan Works! Conference.”
https://www.interlochenpublicradio.org/2024-09-25/traverse-city-has-a-new-compost-machine
Interlochen Public Radio | September 25, 2024
“SEEDS will help run the composter, which can process up to 60 tons of food waste a year. It will take the finished product to Historic Barns Park, where it will be part of the compost petting zoo and will be used in the gardens there.”
UpNorthLive | September 20, 2024
“The city held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday for its Compost and Food Waste Reduction project.
‘Getting organic material out of the flow of landfills has a lot of community benefit,’ Seeds Ecology and Educational Centers Executive Director Sarna Salzman said.”
Traverse City Ticker | September 20, 2024
“Groups including Norte, TART Trails, SEEDS, Grand Traverse Conservation District and the YMCA have all expressed interest in partnering on programming, such as summer day camps.”
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/compost-goalpost-more-food-less-183200176.html
Yahoo! Life [The Record-Eagle, Traverse City, Mich.] | September 14, 2024
“The Michigan Recycling Coalition and the Michigan Organics Council are hosting the Great Michigan Compost Tour around the state this fall.
Locally, SEEDS Ecology and Education Centers will present the Great Northern Michigan Compost Crawl next week.”
https://www.traverseticker.com/news/city-projects-on-deck-railroad-avenue-and-lot-g-construction-compost-program-launch/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFL6JxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHapYvfohS9-hfcouKpxgh2JpBMEYKDLeRfJE-gcVk60EDF1SJRyI0jFDqA_aem_NZjOgcFD7sL3BezZLu9bpgTraverse City Ticker | September 9, 2024
The city will host a public ribbon-cutting ceremony September 19 at 3:30pm at the Department of Public Services (DPS) facility at 625 Woodmere Avenue to celebrate the official launch of the city’s Compost and Food Waste Reduction Project.
9&10 News | September 6, 2024
“Currently, 38% of what we throw away is material that, under different circumstances, could be composted and turned back into soil. Instead, what happens in the landfill is that material, gets in an environment that has no oxygen and anaerobic environment, and it, turns into methane, which is a highly potent greenhouse gas,” says Sarna Salzman SEEDS Executive Director.
https://record-eagle-cnhi.newsmemory.com/?special=leaders
Traverse City Record-Eagle, August 11 2024
Michigan.gov, March 22, 2024
An innovative program’s first cohort begins its eight-month mission to drive climate action across the state and support a new generation of climate professionals with workforce development and leadership skills.
Traverse City Record-Eagle, March 1 2024
The grant is part of $64 million in Community Center grant funding being awarded to municipalities and organizations across the state. SEEDS is to receive $250K.
Great Lakes Now/IPR, January 17, 2024
Along with Elk Rapids, several other entities have Climate Corps positions in northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, including the Antrim Conservation District in Bellaire, East Bay Charter Township near Traverse City, and organizations such as Michigan Energy Options and SEEDS Ecology and Education Centers.
IPR, January 2, 2024
SEEDS has been composting with local restaurants in Traverse City, and in 2023, the initiative has diverted more than 6,700 lbs of food scraps!
State of Michigan; January 8,2024
Apply for the first generation of Climate Corps volunteers!
https://www.manisteenews.com/news/article/manistee-county-community-foundation-awards-18596479.php
Manistee News Advocate; January 8, 2024
SEEDS is awared $40K in grants to continue environmental education in Manistee County! Read more here!
Urban Wood Network, January 12, 2024
EcoCorps Program Director, Jennifer Flynn, is named one of the newest members on the board for the Urban Wood Network!
2023
https://www.traverseticker.com/news/turtle-cove-nature-preserve-open-to-public/
Traverse City Ticker, December 29, 2023
SEEDS EcoCorps crew members built nearly 2 miles of trail around Arbutus Lake in Grand Traverse County!
The Traverse City Ticker; Nov. 22, 2023
The Traverse City Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is preparing to launch two significant new programs: a long-discussed new retail incubator, which is targeting an April opening but will host a holiday pop-up, and a composting program for downtown restaurants.
Michigan NCST News & Updates; September 14, 2023
EcoCorps work recap along Sawdust Hole in Manistee National Forest.
9 & 10 News, September 6, 2023
Brief highlight from TC Tourism’s marketing campaign for #GreenForGoodTC. Learn more about it here!
Traverse City Record-Eagle; August 23, 2023
Local residents pull invasive plants at the SEEDS Farm at Historic Barns Park.
The Herald Review; August 22, 2023
The Evart DDA, in coordination with the Twin Creek Nature Area hosted the inaugural Environmental Education Expo in downtown Evart
Traverse City Ticker, July 28, 2023
The Traverse City Ticker sits down with Executive Director, Sarna Salzman, to discuss the region-wide composting initiative.
9 & 10 News, July 18, 2023
SEEDS EcoSchool brings unique learning opportunities to students across Northern Michigan.
