Ear to the Ground 236: Nature as Profit Partner

How farmers Dawn and Grant Breitkreutz are building soil carbon and bolstering financial resiliency.

For more on how to build soil health profitably, check out the Land Stewardship Project’s Soil Builders web page. For information on Soil Health Academy Schools hosted by Stoney Creek Farm as well as other operations, see www.soilhealthacademy.org. LSP did a podcast interview with Dawn and Grant Breitkreutz earlier in their farming career. It’s episode 132.

Upcoming Events

August 2025

Saturday August 2

10:00 am – 2:00 pm

LSP Small Grains Field Day/Networking Event

Saturday August 2

10:00 am – 2:00 pm

LSP Small Grains Field Day/Networking Event

Madison Mercantile, 601 1st St, Madison, MN 56256, USA

Building on the momentum and popularity of the Land Stewardship Project’s Small Grain Markets Workshop in Albert Lea, Minn., this past winter, we are offering a second free networking event in western Minnesota on Saturday, Aug. 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in Madison, Minn. All those curious about small grains are welcome.

We will hear from two western Minnesota farmers who have found success in growing and marketing small grains: Noreen Thomas of Doubting Thomas Farms and Peter Haugen of Sandhill Mill. Additionally, Gilbert Williams, a longtime grain mill operator and small grains procurement expert, will walk us through the processing side of the business. Lunch will be provided.

You can reserve a spot here.

For more information, contact LSP’s Alex Kiminski
at akiminski@landstewardshipproject.org.

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Sea of Grass 'Prairie Walk & Author Talk'

Saturday August 2

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Sea of Grass 'Prairie Walk & Author Talk'

Lac qui Parle State Park, 14047 20th St NW, Watson, MN 56295, USA

Join LSP for a book reading and Q & A with Dave Hage and Josephine Marcotty, the authors of Sea of Grass: The Conquest, Ruin, and Redepmtion of Nature on the American Priaire, at Lac qui Parle State Park. Prior to the book reading, we will go on a guided prairie walk to learn firsthand about the great Minnesotan prairies. Through the event, we will gain an understanding of the history, present, and future of the land and ways to work towards building more sustainable and just food and farming systems that protect our natural ecosystems. You can read a review of Sea of Grass in the current Land Stewardship Letter.

To reserve a spot, click here.

Schedule:

3 p.m. – Guided prairie walk with prairie naturalist Amy Rager
4:30 p.m. – Sea of Grass book reading by authors Dave Hage and Josephine Marcotty
5 p.m. – Q & A with Dave and Josephine
5:30 p.m. – Discussion and reflection
6 p.m. – Dinner

Camping will be available at Lac qui Parle State Park. LSP has reserved a Group Camp Site which is in the lower area of the park and can accommodate up to 50 people. Only tents are allowed — participants will need to bring their own tents and supplies. There is no electrical hookup; water spigot and vault toilets available. Please let us know via the event registration form if you plan to camp at the Group Camp Site.

For more information, contact LSP’s Melody Arteaga at marteaga@landstewardshipproject.org.

Tuesday August 5 – Thursday August 7

Farmfest 2025

Tuesday August 5 – Thursday August 7

Farmfest 2025

28366 County Hwy 13, Morgan, MN 56266, USA

Details are here.

Tuesday August 5

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Unlocking Conservation Resources for Communities & Farms

Tuesday August 5

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Unlocking Conservation Resources for Communities & Farms

Owatonna Public Utilities, 208 Walnut Ave S, Owatonna, MN 55060, USA

Join Renewing the Countryside and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) this summer at one of their eight conservation events in a town near you, where you will:

Learn how conservation benefits Minnesota’s rural communities.
Hear from a panel of local speakers.
Discover available NRCS Farm Bill programs and the economics of on-farm practices.
Enjoy a complimentary lunch, plus a chance to win door prizes.
Network with local farmers, neighbors, and conservation professionals.
Receive helpful materials and personalized support on next steps after the event.

For more information, click here.

Locations & Dates:
Each event is free, open to all, and runs from noon to 2 p.m. at the venues listed. Space is limited, please register in advance.

Hallock (Kittson County) – Tues, July 22 @ Far North Spirits
Elbow Lake (Grant County) – Wed, July 23 @ Elbow Lake Community Building
Sleepy Eye (Brown County) – Thur, July 24 @ Sleepy Eye Brewing Company
Milaca (Mille Lacs County) – Tues, July 29 @ Gorecki Community Center
Mora (Kanabec County) – Thur, July 31 @ Sapsucker Farms Yellow Belly Cidery
Owatonna (Steele County) – Tues, August 5 @ Owatonna Public Utilities Building
Jordan (Scott County) – Wed, August 6 @ Ridges at Sand Creek
Fairmont (Martin County) – Thur, August 7 @ Red Rock Center for the Arts

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Constitutional Observer Training

Tuesday August 5

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Constitutional Observer Training

LSP office, 111 N 1st St, Montevideo, MN 56265, USA

The Land Stewardship Project and CURE, in collaboration with the Immigrant Defense Network, are hosting a Constitutional Observer Training in Montevideo on Tuesday, August 5, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

This training is intended to develop local community leaders’ knowledge and understanding of civil rights and to encourage engagement in civil initiatives that protect immigrant rights and due process. The training blends elements of “Know Your Rights” and “rapid response” in a practical, hands-on workshop experience.

This training is intended to empower local community members with the tools and resources needed to support the legal rights of our immigrant neighbors. Immigrant communities are essential to the strength, resilience, and prosperity of Minnesota. LSP and CURE envision a Minnesota where immigrant families live without fear, children dream freely, and communities stand united in their pursue for justice and their right to thrive.

For more information and to reserve a spot, click here.

This training is part of Defender Action Day, which is being organized by the Immigrant Defense Network Aug. 5 and 7 in various Minnesota communities: Montevideo, Mankato, Saint Paul, Stillwater, Rochester, and Winona.

This is an opportunity to learn about our defend + drive approach and how to observe, protect, and uphold the rights of immigrant communities. You’ll get a toolkit on Know Your Rights and a badge as a Constitutional Rights Observer.

Sign up at the host site’s links below and learn more at immigrantdefensenetwork.org. Questions: info@immigrantdefenesenetwork.org.

LOCATIONS & DATES
Mankato | David Mesta, COPAL
Thursday, August 7th, 6:00 p.m.
Shared Spaces
127 S 2nd St
Mankato, MN 56001
https://secure.everyaction.com/ZM7-k1KQYUe_8rMpzTv9iw2

Montevideo | Nick Olson, LSP
Tuesday, August 5th, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
111 North First Street
Montevideo, MN 56265

Rochester | David Perdomo, COPAL
Thursday, August 7th, 6:00 p.m.
COPAL Rochester
1210 ½ 7th St NW
Rochester, MN
https://secure.everyaction.com/h5dR_dK2EkK8zNekL7Fytg2

Stillwater | Jo Haberman, Indivisible-St. Croix Valley
Thursday, August 7th, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Stillwater Public Library
https://www.mobilize.us/stcroixvalleyindivi…/event/814452/

Saint Paul | Kevin Huynh, MN8
Thursday, August 7th, 6:00 p.m.
Griggs-Midway Building
1821 University Ave W
Saint Paul, MN 55104

Winona | Kathy Florin
Thursday, August 7th, 6:00pm
Winona Arts Center
228 East 5th Street
Winona, MN, 55987

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