January Update from Ruby Ellen Farm

Rex & Laddie in Winter

Volunteer Opportunities

We are looking for individuals interested in assisting us in the maintenance and care of our historic gardens both vegetable and flower. If you or your garden club is interested in spending some time at Ruby Ellen this summer assisting us in preserving our heirloom gardens, please contact Peggy at 231-590-9304.

Ruby Ellen Farm 150th Anniversary Wrap-Up

A special thanks to all who participated in our summer of celebration at Ruby Ellen Farm in recognition of our 150th Anniversary. We especially want to thank all of our volunteers for their valuable time and effort in making the celebration a success- Thanks to all!

Meet our newest Board of Directors member: Brian Bourdages

Brian has had a long career in natural resource and farmland preservation and stewardship. For the last 15 years, Brian worked at the Leelanau Conservancy and the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy preserving the globally unique farmland resources of the West Michigan Fruitbelt. Brian had the good fortune of knowing Rex Dobson, enjoying talks with him about his preservation ethic, and his unique position as the first farmer in the region to participate in the state’s permanent farmland preservation program. Brian now works for Tamarack Holdings, a holding company for a group of Michigan-based food businesses, including Cherry Capital Foods, one of the country’s only for-profit regional food hubs. When not busy at work, Brian enjoys playing guitar, collecting vintage stereo equipment and fly-fishing the area’s rivers and lakes, often with his boys Joe (17) and Elliot (14) in tow.

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