Teaching staff prioritize hands-on and outdoor activities that develop leadership, life skills, and resilience.
SEEDS Ecoschool at Benzie Middle School created a doghouse for Cherryland Humane Society, and students and staff tell us more about that project and everything they do!
https://www.traverseticker.com/news/city-moves-toward-adopting-sustainable-building-policy/
Traverse City Ticker; March, 27, 2023
What started as a discussion last fall among Traverse City commissioners about adopting a new building electrification policy has expanded into a broader review of sustainable building practices.
UpNorth Live; March 22, 2023
Students in the program get hands-on experience by working on different school and community projects.
https://www.traverseticker.com/news/compost-pilot-program-tree-plantings-nez-on-city-agenda/
Ticker, February 27, 2023
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded the city a $255,396 grant for a two-year pilot to launch a compost and food waste reduction program. The city’s department of public services – working with the city manager’s office, a city-contracted grant writer, and local nonprofit SEEDS – successfully applied for the grant aimed at educating the community on “the potential reduction of waste by using small-scale food composting operations.”
Traverse City Record Eagle, February 26, 2023
Thanks to the Traverse City-based SEEDS EcoCorps, more than 575 youth since 2009 have been a part of a green-collar workforce learning the skills and opportunities involved in environmental careers.
2022
WCMU Public Radio, October 25, 2022
Organic waste makes up a one-third of Michigan’s solid waste stream. And it’s not just food. It’s also yard waste and paper. Listen to the interview here.
https://www.northernexpress.com/news/feature/protecting-our-homeland-ecocorps/
The Northern Express, October 10, 2022
Northern Michigan is a special place to live and work for many reasons, but chief among the area’s benefits is our beautiful—and in some places, still untouched—natural setting. In an effort to make sure that beauty exists for decades to come, Traverse City nonprofit SEEDS Ecology and Education Centers teamed up with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service this summer for habitat restoration projects in the Huron-Manistee National Forests.
The Record Eagle, September 23, 2022
Arguably one of the most impactful ways to improve human wellness and mitigate the impacts of climate change is a robust and healthy trail system. – Jennifer Flynn, EcoCorps Program Director
https://www.leelanaunews.com/life-leelanau/ecocorps-team-work-sleeping-bear-dunes
Leelanau Enterprise, August 24, 2022
Jennifer Flynn, EcoCorps program director, said EcoCorps members enjoy a sense of adventure in their work.
https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/volunteers-do-maintenance-work-at-sleeping-bear
UpNorthLive, August 19, 2022
One of the group’s members you may see helping out is Petra Foote. Last year was her first year as an EcoCorps crew member. Foote said since then she found a new love for the outdoors and what goes into restoring and naturalizing parks.
Cadillac News, August 11, 2022
During the summer break, SEEDS held an EcoSchool summer camp where students at Marion Elementary were exposed to several projects including learning about nature, ecology, science, history and culture. This was done through hands-on activities and field trips.
The Record Eagle, July 14, 2022
“This Hodeypyle section is a more focused project. It requires planning and oversight, and more volunteers and local conservation resource support such as SEEDS when we can get it. They have been a big help in completing these type of projects.”
Benzie County Record Patriot, July 7, 2022
Students at Benzie County Central Middle School are getting the chance to learn gardening basics and other skills as part of a SEEDS EcoSchool summer program.
https://www.bigrapidsnews.com/news/article/Twin-Creek-Nature-Area-in-Evart-hosts-SEEDS-17287514.php
The Herald Review, July 5, 2022
Twin Creek Nature Area in Evart hosted a group of students from Marion Public Schools last week as part of the SEEDS EcoSchool program.
The Record Eagle, May 14, 2022
All the fresh herbs, vegetables, and fruits grown in the Giving Garden are harvested and distributed to families experiencing food insecurity.
https://www.traverseticker.com/news/the-gamechangers-part-6-old-buildings-new-institutions/
Traverse City Ticker, May 8, 2022
In the early 2000s, the City of Traverse City and Garfield Township banded together to form a joint recreational authority concerned with finding a future use for the historic barns on the State Hospital grounds, along with several surrounding parklands.
The Record Eagle, April 17, 2022
Pent up energy from a day of sitting in class filled the woods behind Forest Area middle and high school on Thursday afternoon.
UpNorthLive, April 15, 2022
SEEDS EcoSchool has been a part of Benzie County Central Schools for four years. Students K-12 can sign up throughout the school year. Watch video here.
https://www.traverseticker.com/news/traverse-citys-big-year/
Traverse Ticker, Jan 8, 2022
The city partnered with SEEDS on an urban wood program that repurposed trees removed during the Safe Routes to School project and during the road construction project at the Historic Barns.
Looking for something older?
Looking for an archive article not listed here? Contact hello@ecoseeds.org.
