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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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

“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…

Join the the TC Growers online on October 1st (5:30-6 PM) to hear from organic farmer Lakisha Witter, the woman, the farmer, the owner, and inspiration behind Live Organically! Witter is an adjunct instructor in Bethel’s graduate program in special education and a Special Education Director overseeing numerous charter schools in the twin cities. She will…

If you’ve ever had the honor of being a dog’s person, you know they are always ready for adventure. Wherever you’re headed, whatever you’re doing, they’re excited to go with you. As the summer comes to an end I’ve been thinking more and more about my 15.5-year-old coonhound-lab mix, Savannah, and all the adventures we’ve…

A recent survey of livestock producers shows that Minnesota has a growing local livestock industry, but a persistent challenge for small and mid-sized livestock producers is limited small-scale meat and poultry processing. A group of organizations including Minnesota Farmers Union, Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota and Land Stewardship Project sent a survey to livestock producers…