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MDA Builds Upon Work to Better Support Emerging Farmers
Editors note: Following the “Agriculture in the Metro” session at our Annual Conference last week, Minnesota Department of Agriculture Assistant Commissioner Patrice Bailey phoned in with some resources he wished to share with emerging farmers. The Department of Agriculture was started as the Minnesota State Dairy Commission in 1885 by a department head, a single…
Read MoreBeyond Your Backyard – What will you do for her: ??
When I first was thinking about what I wanted to write to kick off the new year, I was going to write a piece about snow—how important it is to recharge our aquifers, insulate the soil, and provide protection for plants and wildlife to name a few benefits. But given the current times, I think…
Read MoreBeyond Your Backyard: The lucky one
Oh what a year we’ve had together. It’s easy with all the stress swirling around us to forget what we have right in front of us. Through all the ups and downs, twists and turns, and unexpected events, we are part of a carefully woven fabric. More intricate and complex than any man-made fiber. Woven…
Read MorePut ‘Lake Superior Roots & Recipes’ on Your Table
Earlier this year, the Lake Superior Sustainable Farming Association (LSSFA) launched a new website called ‘Lake Superior Roots & Recipes,’ featuring recipes, cooking tips, and information about our local food system. In the midst of the holiday season, you may find some ideas to add to your own table! Since the Coronavirus pandemic began, more…
Read MoreLaunching the Local Producer Sustainability Project
My name is James Harren and I’m excited to announce the launch of the Local Producer Sustainability Project. I’ll be working on the project for this next year as a VISTA, or Volunteer in Service to America, hosted by the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF). SMIF has developed the project in partnership with the Minnesota…
Read MoreBeyond Your Backyard: Winter Wellness Walks on the Prairie
Think back to when you were a kid. You’re running. You can feel the wind on your cheeks. You’re running so fast, the world is a blur. You’re not worried if you’ll make it or if you can do it. Down the hill, past the trees, towards the endless waves of grass. You’re just running…
Read MoreBeyond Your Backyard: For the prairie, woods, wetlands, and sloughs
A work friend reminded me it’s national gratitude month. And while it goes without saying that this year has changed so many things, it has not changed the fact that I have much to be thankful for. Last night in the second snow of the year, I seeded native wildflowers and sedges into my tiny…
Read MoreBeyond Your Backyard: The Marvelous Moth
I attended a talk at the Pollinator Summit last year where one of the speakers said something that really stuck in my head as a high drama moment: “It makes no sense. We rake up all of our leaves, bag them up, put them on the sidewalk, or throw them away, and then spend hundreds…
Read MoreZimmerli: Grants Help Farms Become More Profitable, Sustainable
SFA is working with several partners to host webinars on how to effectively apply for some of the various grants that are out there. Grants can be an excellent way to inject a little extra cash into an initiative on your farm that can help you to be more profitable, sustainable or both. On my…
Read MorePlanting Minnesota Garlic on Dirt Rich
“Minnesotans don’t like that garlic. They don’t eat that spicy stuff, dontcha know?” Jerry and Sunny and their sold-out-by-August harvest beg to differ! It’s just about time to get next year’s crop in the ground. Our resident garlic guru, Jerry Ford, takes some time to compare notes and philosophies with fellow organic garlic grower Sunny Ruthchild as…
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