ACTION ALERT:
Flooded Out Farmers in SE Minn. &
SW Wis. Need Your Help

9/1/07
Many sustainable and organic family farmers were hard-hit by the recent floods in southeastern Minnesota and southwestern Wisconsin. They may not have access to the insurance programs and other financial support available to those farmers who focus on commodity crops. (For more details, see a recent Associated Press article at http://wcco.com/local/local_story_233191704.html.) Some of you are already helping on-site and that is great.  More information about those needs and opportunities will continue to be forthcoming from the Land Stewardship Project’s Lewiston office (see below).  Today I am writing you specifically about emergency financial needs that may include such things as fence repairs, temporary storage and a long list of other needs.

As you may have read, the Land Stewardship Project has been considering various options for getting emergency funds to sustainable farmers affected by the torrential flooding.  After consultations with the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) regarding its already established Sow the Seeds Fund, LSP decided it would make sense to work together to utilize that mechanism. LSP was asked and I have agreed to serve on a committee to formulate criteria for distribution of funds to affected farmers, develop an appropriate application for affected farmers and review requests for assistance from the fund. That committee will meet next week to begin its work and is expected to act expeditiously.

For those of you wanting to make financial donations to assist sustainable farmers in Minnesota and Wisconsin affected by August floods, LSP encourages you to donate to IATP’s Sow the Seeds Fund (see information below).

The original mission of the Sow the Seeds Fund was to promote a Midwestern local food system. The recent flooding, however, has focused the Fund on providing flood relief to sustainable and organic farmers who've been severely affected by water damage.

Charitable contributions may be made to the Sow the Seeds flood relief fund directly through IATP, or through participating food cooperatives and restaurants (see below).  When donating, consider how much you would have spent this summer and fall on local organic heirloom tomatoes from a CSA farm or at the farmers’ market. Consider how much you would have spent on lamb or beef from a pasture-based livestock farm or heirloom turkeys from a farmer in the area.  Run a quick equation in your head and consider donating that amount of money.  Donations are tax deductible.

Checks can be made payable to IATP/Sow the Seeds Fund and mailed to:

IATP/Sow the Seeds Fund
c/o Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
2105 First Avenue South
Minneapolis MN 55404

Online donations can be made at: https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/227313/ 

You can also make donations at one of these participating natural foods co-ops:

River Market (Stillwater, Minn.)
Bluff Country Co-op (Winona, Minn.)
Valley Natural Foods
Linden Hills Co-op
Seward Co-op
Lakewinds Co-op
Mississippi Market
Eastside Co-op
The Wedge
Just Food Co-op (Northfield, Minn.)
People’s Co-op (La Crosse, Wis.)
Outpost Natural Foods (Milwaukee, Wis.)

In addition, funds will be contributed to the Sow the Seeds Fund as well as other funds from events at multiple restaurants on Saturday, Sept. 8. This event is being coordinated by Scott Pampuch, chef and owner of the Corner Table. We will forward details as they become available.

Ongoing clearinghouse work by LSP
LSP will continue to provide a clearinghouse function to connect farmers and other members who need help with those willing to provide it. Let us know if you need help. OR, if you can, please offer help. Specifically, let us know when you are available, skills you have, equipment/ resources you can provide; i.e., dry storage, equipment such as shovels, backhoes and dump trucks, and plastic tubs for storage. For more information on how you can help, contact LSP’s Lewiston office at 507-523-3366 or stettler@landstewardshipproject.org.

LSP’s Lewiston office will continue to send periodic e-mail updates about individual farmers and their particular needs.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
George Boody
Executive Director
Land Stewardship Project