Historic Home Preservation Loans in Toledo, Cleveland Dirt Cheap

The Lucas County Land Bank, created to keep neighborhoods from sinking under the weight of delinquent and abandoned properties, has grown and flourished. Current programs include grants for new roofs for low-income homeowners (only through June 2015), chance to get side lots, land for gardens, and their newest cool thing.

The Heritage Home Program gives low-cost loans to homeowners with historic homes to restore their homes along historically appropriate lines. That means no aluminum siding and other stuff that messes up historic authenticity, but free consultation with experts, recommendations to qualified contractors, and loans as low as 3.5%.

In Cleveland, the Heritage Home Program offers similar help to owners of historic residences in the metropolitan Cleveland area. They offer help with consultants, low-cost loans, and even purchasing. If you love historic homes in these two towns, they awe worth a look.  If you live elsewhere, contact your local preservation society to find out if there is a similar organization near you.

Incubators Aren't Just for Business... Farm Incubator Programs

We've done features on business incubators, and food business incubators, but did you know that there are farm incubators, too?  Various programs have popped up to start new farmers in the business with  (small) grants of funds, land (leased), and consultation and training to help urban farmers get a good start. 

For instance, the city of Cleveland, Ohio has a Gardening for Greenbacks program that gives grants of up to $3000 for those who go through the market garden training program, or have contracts for produce, or a member of a farmer's coop or a community supported agricultural program.  For more information, contact Jennifer Scofield at 216.664.4310.

The nearby Kinsman Farm leases out quarter acre lots to newbie farmers and mentors them and helps them develop business plans.  In Ann Arbor, Michigan, the Tilian Center provides quarter acre lots with access to equipment and consultation to help them get their feet wet in farming.

For the closest thing to a national directory of farm incubators, try this searchable website provided by the National Incubator Farm Training Initiative.   

They warn that it's not being updated, but it is as close to a directory as we can find.  You might also try googling the phrase "farm incubators" and the name of your state.  

Toledo Free Christmas Meals 2013

The Toledo Catholic Diocese finally came up with their list of free holiday meals for 2013. In the Cleveland and northeast Ohio area, there is this list of free Christmas meals.  For sites of meals near you, try 211 in your area, or check the 211 website under the heading "Holiday Meals."