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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.
May 2024
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Homegrown Public Health Heroes
On April 17th, the Minneapolis Health Department held its annual Public Health Heroes award ceremony and resource fair. The awards recognize the vital role community members play in building healthier communities and supporting the department’s vision. Healthy lives, health equity, and healthy environments are the foundations of a vibrant Minneapolis now and into the future.
Seven Public Health Heroes were recognized across five different award categories. Two of these awards went to community members that support Healthy Living and Healthy Food Systems in Minneapolis.
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Ann Hill, Twin Cities Food Justice
- Liz Mullen, Chowgirls Catering
These individuals have positively contributed to the work of Homegrown Minneapolis and have, in turn, helped to build a more equitable, sustainable, and local food system in our city. Let’s recognize these individuals for their hard work!
Watch a video about the event on YouTube
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The Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council works to ensure an environmentally sustainable and socially just food system. These meetings are a great way to meet other community members and learn more about the work that is happening within our local food system. Every meeting is also accompanied by a food theme where attendees are welcome to bring food to share with others.
When: Wednesday, May 8th from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Where: Farview Park Recreation Center – 621 N 29th Ave
What we'll be doing: Our food council will be reflecting on the work that we have accomplished on our Food Action Plan workplans over the past 6 months and getting feedback on how we structure our work moving forward.
Food Theme: April Showers bring May Flours – Flour is a versatile ingredient that can blossom into many foods and dishes. Whether savory or sweet, gluten-free or gluten-full, flour is simply dough-lightful. At this meeting we encourage attendees to bring their favorite “flour-y” dishes to share with others. Both gluten and gluten-free foods are welcome.
View meeting agenda
View past Food Council meeting agenda and minutes
Meet the Halal Burger Mini-Chain Making Waves in Minnesota
Urban Skillet’s half-pound Truffle Banger burger, an ultra-aromatic riff on a classic mushroom-swiss, comes topped with halal bacon — not quite the oxymoron you might think. It’s turkey bacon, cut into thick, rippled ribbons, and balanced atop two smashed beef patties layered with caramelized onions, truffle aioli, and sauteed mushrooms. Urban Skillet opened in Minneapolis’s Uptown neighborhood in February 2022. Owner MJ Mohammed brought the restaurant to Minnesota after eating at its original location, in Los Angeles’s North Hollywood neighborhood, a few years back — he worked with founder Azeem Farooq to launch it cross-country. In Minneapolis, meanwhile, it has carved out a dedicated following, offering a glimpse of a fast-casual market that’s growing to meet rising demand for halal food in the U.S.
Exploring the Rise of Urban Farming in Minneapolis-St. Paul
The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are experiencing a flourishing urban agriculture movement. Once dominated by sprawling suburbs and traditional, large-scale farms, the metro area is witnessing a surge in local food production nestled within its urban fabric. Several factors contribute to the rise of urban agriculture in the Twin Cities. Growing awareness about food security and sustainability fuels the desire for local, healthy produce. Consumers are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of long-distance food transportation and the health implications of industrial farming practices. Urban farming offers a solution, reducing the carbon footprint of food production and providing fresh, local food sources for residents.
No-mow lawns are having a moment in Minnesota
No (or low) mow lawns are sprouting up across the metro this spring, as Minnesotans embrace landscaping that requires less maintenance and water. Resident Anthony Hauck spent the first spring in his new Tangletown home tearing the grass out of his front lawn. His goal: "to make a yard better for the birds, bees and other bugs.” For most converts, climate is a top concern, experts say. In addition to using less water, low-mow grasses and native plants need less fertilizer and fewer chemicals.
Cold Frame Workshop – Minnesota Tool Library
Join Minnesota Tool Library for a build workshop and craft a Cold Frame for your garden! Sow your seeds without fear of frost in our wily weather and protect your young plants from predators.
All materials will be provided: reclaimed windows, cedar lumber and hardware. Participants should bring their garden bed measurements and may bring their own reclaimed window/storm door or sheet of plexi-glass for their cold frame lid for a custom frame build.
When: Sunday, May 4th, 3pm
Where: Northeast Tool Library, Thorpe Building – 1620 Central Ave NE. Suite 126
Online GAPs food safety course
This 3.5-hour online course is a "one stop shop" to learn about food safety best practices in the production, washing, packing, storage and transport of fresh produce. These trainings are taught by UMN Extension and experienced farmer trainers. Scholarships are available to cover the cost of this course. Please email jenri001@umn.edu.
When: May 14th from 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Where: Online via Zoom
Project Sweetie Pie, Pillsbury United, and Big Green donating garden boxes
Join Project Sweetie Pie, Pillsbury United, and Big Green at the Pillsbury Urban Farm located at 1701 Oak Park located in North Minneapolis in growing the next generation of local food producers. Explore urban farming, join in planting spring crops, and request a donated garden box. This opportunity is open to all residents in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties.
When: May 18th – 19th from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: Pillsbury Urban Farm – 1701 Oak Park Ave N.
Doors Open Minneapolis
Doors Open Minneapolis, produced by Rethos, is your chance to explore the buildings that tell our city’s story. From theaters to business hubs, sacred spaces to private clubs, sports complexes to engineering wonders, historical gems to not-even-open-yet buildings, Doors Open Minneapolis will give you a FREE behind-the-scenes look at dozens of exciting venues.
