By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Horticulture is just one of the topics growing at Michigan State University’s 96th annual Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) Week.

Hosted by the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, MSU extension and the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, this year’s event is March 4-12 in East Lansing. It offers dozens of sessions covering animal agriculture, crops production, artisanal cheese making, organic farming, renewable energy and more.

A three-day artisanal cheese-making class is March 7-9. The workshop serves as a hands-on opportunity for people who have never made cheese and those who want to improve their skills to enter the cheese business.
MSU associate professor and dairy food extension specialist Dr. John Partridge, extension district dairy educator emeritus G. William Robb and Barbara Jenness of Dancing Goat Creamery will lead the sessions. Registration is $425 per person and includes all supplies and lunch for the three-day workshop.

To register, contact Megghan Honke by e-mail at honkemeg@msu.edu or call 517-353-3175, ext. 229.

Several sessions also are offered for attendees looking to cultivate their green thumb. The Michigan Horticultural Therapy Assoc. (MHTA) presents “Horticultural Therapy: Connecting People and Plants.” The workshop is an opportunity for those interested in learning about horticulture as therapy to gain understanding and skills. It is March 11 from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in the MSU Veterinary Medical Center and Plant and Soil Sciences Building.

On March 12, MHTA will present “Horticultural Therapy: Practical Applications” from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. This session aims at inspiring participants to enrich the lives of others by using horticulture as therapy in practical ways.

Visit www.michiganhta.org or e-mail Cathy Flinton at cathy@michiganhta.org for registration costs, or to register for either of the MHTA events.

The fourth annual Market Manager “Boot Camp” will whip the manager of any farmers’ market into shape for the upcoming season. The session is March 8 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Kellogg Center. The day includes a mix of roundtable discussions, facilitated breakout sessions and networking opportunities.
The cost is $50 for members of the Michigan Farmers Market Assoc. and $85 for non-members.

The Michigan Gladiolus Conference is set for March 10-11 at the Holiday Inn in Battle Creek. It includes sessions in corsage-making and the top 10 new seedlings. Dr. Lowell Ewart from MSU will present his latest results on research for “Fragrance, Health and Performance with Glads.”

Ensata Gardens will present information on Siberian irises, hostas and daylilies. In the afternoon, Mel Schrimpe will talk about his operation and method of preparing for shows, followed by a program on merchandising and marketing by Kurt Freeman from Penrod-Hiawatha.

For registration fees and other information, contact Ewart by e-mail at ewart@msu.edu

“Horse-in Around with Herbs,” the Michigan Herb Associates’ 24th annual conference, features programs for beginning and advanced herb gardeners and crafters who enjoy growing and using herbs as a hobby. Programming includes lectures and demonstrations on herbs, cooking demonstrations, herb garden design, horseradish, the 2011 Herb of the Year, and more.

To register, visit  http://miherb.org or contact Karen Beekman at 517-349-1709.

The 2011 Michigan Organic Conference “Keeping the Local in Organic” is March 5 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center. It includes 16 educational sessions on organic agriculture and food systems. Mark Kastel of the Cornucopia Institute is the keynote speaker.

New this year, the Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance will host a special “Taste of Michigan” event and mixer featuring live music in the evening. Visit www.MOFFA.org for more information.

A variety of other events include the Michigan State Rabbit Breeders Conference, the Small Flock Poultry Workshop, the Michigan Beekeepers Assoc. Conference, the Michigan Horse Council Horse Expo, Spring Goat Day, the 83rd Michigan FFA Convention and more. Visit www.anrweek.canr.msu.edu/anr week for a complete list of ANR Week programs, conferences and educational opportunities.