Posts by Bob
Foodshelf Project 2021
Encore! Last year’s foodshelf project was so successful we’re doing it again. Once again Dana Jokela from Sogn Valley Farm has helped with planting and tillage (more on that later). Here are a few photos of the progress to date. It’s already been an “interesting” season. More details below the photos. First, take a look…
Read MoreSo What? Foodshelf Project Final Wrap-up
With only a few chores left in the fields, I want to reflect on this project and share a few of the things I learned. It takes a village! First and foremost, this project could not have happened without Dana Jokela of Sogn Valley Farm. I freely admit to being a farmer wannabe. Dana is…
Read MoreFoodshelf Project Wrapup #1 – The Numbers
With the last of the squash delivered to Second Harvest Heartland, it’s time to “do the numbers”. Here, for your (and my) edification are some stats on the Food Shelf project. About 10,000 pounds of fresh, organically grown food 991 pounds of sweet corn and 5539 pounds of squash weighed on delivery to the big…
Read MoreSquash Blast
What happened to all the squash harvested last Saturday? On Monday I took the pickup to Minnneapolis where Pillsbury United Communities Foodshelf, Joyce Uptown Food Shelf, Camden Promise Food Bank and The Evangelical Temple Food Bank in Maplewood (sorry, no link) all took as much as they felt their clients could use – my guess…
Read MoreThe Big Squash Harvest
With some last-minute crew adjustments due to the pandemic we gathered a great group to harvest squash. A huge thank you to this stalwart crew who worked extra hard since 7 people who planned to help dropped out at midnight before the harvest due to a fever and Covid fears (so, far everyone’s OK). Thanks…
Read MoreA Strong Finish (Corn Harvest #10)
A glorious September day and wonderful company made today’s corn picking a delight. Thanks to (L-R) Elizabeth Rowan, Dan “Daddy Squeeze” Newton, Beth Gilleland, Denny and Jonathan Carlson not only for hard work but entertaining conversation and camaraderie! The harvest was delivered to Camden Promise Food Shelf in North Minneapolis – they were again delighted…
Read MoreJoyce and Serenity (Harvest #9)
Today’s bounty was intended for Joyce Uptown Food Shelf but we picked more than they could handle. Pillsbury United Food Bank is closed on Friday and Camden’s Promise didn’t respond to my call – what to do? Call Kerry Jo Felder, of course, for a northside connection. Naturally, she’d just left Serenity Food Shelf herself!…
Read MoreLabor Day Harvest and Cookout (#8)
The skies were gray but the smiles were sunny and we had a terrific harvest from the third succession. Big thanks to the Calixto, de la Rosa, Jarquin, Martinez and Ramirez families who filled the back of the pickup then enjoyed a cookout and campfire. It was a great last-day-before-school for the students and the…
Read MoreA Successful Glean (Harvest #7)
A glorious morning of harvesting with (L-R) Mike Muehlbach,Angie Erdrich, Erinn Leibhard and Mirriam Kowarski and. The weather was perfect, the corn was ripe and we made a thorough job of the first two successions. Today’s harvest was delivered to Camden’s Promise Food Bank where, 6 days a week, northsiders line up at noon for…
Read MoreHarvest #6 – Fresh, organic goodness!
Delayed by a day because of rain today’s harvest was excellent. My eyeball estimate is about 400-500 pounds delivered to the Pillsbury United Community Food Bank at Waite House in Minneapolis’ Phillips neighborhood. This was a singer’s harvest: thanks to (L-R) Chuck Lentz (of the famous shanty group The Eddies) and (safely socially distanced from…
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