Land Stewardship LIVE-WIRE, July 20, 2005
Hello:
This is the 25th issue of "Land Stewardship LIVE-WIRE," the Land Stewardship Project's e-mail newsletter. We send this out periodically to provide an update on activities and information related to LSP's work. We hope you enjoy this service, and are looking for feedback. Please send your comments to Brian DeVore at bdevore@landstewardshipproject.org.
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IN THIS ISSUE
1) Legislature: Local Control Remains Intact
2) LSP on NPR
3) 'Future of Food' Tomorrow
4) Grazing Workshops in SE Minn.
5) Beef Grazing Workshop Aug. 3
6) LSP Benefit Show Aug. 7 at Triple Rock
7) 'Dinner on the Bluff' Aug. 13
8) 'Students & Nutrition' Aug. 18 in Montevideo
9) Volunteers Needed Aug. 30 at State Fair
10) Linden Hills Sales to Benefit LSP Sept. 12
11) Farm Beginnings Course Deadline Sept. 15
12) Farm Beginnings Scholarship Available
13) Farm Credit Workshops Postponed Until November
14) Check the Calendar
15) Worth Repeating
16) Worth Repeating II
17) Join LSP
1) LEGISLATURE: LOCAL CONTROL REMAINS INTACT
Governor Tim Pawlenty and corporate special interests were unsuccessful in their attempts to weaken local control during this session of the Minnesota Legislature. LSP, along with key allies, successfully stopped any meaningful erosion of local control. This victory was due to hundreds of LSP members who participated in a postcard campaign, made calls to legislators, attended grassroots meetings
in key legislative districts and traveled to the Capitol.
For more information on the legislative session, see the latest issue of the Land Stewardship Letter (pages 10-11) at
www.landstewardshipproject.org/lsl/lspv23n2.pdf. More information is also available from LSP organizers Bobby King at 507-523-3366 or Paul Sobocinski at 507-342-2323.
2) LSP ON NPR
On July 11, LSP members Dave Serfling and Tex Hawkins were featured on National Public Radio's Morning Edition program talking about the need to reward farmers for producing environmental benefits on working land. Public Radio science correspondent Dan Charles recently visited Minnesota while researching a series of stories on "green" farm policy. To listen to his series and to view
links to LSP work related to this issue, see www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4735566.
3) 'FUTURE OF FOOD' TOMORROW
The Minnesota premiere of Deborah Koons Garcia's "The Future of Food" will be Thursday, July 21, at 6 p.m., at the Bell Museum of Natural History (10 Church St. SE, on the University of Minnesota campus). This film examines the real cost of genetically engineered food and the changes in the North American food supply. A panel discussion after the film will feature LSP members Lucia
Watson and Jim Riddle, among others. Tickets are $20; all proceeds will benefit the Youth Farm & Market Project. For more information, contact Cher Underwood at 612-927-8141 (ext. 107).
4) GRAZING WORKSHOPS IN SE MINN.
A series of grazing workshops co-sponsored by LSP with state grazing specialist Howard Moechnig continues July 25, Aug. 1 and Aug. 8 in southeast Minnesota. The topic for July 25 is "Strategies for Maximizing Forage Production" and the workshop will take place in Lewiston's Ag Service Center from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The workshops on Aug. 1 and Aug. 8 will address fencing and the identification
and management of sensitive areas. Both of those workshops will be on a farm near Nodine from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 1 and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 8. For other information, contact Caroline van Schaik in LSP's Lewiston office by calling 507-523-3366.
5) BEEF GRAZING WORKSHOP AUG. 3
Food Alliance Midwest and Practical Farmers of Iowa are cosponsoring a field day Wednesday, Aug. 3, at the Tom and Kristi German farm near Holstein, in northwest Iowa. The field day is from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and is free and open to the public. On their 400-acre organic farm, the Germans raise grass-finished beef, pastured poultry, farmstead eggs, sweet corn and potatoes. They sell their products
direct to area customers, food co-ops, and buying clubs, as well as to customers nationwide. Besides being organically certified, the German farm has recently received Food Alliance Midwest certification. There will be a presentation on grassfed beef production covering genetics, breeds, pastures, fencing and assessing your animals (weighing, ultrasound, visual inspection), etc. Federal incentives
for grass-based production will also be discussed. In addition, the Food Alliance's Ray Kirsch and Todd Churchill of Thousand Hills Cattle Company will talk about marketing grass-fed beef. For more information, contact the Germans at 712-365-4433.
6) LSP BENEFIT SHOW AUG. 7 AT TRIPLE ROCK
Four Midwestern bands will be featured at a special "Save the Farm" benefit show for LSP on Sunday, Aug. 7, at the Triple Rock Social Club, 629 Cedar Avenue, in Minneapolis. The cover charge is $5, and proceeds will go to LSP. The 21+ show, which is being presented by the Eye of the Tiger, begins at 9 p.m. Featured artists are Brother and Sister, Moist Host, The Retainers and The Please
Don't Hurt Me.
Eye of the Tiger (E.O.T.T.) is one man's attempt at launching a cultural revolution of minimalism. Started almost two years ago, the goal is to spread camaraderie and critical thought through different social awareness projects. For more information, contact Joe Riemann at 612-362-9797 or riem0016@umn.edu. For more information on the Triple Rock Social Club, visit www.triplerocksocialclub.com
or call 612-333-7499.
