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<img width="128" height="128" src="cid:image002.png@01DA7940.42714BC0" align="left" hspace="12" alt="A white letter on a blue green and red background

Description automatically generated" id="img-3bdd0845-05b5-400c-b2a8-61b7f05f5f76"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">On

 March 1, 2024, Governor Whitmer declared March <a href="https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/news/proclamations/2024/03/01/march-2024-food-and-agriculture-month"><span style="color: blue;">Food and Agriculture Month in Michigan</span></a>. The

<a href="https://mel.org/welcome"><span style="color: blue;">Michigan <span class="SpellE">

eLibrary (MeL) <span class="SpellE">eResources</a> provide information to help Michiganders take advantage of the opportunities our state has to offer.

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<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Be Your Own Farmer</span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"></span></b></p>

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<span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Growing a garden is one of the best ways to take advantage of local food. The

<a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebsco-e700xna">

<span style="color: blue;">eBook Public Library Collection</span></a> offers tips and tricks to plan a food-producing garden this summer. For general knowledge, try

<a href="https://auth.mel.org/newera/check-direct?url=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e700xna&AN=2908155&site=ehost-live&scope=site">

<span style="color: blue;">Gardening to Eat: Connecting People and Plants</a>. Readers can learn when and how to plant and harvest a variety of foods and enjoy recipes created to utilize their nutritious bounty.

<a href="https://auth.mel.org/newera/check-direct?url=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e700xna&AN=2217728&site=ehost-live&scope=site">

<i><span style="color: blue;">Vertical Gardening</span></i></a> and <i><a href="https://auth.mel.org/newera/check-direct?url=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e700xna&AN=2760786&site=ehost-live&scope=site"><span style="color: blue;">Micro

 Food Gardening: Project Plans and Plants for Growing Fruits and Veggies in Tiny Spaces</span></a> </i>both encourage gardening in the space you have. These eBooks describe how we can grow food in unusual places rather than focusing on limitations. With over

<a href="https://auth.mel.org/newera/check-direct?url=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e700xna&bquery=gardening&type=0&searchMode=And&site=ehost-live&scope=site">

<span style="color: blue;">400 additional gardening eBooks</span></a> including topics such as composting, organic gardening, and gardening with kids, the

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<span style="color: blue;">eBook Public Library Collection</span></a> has something for everyone.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"></span></p>

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<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Support a Community Garden</span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"></span></b></p>

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<span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Community gardens using empty land offer significant benefits. According to "<a href="https://auth.mel.org/newera/check-direct?url=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=c9h&AN=171951533&site=ehost-live&scope=site"><span style="color: blue;">The

 Proof is in the Kale</span></a>" in <span class="SpellE"><i>BioCycle</i></span><i> CONNECT</i> from

<a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebsco-c9h">

<span style="color: blue;">Consumer Health Complete</span></a>, urban areas often have enough open land to grow a large percentage of the produce needed to feed a whole city. Though it might not be possible to feed everyone, libraries can be involved in community

 garden efforts. During a recent visit to Pentwater Township Library, I saw raised garden beds that yielded produce that was given away to patrons at the library. A recent article in

<i>American Libraries</i> from <a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebsco-lls">

<span style="color: blue;">Library & Information Science Source</span></a>, "<a href="https://auth.mel.org/newera/check-direct?url=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lls&AN=164069510&site=ehost-live&scope=site"><span style="color: blue;">Fresh

Ideas: Libraries Install Fridges to Address Food Insecurity</a>," detailed efforts to provide fresh food to anyone in need.

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<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Seed Libraries and Programming</span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"></span></b></p>

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<span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Many libraries participate in initiatives to provide seeds to their patrons. "<a href="https://auth.mel.org/newera/check-direct?url=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lls&AN=169723319&site=ehost-live&scope=site"><span style="color: blue;">How

 We Built a Seed Library (and How You Can, Too)</span></a>" in <i>The Washington Library Association Journal</i> from

<a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebsco-lls">

<span style="color: blue;">Library & Information Science Source</span></a> and <a href="https://auth.mel.org/newera/check-direct?url=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e700xna&AN=945253&site=ehost-live&scope=site">

<i><span style="color: blue;">Seed Libraries: And Other Means of Keeping Seeds in the Hands of People</span></i></a> in the

<a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebsco-e700xna">

<span style="color: blue;">eBook Public Library Collection</span></a> can help libraries get started. Michigan also has a

<a href="https://miseedlibrary.org/"><span style="color: blue;">network of seed libraries</span></a> you can join. Along with hosting a seed library, consider planning programming from gardeners, farmers, chefs, and food preservationists. These experts can

 help boost knowledge and confidence in growing, cooking, and preserving one's own food.

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<span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Spring in Michigan is the perfect time to start planning a summer garden. Use content in the MeL

<span class="SpellE">eResources</span> to get started on your journey today.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"></span></p>

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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">If you have any MeL

<span class="SpellE">eResources</span> questions or issues, contact </span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><a href="mailto:melerhelp@mcls.org"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background: white; color: blue;">melerhelp@mcls.org</span></b></a></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">

 for help.</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"></span></p>

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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Brought to you by

<b>Laura Warren-Gross</b> from the MeL Team. </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"></span></p>

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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Supporting Michigan Libraries by Putting You First. </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"></span></p>

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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Want more information on MeL?  Stay tuned for the next MeL Minute available on many Michigan library listservs,  visit </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><a href="http://mel.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background: white; color: rgb(41, 84, 209);">http://mel.org</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">,

or sign up for the MeL Minute and other Library of Michigan e-mail lists via <span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><a href="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MILOM/subscriber/new" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background: white; color: rgb(41, 84, 209);">GovDelivery</a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">.

 We encourage you to share MeL Minutes with your colleagues and networks. </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"></span></p>

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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">MeL <span class="SpellE">eResources</span> are available to Michigan residents or for Michigan library or school access only. </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"></span></p>

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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library of Michigan.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"></span></p>

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<a name="_MailAutoSig"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;">Laura Warren-Gross</span></b></a><span style=""><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"></span></span></p>

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<span style=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(36, 36, 36);">MeL Engagement Specialist for Public Libraries</span></span><span style=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(36, 36, 36);"> </span></span><span style=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(36, 36, 36);"><br>

</span></span><span style=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;">Midwest Collaborative for Library Services  <br>

517-481-2022 </span></span><span style=""><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span></span><span style=""><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"></span></span></p>

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<span style=""><u><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">warren-grossl@mcls.org</span></u></span><span style=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;">  </span></span><span style=""><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"></span></span></p>

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