Ear to the Ground 163: Trial by Fire
Rising from the ashes: Farm Beginnings grads recover from a disaster and launch a dairy farm.
Rising from the ashes: Farm Beginnings grads recover from a disaster and launch a dairy farm.
I coordinate a project in western Minnesota that is based on the idea that producing positive environmental impacts in a watershed can happen without having to remake the entire region’s landscape. Scientific studies and on-the-farm experience suggest that just a 10 percent increase in diverse crop rotations, grasses and other perennial plant systems can be enough to meaningfully improve the safety of the water, reduce flood potential, restore wildlife habitat and stimulate a thriving local and regional foods economy. This is especially true if we can target fields that are particularly sensitive to problems like erosion.
Many good arguments can be made for supporting a type of agriculture less reliant on energy, technology and Wall Street, and more on soil, communities and people: it’s better for the environment, produces good food and keeps more Main Street businesses open, to name a few. But after reading Jim Van Der Pol’s just-published collection… Read More →
While spending time in western Minnesota’s Big Stone County recently, I came across a lot of talk about food deserts—those places where people don’t have good access to healthy, affordable food. But while interviewing LSP organizer Rebecca Terk for this week’s podcast, an interesting twist emerged: a type of food desert can exist even when… Read More →
The Unnatural History of Bird Flu (2/12/25) Science journalist Brandon Keim, writing in Nautilus, provides an in-depth overview of the causes of the current H5N1 avian influenza outbreak, which has resulted in the death of 150 million chickens and turkeys, either by the virus itself or due to euthanasia as officials attempt to curb its spread.… Read More →
When Sogn Valley Farm transitioned out of intensive production of vegetable crops, it opened up opportunities to utilize a unique cousin of wheat as a way to steward the land. More Information • Sogn Valley Farm • Forever Green Initiative • Ear to the Ground 367: Disrupting the Food Chain • Ear to the Ground… Read More →
Thinking of applying for NRCS funds? First, advises vegetable and livestock farmer Klaus Zimmermann-Mayo, figure out what kind of farming you want to do and how you want to do it. More Information • Whetstone Farm • Go Farm Connect • NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program • NRCS Service Center Locator You can find LSP… Read More →
Farm to School connects Minnesota farmers directly to students by serving locally-sourced foods in school as well as providing educational activities that connect them with local agriculture. As part of Land Stewardship Project’s support for community-based food systems, we have been a long-time champion of this program. Want to Get Involved? Want to stay connected… Read More →
• An online version of the Land Stewardship Letter is here. • A downloadable pdf version is here. • Downloadable pdf back issues of the Land Stewardship Letter are here. • Interactive online back issues of the Land Stewardship Letter are here. • Paper copies are available by contacting Brian DeVore at 612-816-9342 or via e-mail. Table of Contents Stewardship… Read More →
Driftless Grazing School: June 28-29 Dates/Times: Day 1: Friday, June 28, 2024, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Day 2: Saturday, June 29, 2024, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Location: 18769 Eagle Heights Rd Caledonia, MN 55921 (same location both days) Join us for a two-day Grazing School in the rolling Driftless Region of Southeastern Minnesota!… Read More →