If you’re a farmer or a food grower of any sort, this is your fallow season, the wintertime when you can catch your breath and maybe even read a bit. I’m often asked what organizations or newsletters are useful sources of information about local food, whether you’re growing it, eating it, or promoting it. So, I’d like to share a few that I find helpful and informative.
Me reading one of my favorite journals by the fire
In Minnesota, Renewing the Countryside, the Land Stewardship Project, the Lake Superior Sustainable Farming Association and AICHO’s Anishinaabe Food Sovereignty program are several that I’d suggest. Renewing the Countryside is a good place to begin. Current projects include a farmland access hub to help new farmers find land, farmers market hubs promoting aggregation and online sales, farm-to-school, and farm to childcare efforts, connecting and convening women in agriculture throughout the state, exploring on-farm food service, and farm transitions to assist retiring farmers to pass on their business. With a mission of “Working for a more just, vibrant and sustainable rural America,” the organization sponsors training and events to support networking. And, of course, they offer a monthly newsletter. https://www.renewingthecountryside.org/sign_up1
The Land Stewardship Project’s mission is to “foster an ethic of stewardship for farmland, to promote sustainable agriculture, and to develop healthy communities.” They recently published “Vision for the Future,” their five-year-plan focusing on core values of stewardship, justice, democracy, health, and community. Seven initiatives are identified and will be the focus of the Land Stewardship Project’s efforts. The organizational structure includes five program areas. Farm Beginnings is the one with which I’m most familiar. Last year, the Rutabaga Project sponsored several new Iron Range farmers’ participation in the year-long Farm Beginnings training. Their Soil Health initiative promotes soil-building methods that improve carbon sequestration, water quality, and farm economics. And, of course, they offer a regular newsletter. https://landstewardshipproject.org/building-people-power-2/
The Lake Superior Sustainable Farming Association is open to farmers and those interested in local food and sustainable farming. Its members span northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. LSSFA’s main work areas are silvopasture and agroforestry, Minnesota Premium Garlic Project, Soil Health, Technical Assistance for Grazing, the Minnesota Asparagus Project, a Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship, and the Minnesota Dairy Initiative. The Association hosts many events and trainings as well as an annual meeting/conference. They are probably best known for the huge Lake Superior Harvest Festival held at Bayfront Park in Duluth each September. They also maintain the “Superior Grown” directory of sustainable farming enterprises. And, of course, they offer a newsletter. https://www.sfa-mn.org/sfa-connect/
The American Indian Community Housing Organization, based in Duluth, offers the ZAAGA'IGANING Anishinaabe Food Sovereignty program, providing resources, online “spotlights” covering local efforts, and Indigenous Food and Art Markets. The Indigenous First Art and Gift Shop selling local Indigenous food is open Monday through Friday, 10am to 5pm at 202 W. 2nd Street in Duluth. Yes! AICHO has a newsletter. https://aichogalleries.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=f3863090b8fbc3408982f7178&id=cd3d57575a
An organization that focuses on the Midwest and offers one of the best area organic farming conferences is Marbleseed, formerly known as MOSES, the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service. The Rutabaga Project sent several Iron Range farmers to the conference last year. Marbleseed supports “farmers in their transition toward sustainable, organic farming systems that are ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially just.” It sponsors peer-to-peer learning in farmer-led programs as well as mental health peer support and “In Her Boots,” collection of educational gatherings and resources for women-identified farmers. Marbleseed’s annual conference is coming up February 23-25 in La Crosse. They offer a newsletter in addition to a blog and podcasts. https://marbleseed.org/news
Finally, there are several national organizations and publications that I follow. Forty Acre Coop is the first national Black farmer co-op since the Reconstruction era. It offers Black farmers across the nation membership in a cooperative that pools the risk across everyone and increases market power. And it’s based in Sandstone, Minnesota. Farmers can explore member benefits here https://www.fortyacre.coop/benefits
Acres USA is one of my very favorite publications. It’s a monthly magazine calling itself “the voice of eco-agriculture.” I attended the annual eco-ag conference several years ago and it was fabulous! Acres USA also has a well-stocked bookstore and offers online courses. They produce the “Tractor Time” podcast available at Eco Farming Daily where you can browse materials on raising livestock, growing crops, building soil, and managing your farm and sign up for weekly newsletter https://www.ecofarmingdaily.com/voices-of-eco-agriculture/tractor-time-podcast/ Subscriptions to the monthly magazine are available here https://www.acresusa.com/magazine/
Finally on my list of valuable resources are the organizations Slow Food USA and Civil Eats. Slow Food is in over 160 countries, with over one hundred chapters in the United States. Slow Food USA was established in 2000. They have abundant resources for eaters. You can sign up for one or all of Slow Food’s many newsletters here https://www.slowfood.com/newsletters/ Civil Eats is something I recently discovered. The organization is broadly focused on policy: “Civil Eats is a daily news source for critical thought about the American food system. We publish stories that shift the conversation around sustainable agriculture in an effort to build economically and socially just communities.” What I find fascinating is the Civil Eats TV—so educational. Check it out. https://civileats.com/category/civil-eats-tv/ Happy New Year everyone! And happy winter reading!