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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.
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Welcome Grace Rude as the Homegrown Minneapolis Public Health Specialist ll
Grace Rude began working with the Homegrown Minneapolis Initiative as an AmeriCorps VISTA in March 2021, and transitioned to a temporary role in March 2022. She is excited to now be a permanent member of the Minneapolis Health Department! Grace's work in the Homegrown Minneapolis Initiative has primarily involved supporting the food policy work of the Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council, collaborating with the many farmers markets across the city, and supporting urban agriculture efforts such as the Garden Lease Program. Grace is grateful to work with amazing people and projects engaged in all aspects of the food system, and looks forward to continuing this work.
Independent Farm Transition-Increasing Land Access in Farming
Big River Farms/The Food Group and Roots Return Heritage Farmer, LLC will be collaborating to pilot a project during 2023 "Independent Farm Transition-Increasing Land Access in Farming" as an extension of Big River Farm’s incubator training program. Farmers will be considered part of the Big River Farms education program but will be farming at RRHF. This project will allow farmers to grow independently utilizing the land and infrastructures at RRHF in the hopes they one day are able to get their own land and grow to scale. Farmers will have access to mentorship from Lori D Cox of Roots Return Heritage Farmer, LLC and Big River Farms. They will have an opportunity to hone their farming skills and expand products with access to a robust perennial fruit system already established.
US uses farmers markets to foster ties at bases in Japan
As the United States and Japan further strengthen their military alliance, they’ve turned to farmers markets to foster friendlier ties between American military bases and their Japanese neighbors.
Read the full article
USDA and USAID announce the Global Food Security Research Strategy to fight hunger and build sustainable systems
The Global Food Security Research Strategy emphasizes priority objectives and the use of data to help strengthen the impact of U.S. food security assistance and, with America’s leadership, generate sustainable solutions for addressing the root causes of hunger and malnutrition, which are both inextricably linked to entrenched, extreme poverty. This strategy will guide investments in technologies, tools, and practices that generate solutions while building capacity in our partner countries.
Read the full article
How valuable is your food bank garden
In one Canadian city, the food bank has a large urban garden supplying fresh seasonal produce. But the garden does more than just grow food; it also grows community. The social value of a garden is rarely displayed to funders in a language they generally understand: economics.
In a new JAFSCD article, “Social value of a Canadian urban food bank garden,” Wanda Martin (corresponding author), Lindsey Wagner, Anh Pham, and Adrian Werner present results of a social return on investment evaluation study on the food bank garden and discuss this method in the context of the current societal neoliberal paradigm
Read the full article
Setting the Table: Implementing the National Strategy to Reduce Hunger by 2030
On September 28, 2022, the White House announced the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health designed to accelerate progress in ending hunger and increasing healthy eating and physical activity significantly by 2030. Continuing this conversation, The Farmlink Project will be hosting a roundtable featuring three panelists from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to further discuss how they will take action on our shared commitments and initiatives to increase access to fresh produce and reduce hunger by 2030.
When: Friday, Nov 4, 2022 starting at 1:00 PM
Where: Virtual
Register for the event
Feast of Nations
A Minnesota International Student Association (MISA) tradition for over a decade, and one of its largest events of the year, Feast of Nations brings together community members and highlights cultures from all over the world. Enjoy an amazing show with performances by fellow community members, sample a wide range of multicultural food catered from local restaurants, learn about traditional clothing around the world with a fabulous multicultural fashion show, and get to know cultural student groups on the U of M campus.
Reserve your free ticket ahead of time to avoid disappointment. Tickets will also be available at the door.
When: Saturday, Nov 5 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Where: Coffman Memorial Union, Great Hall, 300 Washington Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN
Cost: Free
Visit the event website
2022 Feast! Festival
Don’t miss the 9th annual FEAST! Local Foods Marketplace festival for all ages where you can savor the taste of the region: cheese, chocolate, wine, beer, cider & much more make great gifts for the holidays—sample, shop and stock up on local foods from IA, WI & MN!
