Homegrown Minneapolis News

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Homegrown Minneapolis is a citywide initiative 

expanding our community's ability to grow, process, 

distribute, eat and compost more healthy, sustainable, 

locally grown foods.

January 9, 2015

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News

New Year, New Look, New Opportunities Together

We are excited to introduce our new Homegrown Minneapolis newsletter design, incorporating images previously designed by Arlene Birt, of Background Stories, for the Homegrown Minneapolis initiative. The images illustrate the vision for this City-community partnership to expand the community’s ability to grow, process, distribute, eat and compost more healthy, sustainable, locally grown foods. Homegrown Minneapolis staff and Food Council look forward to continuing our work with City and community partners and momentum toward this vision in 2015!

New Factsheet: Access to City Water for Community Gardens, Market Gardens, and Urban Farms

Community gardens, market gardens, and urban farms can access City water for irrigation. This factsheet explains steps to accessing City water through a fire hydrant, a neighboring property, or direct water hookup at property. Please contact Water Permits & Connections at 612-673-2865 with any questions.

Minneapolis Public Schools Seeks Local Farms to Supply Produce during 2015-2016 School Year

MPS is excited to work with local farmers for the 2015-2016 school year!  Find all the details about selling fresh produce to MPS through our Farm to School program in our Request for Information (RFI) available here: http://bit.ly/MPSf2sRFI.  Responses are due by noon on Thursday January 22, 2015.

There will be an optional RFI Q&A phone call on Wednesday January 14th from noon-1pm.  Notes from the Q&A conference call will be posted on MPS’ Farm to School website.  Conference Dial-in Number: (712) 775-7031 and Meeting ID: 545-938-784 http://nutritionservices.mpls.k12.mn.us/f2s_program

Events

January 2015 Food Council Meeting

Wednesday, January 14, 2015, 5:00-7:00 meeting

4:30 pm optional presentation about Gandhi Mahal’s aquaponics project
Meeting Agenda

Gandhi Mahal, 3009 27th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55406 (map)
Food will be available for purchase but no purchase is required.

Minneapolis Chicken Summit

Thursday, January 29, 6:30-8:30 pm

Gandhi Mahal, 3009 27th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55406 (map)

Back yard chicken raisers will meet to discuss the upcoming rule change process for back yard chicken licenses and care standards.

https://www.facebook.com//#!/events/1609852079243526/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

Taste of West Broadway

An exciting fundraising event for the community and economic development activities of the West Broadway Business and Area Coalition

Thursday, February 26, 2015, 5-8 pm

 Minneapolis Photo Center, 2400 N 2nd St #200, Minneapolis   

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/taste-of-west-broadway-tickets-14861640567

Save the Date: (Tentative) Food Council Annual Presentation to City Council’s Health, Environment, and Community Engagement (HECE) Committee

Monday, February 23 | 9:30am | Council Chambers, Room 317 City Hall

Pending official agenda approval, the Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council will make its annual presentation to the City Council’s Health, Environment, and Community Engagement (HECE) Committee. The presentation will highlight the 2014 work of Homegrown Minneapolis and the Food Council and 2015 plans.

Resources

Download New Minnesota Food Charter Mini-Guides

New Minnesota Food Charter mini-guides are now available for download. The seven setting-specific guides offer recommendations and strategies to help implement changes in food policy and food systems in child care, health care, retail, schools, work sites, and more. Learn more about the Minnesota Food Charter at http://mnfoodcharter.com/.

Organic Farming 101 Course with Women's Environmental Institute

The Women’s Environmental Institute will offer its second annual Organic Farming 101 course on Monday evenings at the University of Minnesota starting February 2. The class is coordinated by Professor Jacquelyn Zita, farm manager for the Women’s Environmental Institute. For more information, visit http://w-e-i.org/project/organic-farming-101/. Register at https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=d05b35.

SciTechsperience Internship Program

SciTechsperience is an internship program that creates the opportunity for Minnesota businesses to work with talented college STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) students to increase productivity, revitalize their organizations with fresh perspectives, and find future employees.SciTechsperience provides a low-cost solution for small and medium-sized companies that otherwise may not have access to qualified interns. Participating companies receive matching funds of 50% of the intern’s wages up to $2,500. http://scitechmn.org/?page_id=21

Lakewinds Food Coop Seeks Applications for 2015 Organic Field Fund

Lakewinds Food Co-op is seeking applications for the 2015 version of Lakewinds Organic Field Fund (LOFF).  LOFF is Lakewinds’ grant program for new and emerging organic farms, farms in transition, qualifying animal operations, and organic producers.  Details are available at www.lakewinds.coop/community/loff.

Foodshed Planning Webinar

Wednesday, January 14, 11am-noon

Join the University of Minnesota Regional Partnerships for a webinar on the first Minnesota application of the acclaimed foodshed spatial mapping model developed for New York State by Dr. Christian Peters. U of M Soil, Water, and Climate Research Fellow Jake Galzki will discuss research to determine food demands of SE Minnesota. Online presentation: https://umconnect.umn.edu/foodshedwebinar/  Call in to listen & ask questions: 866-865-2157, access code 6180776177#

Restaurant Health Inspection Forms to Become Available Online

Monday, March 2 (NOTE NEW DATE), 9 - 10 a.m.
Minneapolis Central Library, Doty Board Room, 300 Nicollet Mall

In 2015, restaurant inspection information will be available online. The Minneapolis Health Department expects to have the information online by mid-year. The information is being put online as part of the City’s open data policy. Restaurant owners, managers, and chefs are invited to talk with Health Department staff about:
- Ideas for providing context for health inspection information to the community.
- How online access to health inspection information will affect you.

The discussion is free. Please let us know if you plan to attend.  Contact Leslie Foreman at leslie.foreman@minneapolismn.gov or 612-673-3544.  Read the City's Open Data policy here. Learn more about it here 

Updating the Minnesota Food Code

The Minneapolis Health Department enforces the state Food Code. This food code is out of date. Many of today's practices were not envisioned when the current code was written 20 years ago. Compliance with this out of date code can be difficult for business owners. The Minneapolis Health Department is pushing for a modern food code. We are working with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the Minnesota Department Health to make this happen. Stay up to date on the state's progress. Visit the MN Food Code Rule Revision webpage to view the existing and proposed language, make a comment, or sign up for email updates. If there are things in the Food Code you feel need to be changed the Minneapolis Health Department wants to know. Send your comments to Leslie Foreman at leslie.foreman@minneapolismn.gov or 612-673-3544.

Jobs

Civic & Community Engagement Manager – Frogtown Farm

Part-Time Coordinator- Hopkins Farmers Market

View additional information on the Homegrown Minneapolis website.

"Like" the Friends of Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council on Facebook!

Homegrown Minneapolis brings together key partners from local government, area businesses, community organizations,

non-profits, and residents to build a healthy, local food system.

www.minneapolismn.gov/homegrown

 

 

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