Storytelling

I have been asked to do a TED-like talk for the Women Who Rock Conference in Novi on August 13th.  I asked my coach Noam Kostucki to help me prepare for this presentation as he has done a TED Talk and has helped others prepare for theirs.  During our coaching session he incorporated how to tell a story for myself, Parul Agrawal, and Sarah Masque.  My need was obvious.  I have to tell a story in 18 minutes, so he started explaining the best way to tell a story to help me outline my talk.  Who is the hero? Who is the enemy?  What is the problem?  How can I solve that problem?

Next he helped Parul think about how to tell a story with her juicing workshops. He asked the same questions:  Who is the hero? Who is the enemy?  What is the problem?  How can I solve that problem?  Sarah was working on her website store and Noam had her think about the story she wanted to tell with her products.  All three scenarios are perfect opportunities to tell a story that will engage our audiences/customers and get them emotionally involved.   It was fun and exciting to rethink the way I can tell a story during my presentations, workshops and farm tours.  How can Stone Coop Farm advertise our products and special events using a story?  Who is our hero?  Who is our enemy?  What is the problem?  How can we solve that problem? 

​Recommended Viewing:  Some of the kids that help at Stone Coop did a great job on our most recent YouTube video – Picking Berries at the Farm.  After all the time they spent picking and eating them, they are the experts!  Check out their harvest stories. 

Did you know that we are sponsoring two amazing farmers to complete the Organic Farmer Training Program at Michigan State?  Why is this important to us?  According to the 2014 USDA census, more than half of all US farmers will retire in less than 10 years.  Of the 2.1 million farms in the US only 14,000 are certified organic (less than 1%).  In Michigan we only have 332.  In Livingston County, I only know of 4 farms that are certified organic.  There is a great need for a new crop of farmers who are passionate about growing healthy and chemical free food.
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In 2015 we raised funds to put Nick Iafano through the Organic Farmer Training Program.  His farming endeavors this year have been mushrooms, cut flowers, tomatoes, melons and much more. 

Daniel and Antonio planting broccoli at MSU's Student Organic Farm.

We need to raise $5000 for Antonio Cosme and Daniel Moffatt.  Our New Farm Fundraiser is on Saturday, August 27th.  Their stories about why they want to be farmers are on our website under Support & Scholarships.  Details about the fundraiser are on our Special Events page.  You can also buy tickets for the Farm to Table Dinner at our Farm Store.

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