When: Saturday, Nov 5, 2022 from 10 AM - 4 PM
Where: Mayo Civic Center, 30 Civic Center Dr SE, Rochester, MN 55904
Cost:
- $10 at the door & $5 in advance for general admission
- $25 at the door & $20 in advance for VIP admission
- admission for children under the age of 12 is free!
Visit the local feast webpage to buy tickets
Join the Minneapolis Climate Equity Plan’s Circular Economy Work Group to elevate food systems and zero waste strategies that advance a zero-carbon future
The City of Minneapolis is updating its 2013 Climate Action Plan and is forming a Circular Economy Work Group to elevate food systems and zero waste strategies that advance a zero-carbon future.
The Work Group will review the 2013 Minneapolis Climate Action Plan, 2017 Zero Waste Plan and forthcoming Food Action Plan to determine how to elevate goals, objectives and actions in these plans that actively advance community resilience, racial equity and community wealth building, and reduce carbon emissions.
The Work Group's role is to:
- Bring together varying expertise and interests in the topic
- Review existing plans on topics of zero waste, food systems and circular economy
- Identify goals, objectives and actions in these plans that actively advance community resilience, racial equity and community wealth building, and reduce carbon emissions
- Draft language for content, goals, objectives and actions for the Minneapolis Climate Equity Plan
The Work Group will meet four times: November 07, November 30, December 21 and January 10 from 5 - 7:00 PM. The Work Group hopes to host these meetings in person with a hybrid option for participants who cannot attend in person.
Read background information on the plan process.
Join the Climate Equity Plan - Work Groups.
November Food Council Meeting
The Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council works to support all Minneapolis residents and increase access to quality food, address hunger and food insecurity, connect sectors of the food system, influence policy and decision making, and ensure an environmentally sustainable and socially just food system.
When: In-person meeting on Wednesday, November 09, 2022 starting at 5:30 PM
Where: Northeast Recreation Center, Multipurpose Room, 1530 Johnson St NE, Minneapolis, MN
View Meeting Agenda
Larson Gallery: The In-Between Moments
A showcase of agricultural education, communication and marketing student work. Appreciate the work of Agricultural Education, Communication and Marketing students and alumni as they capture the hidden stories of food, agriculture and natural resources. Journey with us as our students take you through the in-between moments of caring for our plants, animals and environment.
When: Nov 04 - Dec 09
Where: St. Paul Student Center, Larson Gallery, 2017 Buford Ave # 25A, St Paul, MN
Visit the event website
2022 Monthly Farm to School and Early Care Technical Assistance (TA) Office Hour
Join members from the Minnesota Farm to School Leadership Team and other farm to school and early care stakeholders on the second Wednesday of the month from 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM to discuss and find answers to your questions related to local foods and making farm to school and early care a success in your community. This month's conversation will review how schools can celebrate Farm to School and Early Care Education (ECE) month in October and provide a Local Food for Schools funding update!
When: The second Wednesday of the month from 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Where: Virtual via Zoom
Registered for the event
Blazing Trails Through the Jungle of Food Regulations Training
The Minnesota Farmers' Market Association (MFMA), and the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA), are partnering once again to offer "Blazing Trails Through the Jungle of Food Regulations Training." This training provides access to information and resources on food regulations pertaining to local food.
"Blazing Trails Through the Jungle of Food Regulations," is being offered on six separate dates between now and April.
When:
- Thursday, Nov 17, 2022 from 1PM-5PM
- Thursday, Dec 15, 2022 from 5PM-9PM
- Saturday, Jan 21, 2023 from 10AM-2PM
- Wednesday, Feb 8, 2023 from 9AM-1PM
- Wednesday, March 8, 2023 from 1PM-5PM
- Saturday, April 1, 2023 from 3PM-7PM
Where: Virtual via Zoom
Cost: $10
Register for the training
Farm to School grants
Farm to School Grants support Minnesota school districts that want to purchase and serve Minnesota agricultural products. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, MDA anticipates awarding up to $3.5 million to reimburse school districts for purchasing Minnesota grown and raised foods used in school meal programs.
