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(Español abajo) Sunday night’s harvest was special: volunteers included the de la Rosa clan who stayed for a parranda (party) with grilled marinated beef and elote (Mexican-style sweet corn on the grill). FYI Dulce is a wonderful cook and her green salsa is delicious! This morning I took the harvest to The Camden Promise once again who took all they could use so it was on to Joyce Uptown Food Shelf with the rest. Big thanks to (L-R) Kevin De La Rosa, Karen Kleinspehn, Oscar Moctezuma, Juan Calixto, Dulce De La Rosa and Mayela De La Rosa.
(L-R) Kevin De La Rosa, Karen Kleinspehn, Oscar Moctezuma, Juan Calixto, Dulce De la Rosa and Mayela De La Rosa
Elote!
Sweet corn at Joyce Uptown Food Shelf
La cosecha del domingo por la noche fue especial: los voluntarios incluyeron al clan de la Rosa que se quedó para una parranda con carne marinada a la parrilla y elote. ¡FYI Dulce es una cocinera maravillosa y su salsa verde es deliciosa! Esta mañana llevé la cosecha a The Camden Promise una vez más, quienes se llevaron todo lo que pudieron usar para que estuviera en Joyce Uptown Food Shelf con el resto. Gracias a (L-R) Kevin De La Rosa, Karen Kleinspehn, Oscar Moctezuma, Juan Calixto, Dulce De La Rosa y Mayela De La Rosa.
A glorious summer morning in the Sogn Valley with a fine crew! Thanks to (L-R) Chuck Lentz, Barb Rose, Cara Rodriguez, Barb Pratt, Tessa Meiser, Katy Lowery and David Edminster – the corn you picked went to Pillsbury United Communities’ Food Bank at Waite House in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis. The staff assured me that it would all be distributed that day and much of it on dinner tables that very night. A recent message from our partners at The Food Group noted that food shelf visits by children are rising in Minnesota. As I work with the various food banks I keep hearing that even though lockdowns have ended, the need for food banks has continued to grow. Thanks to everyone who helps with this project: the need is real and your contributions matter.
L-R: Chuck Lentz, Barb Rose, Cara Rodriguez, Barb Pratt, Tessa Meiser, Katy Lowery and David Edminster
Sweetcorn at Pillsbury United Communities’ food bank at Waite House
Delivering fresh Sweet Corn to the Waite House food bank
Near west field, July 2015
What should be the future of our farm? It’s time to make some long term plans so here is are some thoughts about our hopes and dreams for the farm in the coming years. Comments welcome!
The Sogn Sandbox
In 2012 we bought this 55-acre farm in the Sogn Valley about an hour south of the Twin Cities. We bought the farm with three main intentions. First, as a store of value. In light of the economic events of 2008 and a more generalized distrust of the economic system we decided to put retirement funds into real property rather than mutual funds, annuities or other intangible assets. It is our intent to draw on that investment as we age. Second, we bought the farm in part to provide a place to experiment with sustainability and resilience. How can this place be best cared for in the face of climate change and peak oil? Third, we’d like to use this investment to experiment with possible approaches to the challenge of access to land for emerging farmers. These remain the values that we hope will inform the future of the farm.
With 11 years of experience behind us it is now time to develop a long-term plan for the farm which leaves it both improved and in good hands with ownership transferred and resources for our retirement realized. We hope to have time to do the process thoughtfully and well. During this process we would like:
- To work cooperatively with our partner(s) to develop and implement a plan for the farm as a whole and specifically for the management and improvement of the tillable acreage.
- To continue to use organic / regenerative practices.
- To engage with our neighbors as we envision the farm as part of the Sogn/Cannon Falls/Dennison community.
- To consider making investments in the farm such as solar, a pack shed etc. given strategic and/or economic justification.
- To continue to have access to the farm, woodlands and garden
- To maintain use of the farm office building.
At present we are investigating:
- Given current economic and legal conditions, what model, if any, is best for a small farm such as ours? For the last three years we have subsidized growing sweetcorn and winter squash for donation to food banks. This requires fundraising and volunteer coordination in addition to tillage, harvest etc.
This is very much a work-in-progress but we hope the outcome will usefully contribute to conversations about small farm economics, resilience, access to land, community and more. Thoughts, comments or connections to others embracing these challenges are welcome!
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 to get freshly picked, top-quality produce since much of what is donated is nearing or past its expiration. Thanks everyone! More news on the project soon . . .
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! Thanks to (L-R) Babs Pilling, Amy Shaw, Chris Bashor, Barb Pratt and David Lee for wonderful company and conversation and a much bigger harvest than I had expected.
