This is where we started early Saturday morning with our first hoop build of the season, out at the
Tilian Farm Development Center, on Pontiac Trail, just north of Ann Arbor. The ground posts were set and level, a few baseboards were in place, and there was a rich layer of compost already spread, ready for the hoop’s footprint. I’m including some photos from our hoop adventure, but there’s lots more to see at
Real Time Farms and
HERE, too.
ready for action
beginning of building bows
working with the bow jig
bows ready for placement in the ground posts
installing the bows
our morning crew
Tilian farmers with Andrea,Scooter, Jeff & Lisa
lunch break
inside the barn
end walls and interior supports
the completed hoop, ready for the plastic
the Lake Folk band
Katie Battistoni relaxing after her set
After the hoop was done, we headed back into the barn for dinner, which along with lots of other delicious fare, included donations of two massive trays of Zingerman’s Roadhouse mac and cheese, beer from Wolverine State Brewing Company, and dessert thanks to MaryAnn Nisley from Whole Foods Market on Washtenaw. We were thoroughly entertained by the ever lovely Katie Battistoni of Miss Katie and the MereKats, as well as the way cool band Lake Folk, including Erin Shellman on bass and vocals, Eric Anderson on banjo and mandolin, Danielle Gartner on Cello and mandolin, Bryan Mayer on Guitar, and John Nipper on percussion.
And, of course, the hugest of all huge thanks to the nearly 90 volunteers who came out to work on Saturday, including the farmers and their families, Matt Scooter Merrins for all his incredible organizational work to pull off the build, Andrea Ridgard for all things Tilian related, and those who made us amazing food that fortified us through the day, including Mia Gottlieb, Cynthia Hoffman, Rachel Chadderdon, Kim Kunoff, Chris Wick, Morgan Mihok, Joe Stucky, Katie Bush, Marie Stanyar, Michelle Fortin, Andrea Ridgard, and Mary Sexton. I’d like to give a special shout out of thanks to regular Selma Cafe volunteer Mike Green, who helped me haul food, beer, supplies, tables and lots of other food related stuff for both lunch and dinner, and to my sister Mia Gottlieb who cooked up a huge batch of chicken vegetable soup and was my right hand gal for the whole weekend. My job would have been way too much work if it weren’t for Mike and Mia. If I’ve left anyone out, please let me know and I will be thrilled to include them.
Thank you to our outside crew including hoop builders, compost movers, barn cleaners and everything else that needed doing: Renee Henry, Jim LeMaine, James Tobin, Heidi Winkleman, Mary Lynn Bigelow, Jen DeMoss, Sam Cheslak, Jan Bachman, Jimmy Simonte, Ginny Golembiewski, Becca Coughlin, Monica Candal, Jennifer Lada, Jeff Chelf, Debbie Lada Hoffman, Mel Adams, Duff, Dan Carroll, Lindsey Kerr, Warren Lada, Sandy Lada, Jesse Hoffman, Jeff Holden, Barbara Lucas, Justin Lefevre, Misa Cady, Noah Link, Mary Sexton, Evan Dayringer, Codi Sharp, Allan Quick, Erica Mooney, Sophie Tulip, Ross and Tammy Sweetman, George Fahmie, Tracy Lai, Alexander Fisher, Matt Rodriguez, Arthur and Courtney Peterson, Amber and Kerby Smithson, Leah Hagamen, Tim Redmond, Mike Rodriguez, Wesley and Barry Treemore, Amanda Sweetman, The Kengas family from Capella Farm, Ed Mahony, Cayla Tinney, Joe and Melissa Stucky, Tome McElroy, Gabbriella and Kim Kunoff, Katie Rausch, Marcus Castiglione, Holly Kroft, Joe Rhodes, Wesley Stevenson, Marie Stanyar, Ed Mahoney, Dan Bair, Gretchen Gehrke, Libby Brooks, Michael Moran, Cheryl Nowak, Daivia Gylys, Elana Taubman, Bridget Henly, Travis Heeren, Mark Nowak, Jose’ and Lindy Alfaro, Ramcey Zeitan, Mary Jo and Jim McNair, Kendal Kuneman, Sarah Groat, and Greg Hart.
Despite the rain, the wind, the cold and the rustic conditions, this hoop build was a total success. Finally, thank you Jeff McCabe (er, you know, my hubby) for your vision, your solutions to difficulties, your hard work and stamina, and your wonderful positive attitude. Everyone worked safely, people had each other’s backs, we all ate and drank well, and we got the hoop built, the barn cleaned, the brush cleared and compost moved.
Thank you to everyone who helped, and if this sounds like a blast, which it really is, please take a minute to sign up for this summer’s 20 Hoops in 20 days adventure HERE.
Big appreciation and gratitude from Lisa, Scooter, Andrea, Jeff and the Farmers!
PS- Am I the only one who ended up with poison ivy???
~Lisa