School districts may apply for USDA funding for local food as well as AGRI funding for equipment through one of the available programs listed on grant web page.
Visit the Farm to School grant webpage
Farm loan assistance tool
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) launched a new online tool to help farmers and ranchers better navigate the farm loan application process. This uniform application process will help to ensure all farm loan applicants receive equal support and have a consistent customer experience with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) regardless of their individual circumstances.
Visit the Loan Assistance Tool webpage
Ethical Eating Primer Series
This self-paced digital toolkit from Greener Pastures empowers you to eat ethically with ease. It has six different sections that cover a range of food and farming topics. A deep understanding of monoculture farming, genetically modified food, labor practices, and more. Last but not least, it gives inspiration for taking action for a better food and farming future.
Visit the Greener Pastures webpage to request for a copy of the toolkit
2023 training program in Sustainable Horticulture at the UMN Landscape Arboretum
The 2023 training program in Sustainable Horticulture program provides hands-on technical training in local food production for sale and community health. It is offered in collaboration with the University of Minnesota Department of Horticultural Science and Extension. Trainees receive a combination of classroom, lab and field experience at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and partnering farm sites. This includes a 14-week paid work experience in vegetable production at the Arboretum and local farms. Applications for this program will close on December 15, 2022.
Visit the MN Landscape Arboretum to apply
Marbleseed’s 16th Farmer-to-Farmer Mentorship Program
In this year-long program, newer farmers are paired 1-to-1 with a more experienced grower to move their farm forward, focusing on a specific production, business, or quality of life aspect of their farm.
The cost to participate is $350 for mentees, which includes two registrations to the Marbleseed Organic Farming Conference ($600 value). Applicants must have been farming for at least one year. Applications are due November 30 for the program running January 2023 - February 2024
Visit the Marbleseed webpage to apply to be a mentee
Visit the Marbleseed webpage to apply to be a mentor
Food Safety for School Gardens: Growing, handling and serving a safe harvest manual
The Food Safety for School Gardens manual is a guide for food safety in school gardens, and is intended for school garden coordinators, teachers, parents, volunteers or others who will be leading school gardens. However the GAPs concepts apply in all community, youth, donation, church or workplace gardens and gardeners and facilitators in these settings will also find the content useful. The manual is a comprehensive summary of the best practices to protect food safety when growing fresh produce, and includes lots of tips to ensure you have a safe, bountiful harvest. After reading the manual, use the included food safety plan template (available in a Google doc format for ease of working together as a team) to create your own garden food safety plan which will document your school's policies.
View and download a copy of the manual
Hmong American Farmers Association
HAFA is a social justice organization that is committed to advancing the economic, social and cultural prosperity of Hmong American farmers through advocacy, economic development, capacity building and research. More specifically, HAFA uses an organizing
approach to work with its members and other farmers in the Hmong community to access land, equipment, capital and trainings so that they can improve their farming operations, and thereby, lift their families out of poverty. As a member based organization, HAFA was
started by and is led by Hmong American farmers.
View the Capacity Building Director job detail
View the Farmer Advocate job detail
Minnesota Farmers' Market Association (MFMA)
MFMA provides services, programs and leadership that support and promote farmers’ markets across Minnesota. MFMA envisions a community of vibrant, profitable, and professionally managed Minnesota farmers’ markets that cultivates, nourishes, and inspires a verdant local foods community, provides accessibility to local farm fresh foods, allows local food producers to thrive and grow, and ensures these opportunities are available to everyone regardless of ethnicity, age, gender identity, or economic standing.
View the Finance Director (Part-time / Remote) job detail
University of MN
View the Perennial Grains and Winter Annuals Agronomy Specialist job detail
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