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"When you see the reaction on the kids' faces, and their eagerness to try new things, you know it's really all worth the effort."
— Ridgeway Community School cook Mary Carrie, speaking about serving food produced by local farmers
CBFED: DRIFTLESS AREA
The Land Stewardship Project's office in the southeast Minnesota community of Lewiston is working to build a local food system in the "Driftless Area" that covers parts of southeast Minnesota, southwest Wisconsin and northeast Iowa. LSP is working with farmers, retailers, processors, distributors, institutions, natural resource professionals, health care experts, policymakers and partner organizations to make locally produced, sustainably raised food a recognized source of environmental public benefits, a regional driver in economic development and an answer to improved human health.
LSP works closely with the Local Foods Committee of the Winona County Economic Development Authority to promote local food production and sales through such educational events as the annual Local Foods Forum & Expo, the annual cooking demo by Chef Lucia Watson at the Winona Farmers’ Market, and the weekly local food recipe column called, “From The Seasonal Kitchen.”
LSP also pursues a genuine community-based food system in the region by such avenues as:
- Farm tours to illustrate the relation between conservation farming and food choices.
- Hands-on food sourcing and education with food service directors at Winona State University, K-12 schools and health care facilities.
- Research related to transportation and other infrastructure barriers.
- Market development.
- “All Local Sustainable Table” meals in conjunction with community events such as the Frozen River Film Festival and Winona State University’s Family Weekend.
- A network of vetted farmers offering sustainably raised products in the region.
Current work addresses:
- The development and expansion of a far-reaching farm to school program at Ridgeway Community School that includes forager training of school staff, a school garden and the popular Garden Club.
- Real solutions to the challenge of getting locally produced food to regional institutions.
- An assessment of the role that market demand might play in encouraging stewardship farming.
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