When: May 18th – 19th
Where: Multiple Sites
Minneapolis American Indian Center Gatherings Cafe Reopening
The Gatherings Cafe is a community-embraced cafe that encourages living healthy, eating healthy, and education through ancestral knowledge. The cafe serves fresh, locally grown foods that are Indigenous and prepared in healthy ways. Based in the Minneapolis American Indian Center, the Gatherings Cafe is in the heart of the urban Native community in Minneapolis.
Gatherings Cafe is opening its doors again in a new expanded space. The cafe was closed while its home, the Minneapolis American Indian Center (MAIC), underwent a historic renovation.
When: May 31st
Where: Gatherings Cafe – 1530 E. Franklin Ave.
Youth-Led Community Gardening Event
Minnesota Department of Agriculture Local Food Purchase Assistance Round 2 Funding – May 20th Deadline
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is accepting applications for a second round of the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Program. LFPA funds projects that buy local food, primarily from socially disadvantaged farmers, and distribute that food at no cost to underserved communities throughout the state.
Minneapolis Tree Outreach RFP – May 28th Deadline
The Sustainability, Healthy Homes, and Environment division within the City’ Health Department has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Minneapolis community organizations to apply for funding towards implementation of new or existing tree outreach and engagement. Through this application process, the Minneapolis Health Department will select 4 to 12 community organizations to receive funding to implement projects that work towards educating, promoting, and increasing engagement around trees in community. Selected projects may be awarded $20,000 up to $100,000
(Look for event name “RFP_HLTH Minneapolis Tree Outreach" on the portal)
Root and Bloom Fellowship – National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) - June 3rd Deadline
The Root and Bloom Fellowship is an advocacy and power-building educational opportunity for 35-40 farmers across the country. Organized into two major phases, ROOT and BLOOM, fellows will explore how many of the challenges young and BIPOC farmers face nationwide are deeply woven and rooted in federal agriculture policy. Progressing through the fellowship, fellows will explore the ways those same policies and power dynamics play out in their communities and regions, blooming into new opportunities, positions of power, local relationships, and projects, to make change at home.
Donate Produce to Food Shelves
Have an abundance of produce in your garden and don’t know what to do with it? Some food shelves accept donations of produce! Here are some tips to keep in mind:
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Always call the food shelf before dropping off items. Some food shelves might not be able to store or hand out perishable items.
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Food shelves might only take specific produce items. Food shelves try to provide fresh and culturally affirming options to their clients, so don’t feel discouraged if a food shelf passes on your donation.
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Be flexible with your timing. If a food shelf does accept produce donations, they might request that you drop it off during food shelf hours so that it can be handed out that same day.
Multiple Positions – Gatherings Cafe at the Minneapolis American Indian Center
The Gatherings Cafe is a community-embraced cafe that encourages living healthy, eating healthy, and education through ancestral knowledge. The cafe serves fresh, locally grown foods that are Indigenous and prepared in healthy ways. Based in the Minneapolis American Indian Center (MAIC), the Gatherings Cafe is in the heart of the urban Native community in Minneapolis. MAIC is currently hiring for various staff positions to support cafe operations. Some open roles include:
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Line Cook
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Host/Hostess
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Disher/Busser
Outreach and Marketing Coordinator – Wedge Community Co-ops
The Wedge is a chain of community-owned grocery stores in Minneapolis. The Outreach and Marketing Coordinator will help to manage the planning and execution of communication with ownership and community outreach programming for Wedge Community Co-ops, and support design and communications functions of the Marketing Department.
Multiple Positions – The Food Group
The Food Group (TFG) is a nonprofit working toward food justice and equity. For over 45 years, they have been providing nutritious and quality foods to people across 30+ counties in Minnesota and Wisconsin. TFG is currently looking to hire for various positions to help fulfill its’ mission. Some open roles include:
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Communications Manager
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Individual Giving Officer
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Sourcing Manager
Senior Research Coordinator – Practical Farmers of Iowa (remote eligible)
Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) is a nonprofit organization that has worked to equip farmers to build resilient farms and communities since 1985. They create learning opportunities via farmer-led events, on-farm research and educational content through their robust network of farmers. This position will be heavily involved in the Cooperators’ Program – PFI’s vehicle for farmer-led on-farm research aimed at environmentally-sound, lower-cost, profitable farming techniques.
Development Associate – National Young Farmers Coalition (remote)
The National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) shifts power and changes policy to equitably resource a new generation of working farmers. NYFC seeks a Development Associate to support the Development team in administering and managing fundraising processes. The Development Associate will help steward fundraising operations by maintaining the Development calendar, donation portal, donor database, and project management tools (Classy, Salesforce, and Asana).
Good Food Jobs’ Cook Along Series
Good Food Jobs (GFJ) is a job posting platform that shares jobs meant to build and support a healthier, sustainable, and local food system. In addition to this, they also write and share a lot of great “food for thought” content that aims to inspire and inform readers on a variety of topics. GFJ also aims to build a virtual community of food lovers. One of the ways that they are doing this is through a new “Cook Along” series where readers are encouraged to cook with a specific ingredient throughout the month.
/ GFJ Cook Along /
/ Each month, we'll share an ingredient (like rice) or simple dish (like tomato sauce).
/ This item will be incorporated into our cooking at least once each week for the duration of the month.
/ We'll take your questions, suggestions, ideas, and comments along the way.
/ At the end of the month, we'll share results, discoveries, and inspirations.
Our best time spent in the kitchen is meditative, attentive, and in good company - or in anticipation of good company - even when that company is only ourselves. The dream of the GFJ Cook Along is that we will be able to feel more togetherness, across many boundaries, each time we engage in the simple act of nourishing ourselves and one another.
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