Land Stewardship Project

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No. 1, 2020, Land Stewardship Letter

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• An online version of the Land Stewardship Letter is here.

• A pdf version is here.

• Archived Land Stewardship Letters are here.

• Paper copies are available by contacting Brian DeVore at 612-722-6377 or via e-mail.

Table of Contents

Stewardship Roots…3
• Everything is Connected to Everything Else
• Glover Named LSP’s New Executive Director

LSP News…6
• Staff Changes
• It’s All About the Small Group Discussions

Policy & Organizing…8
• MN Supreme Court Upholds Frac Sand Ban
• LSP Members Push for Bold Action on Farm Crisis
• Voices from the Farm Crisis Forum

Farm Crisis…10
• Lights in the Darkness
• Farm Crisis Resources
• Making a Wager on Smaller Dairy Farms
• Cows Don’t Shop

Farming’s Changing Climate…14
• White Paper Shows Ag’s Climate Mitigation Potential
• Taking on Climate Change on Produce Farms
• Channeling Water’s Power Profitability

Soil Health…18
• Agriculture, Insects, Ecology & Economics
• A New Generation of Soil Generators
• The Power of Pasture Walks
• Join the Soil Builders’ Network

COVID Community…20
• Fulfilling a Social Contract With Carrots
• Farmer-Eater Exchange
• More of the Same or a New Direction?
• COVID-19 Aid Should be for People, Not Global Agribusiness
• How Are You Doing?

Farm Transitions…24
• That Farm on Highway 40
• A Few Tips for Helping the New Generation
• Seeking Farmers-Seeking Land Clearinghouse

Reviews…28
• Wilding
• Grocery Store
• Wildly Successful Coming Out in Paperback

Membership Update…30
• Thanks to Our Breakfast Sponsors
• In Memory & in Honor
• Support LSP in Your Workplace
• Volunteer for LSP
• Membership Questions
• Get Current With LIVE-WIRE
• Land Stewardship Talk
• LSP Fact Sheets

Stewardship Calendar…32

Farm Beginnings…32
• 2020-2021 Course Accepting Applications

Contact

Brian DeVore, editor, Land Stewardship Letter, 612-816-9342, via e-mail

Upcoming Events

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September 2025

Monday September 1

All Day
Final Deadline for LSP's Farm Beginnings Course
Monday September 1
Final Deadline for LSP's Farm Beginnings Course

Beginning and prospective farmers are invited to apply to the Land Stewardship Project’s Farm Beginnings course, a year-long training program that focuses on the goal setting, marketing, and financial skills needed to establish a successful farm business. The Farm Beginnings course creates a space for folks to name their vision, acquire the tools and skills needed to make it happen, and become part of a community of support to help them succeed.  

The course will run from November 2025 through March 2026, with some additional educational opportunities to take place later in 2026. 

The deadline for applications is Sept. 1. Early bird applications submitted by Aug. 1 will receive a $100 discount if you are accepted into the class. Partial scholarships are available.

More details are at http://www.farmbeginnings.org or Annelie Livingston-Anderson at annelie@landstewardshipproject.org.

You can apply to the course here.

Wednesday September 3

10:00 am – 3:00 pm
LSP Montevideo Office Coffee & Conversation
Wednesday September 3
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
LSP Montevideo Office Coffee & Conversation
111 N 1st St, Montevideo, MN 56265, USA

On the first Wednesday of each month, the Land Stewardship Project hosts coffee and conversation at our downtown Montevideo office (111 North First Street), and we hope you will have time to join us at the next one on Wednesday, Sept. 3, from 10 a.m. to noon.

The open house-style mornings feature a quick update on recent LSP work and then plenty of time to enjoy your coffee and build community the old-fashioned way, by talking face-to-face. This month we will give an update on our work to combat consolidation in animal agriculture and provide an overview of our recent town hall in Paynesville with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.  

 Come when you can and stay as long as you like! Don’t hesitate to bring along a friend or two — we always enjoy meeting someone new.

For more information, contact LSP’s Matthew Sheets at msheets@landstewardshipproject.org.

Friday September 5

9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Soil Health Field Day on the Cotter Farm: Austin
Friday September 5
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Soil Health Field Day on the Cotter Farm: Austin
50203 205th St, Austin, MN 55912, USA

 Sign up today for a get-together down on Tom Cotter’s Farm. This field day brings together food companies, local farmers and other professionals in agriculture — a perfect opportunity for networking and discussion.
Hear from soil health experts, then board the Topless Bus to take a tour of Tom’s farm. A FREE TACO BAR LUNCH will featureTom’s own grass-fed beef, along with authentic, homemade tortillas and rice. Featured speakers include soil scientist Kris Nichols and agronomist Joe Ailts.
 
You can check out the field day flier here. For more details and to register, click here.

Saturday September 6

9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Soil & Food Health Field Day: Austin
Saturday September 6
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Soil & Food Health Field Day: Austin
50203 205th St, Austin, MN 55912, USA

Details are here.

Monday September 8

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Anne Biklé in conversation with Ross Evelsizer: What Your Food Ate
Monday September 8
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Anne Biklé in conversation with Ross Evelsizer: What Your Food Ate
Pulpit Rock Brewing Company, 207 College Dr, Decorah, IA 52101, USA

Join Anne Biklé (co-author, What Your Food Ate: How to Restore Our Land and Reclaim Our Health) and NEIA RC & D Natural Resource Projects Director, Ross Evelsizer, for a conversation and Q & A session followed by a book signing. Everyone is invited to this free event sponsored by the Oneota Valley Literary Foundation, with support from Pulpit Rock Brewing and Dragonfly Books.
 
Details on the Sept. 8 event are here.

View Full Calendar

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111 North First Street
Montevideo, MN 56265

(320) 269-2105

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(507) 523-3366

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821 E. 35th Street #200
Minneapolis, MN 55407

(612) 722-6377

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