7) 'DINNER ON THE BLUFF' AUG. 13
LSP staff member Caroline van Schaik is the keynote speaker Saturday, August 13, as the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center in Lanesboro, Minn., continues its "Dinner on the Bluff" series. This is a special local foods dinner and van Schaik's presentation will carry that theme forward to show how food choices, farm policy and field research have everything to do with the environment.
The meal is at 5:30 p.m. and reservations are required. Call 888-800-9558 or contact van Schaik at 507-523-3366.
8) 'STUDENTS & NUTRITION' AUG. 18 IN MONTEVIDEO
The connections between fresh, local food and improving the physical and mental health of school children will be discussed during a special meeting beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 18, at the Montevideo Community Center, 550 First Street, SW. For details, see www.landstewardshipproject.org/pr/05/newsr_050708.htm.
9) VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AUG. 30 AT STATE FAIR
State Fair food is not just corn dogs anymore. Minnesota Cooks!, a program at the Minnesota State Fair's Taste of Tuesday, will bring together 14 of the area's best chefs to demonstrate how they use local, sustainably-grown ingredients to create award-wining fare for their restaurants. The third annual Minnesota Cooks! program will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 30, in the State Fair's Carousel
Park, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Featured chefs include Brenda Langton (Café Brenda), Alex Roberts (Restaurant Alma), and Lenny Russo (Heartland). A panel of celebrity tasters will sample the chefs' creations (don't worry…the audience gets to taste, too!). The event is sponsored by Minnesota Farmers Union and Food Alliance Midwest, with additional support from Renewing the Countryside
and the Minnesota Project. Food Alliance Midwest was started by LSP and Cooperative Development Services.
Any LSP members who wish to volunteer on the day of the event should contact Clara Muggli by calling 651-265-3682 or e-mailing Midwest@foodalliance.org. Volunteers receive a free day pass to the State Fair, snacks during the shift, and a small stipend for food after the shift.
10) LINDEN HILLS SALES TO BENEFIT LSP SEPT. 12
On Monday, Sept. 12, 10 percent of store sales at Linden Hills Natural Home will be contributed to LSP. Located at 2822 West 43rd Street in Minneapolis, Minn., Linden Hills Natural Home offers earth-friendly, local and sustainable products for homes, gardens and pets. For information, call 612-279-2479, or visit www.lindenhills.coop.
11) FARM BEGINNINGS™ COURSE DEADLINE SEPT. 15
The application deadline for the 2005-2006 edition of LSP's Farm Beginnings Minnesota program is Sept. 15. The classes run from the end of October until March, followed by an on-farm education component, including farm tours and one-on-one mentoring. This is the ninth year of the program, which provides participants an opportunity to learn firsthand about low-cost, sustainable methods of farming.
Versions of LSP's Farm Beginnings program are being launched in Illinois, Missouri and Nebraska this fall. If you are a beginning farmer who is interested in learning more about Farm Beginnings, there are several ways to get started:
— Southeast Minnesota: Contact Karen Stettler or Karen Benson at 507-523-3366.
— Western Minnesota: Contact Amy Bacigalupo or Cathy Twohig at 320-269-2105.
— Northern Illinois: Contact Parker Forsell at 608-637-8361.
— Central Illinois: Contact Deborah Cavanagh-Grant at 217-968-5512.
— Missouri: Contact Randy Saner at 417-256-2391 or Debi Kelly at 573-882-1905.
— Nebraska: Contact Martin Kleinschmit at 402-254-6893, Jim Peterson at 402-426-9455 or Paul Rohrbaugh at 402-869-2396.
— On the Internet:www.landstewardshipproject.org/programs_farmbeginnings.html for the Minnesota program, www.farmbeginnings.uiuc.edu for the central Illinois program, and www.csalearningcenter.org/craft.html
for the northern Illinois initiative.
12) FARM BEGINNINGS SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE
Speaking of Farm Beginnings™, a scholarship fund remains open for Farm Beginnings graduates to offset fees associated with the farm analysis/record keeping program offered by the Farm Business Management Program (FBMP). Graduates have until December to apply (or until the funds are exhausted — whichever comes first). The scholarship
is one way LSP is helping beginning farmers gain the record keeping skills needed to make sound farming decisions. For details, contact Caroline van Schaik at 507-523-3366.
13) FARM CREDIT WORKSHOPS POSTPONED UNTIL NOVEMBER
Two credit workshops designed to provide inside tips and hands-on practice for beginning farmers and others have been moved to November. The southeast
Minnesota workshop will take place Nov. 4 and 5 and will be repeated in Montevideo on Nov. 11 and 12. For details, contact Caroline van Schaik in southeast Minnesota at 507-523-3366 or Michele Skogrand in western Minnesota at 320-269-2105.
14) CHECK THE CALENDAR
For the latest on meetings, field days and other activities, check out the LSP calendar.
15) WORTH REPEATING
"Right now you have to have it in your heart to make changes on your farm. We're hoping to get enough economic incentives that you can use your head." — LSP member -farmer Dave Serfling, quoted on National Public Radio's Morning Edition
16) WORTH REPEATING II
"This study shows a direct correlation between getting more year-round plant cover on the land and improved water quality and fish health in the streams,"— LSP Board Member Bruce Vondracek, quoted in AgriNews
17) JOIN LSP
The work of LSP, including the LIVE-WIRE, is supported by the donations of people like you. To become a member, give a gift membership, or donate an extra gift above your membership, go to our Join Us page. If you have questions about membership, contact cathye@landstewardshipproject.org.
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