beginning farmers

Midwestern Farmers Invited to Answer this Question: What Do YOU Want in the New Farm Bill?

Farmers in Minnesota, Iowa & Wisconsin Asked to Participate in New Survey

February 24, 2022

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — As discussions around the 2023 Farm Bill get off the ground, a key group of people are being asked to share their views on the future of agricultural policy: farmers. During the next several weeks, the Land Stewardship Project (LSP) is circulating the National Young Farmer Survey in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin in… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: 2023 Farm Bill • agriculture policy • beginning farmers • Farm Beginnings • Farm Bill • farmers of color • land access • Midwest Farmers of Color Collective • National Young Farmers Coalition • USDA

Making Room for Relationships

How Journeyperson is Helping Racing Heart Pace Itself

By Brian DeVore

January 10, 2022

Pack-shed or people? That’s the question Les Macare and Els Dobrick are grappling with on a dank day in mid-March as they brave a biting wind to inspect the garden plots, cover crops, and outbuildings on Racing Heart Farm in western Wisconsin. With the exception of some onions sprouting in one of the hoop houses,… Read More →

Category: Farm Beginnings Profiles

Tags: beginning farmers • Community Supported Agriculture • CSA • Els Dobrick • Farm Beginnings • Farmland Clearinghouse • journeyperson • land access • Les Macare • Racing Heart Farm • vegetable farming • vegetables

The Non-Tragedy of the Commons

Cooperative Ownership of Farmland Offers Alternative Access to Acres

By Robin Moore

January 6, 2022

Meet Sasa Organic Farms, a collective of Kenyan farmers. Sasa is five family farms: Dawn2Dusk Organic Farms, Lisaviole Farms, Lisaviole Organic Farms, Green Joy Farm, Gedef Organic Farm, and Laurens Organic Farm. They provide Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares, produce, and seedlings to customers in and around Minnesota’s Twin Cities. Like many beginning farmers, their goal… Read More →

Category: Blog

Tags: Agrarian Commons • Agrarian Trust • beginning farmers • Dawn2Dusk • Elinor Ostrom • land access • land commons • Minnesota Agrarian Commons • Sara Organic Farms

Ear to the Ground 265: Diving into Safer Waters

Nettle Valley Farm’s “informed sink or swim” model of incubating the next generation of farmers. LSP’s Ear to the Ground episode 261 describes Nettle Valley Farm’s silvopasturing system and the work it’s doing to improve pollinator habitat. More information: • LSP’s “Accessing Farmland” Web Page • LSP Farmland Clearinghouse • LSP Farm Beginnings Course •… Read More →

The Importance of Investing in Soil Health & Resilient Rural Communities

By Sam Streukens

October 26, 2021

Around a decade ago, while driving past a farm field in southeastern Minnesota, Bob Christie turned to DJ Mueller with a nervous question: “So you’re saying my fields are going to look like that?” With farmers adapting to a changing climate and volatile markets, DJ knew that he and Bob must prioritize soil health over… Read More →

Category: Blog

Tags: beginning farmers • cover crops • intergenerational transfer • no-till • small farms • soil health

Ear to the Ground No. 255: Embracing the Weed

What happened when beginning farmers Rachelle and Jordan Meyer started listening to the land and turned livestock loose on a “bacterial farm.” • Check out this LSP video on how Rachelle and Jordan Meyer are using “cell grazing” to build soil and produce livestock. • More information on Wholesome Family Farms is here. • For… Read More →

Farm Beginnings Profile: A Raw Deal on Farmland

Using Farm Beginnings & Soil Health to Push Marginal Land Beyond Expectations

By Brian DeVore

June 15, 2021

There are upsides to launching a farm on raw, open land: no broken-down outbuildings or junk piles to deal with, the ability to truly start anew from the soil up. Then…there’s the other side of the fence, so to speak. “I decided to move the sheep before they move themselves,” says Hannah Bernhardt with a… Read More →

Category: Farm Beginnings Profiles

Tags: beginning farmers • Farm Beginnings • land access

Ear to the Ground No. 252: Stewardship as Measure

Beginning dairy farmer Carrie Redden talks about how she sees successful land stewardship and successful farming as deeply intertwined, and why more non-farmers need to make that connection as well. Carrie Redden was interviewed as part of the We Are Water initiative, which documented the stories of several farmers in the upper reaches of the… Read More →

Ear to the Ground No. 248: Giving a Damn About the Future of Ag

Over the past two decades, LSP’s Farm Beginnings course has developed into a nationally-recognized program for launching the next generation of innovative farmers. Karen Stettler and Amy Bacigalupo talk about how Farm Beginnings got started, the community-centered philosophy it’s based on, and where it’s headed. More on Farm Beginnings • For more on LSP’s Farm Beginnings… Read More →

Ear to the Ground No. 247: A Raw Deal on Farmland

Hannah Bernhardt and Jason Misik couldn’t afford prime farmland brimming with infrastructure. But sweat equity and soil health are helping them transform a marginal piece of ground far from Corn Country.

Upcoming Events

July 2024

Saturday July 13

9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Communicating Meat Cuts Workshop: From Carcass to Consumer

Saturday July 13

9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Communicating Meat Cuts Workshop: From Carcass to Consumer

Spring Grove, MN 55974, USA

Between an animal grazing in the field and a meal on your customers’ plate lies a maze of possibility and decision. What are the cuts of meat and how do they differ? What about cooking times or tips? Customers often rely on you, as the farmer, to guide them through the options. As a result, part of your roll is shaping expectations for the meat they receive.

During this joint Land Stewardship Project-Practical Farmers of Iowa workshop*, come learn as Cecka Parks, of the Minneapolis Meat Collective, breaks down half-a-lamb, explains how the cuts relate to each other, and shares basic rules of thumb for cooking based on what part of the animal the cut comes from. Then learn from food photographer Tiffany Alexandria of Choochoo-ca-Chew how to affordably take attractive photos of meat with your phone to use in marketing. Everyone will go home with their own photos of grass-fed lamb cuts.

* Due to the interactive nature of this workshop, attendance is limited to 20 participants and registration is required. Complete event details will be provided upon registration.

The event will feature a potluck lunch. An entree will be provided; attendees are encouraged to bring a side or dessert to share.

See & Discuss

What to consider in preparing grass-finished meat.
Where cuts come from on a carcass and how that affects other options.
Basic cooking rules based on the source of cuts.
How to take good photos of food.

Registration is required by clicking here.

Thursday July 25

5:30 pm – 9:00 pm

LSP Twin Cities Cookout & Potluck

Thursday July 25

5:30 pm – 9:00 pm

LSP Twin Cities Cookout & Potluck

Land Stewardship Project, 821 E 35th St Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN 55407, USA

The signs of spring are ramping up (pun intended), and we here at the Land Stewardship Project are looking forward to connecting with our members and supporters across the region to dream up new ways to move forward our vision of keeping land and people together. While the work we do at the Capitol, out at field days, and in many, many Zoom meetings is essential, we also believe it’s important to connect with each other just for fun too! Community keeps us rooted, and that’s why we’re returning for yet another Twin Cities Cookout & Potluck on Thursday, July 25, from 5:30-9 p.m., in the yard of our Minneapolis office.

This year we are bringing back all the classic cookout favorites:

The BEST potluck in the Twin Cities! LSP will provide burgers and brats sourced from member-farms, as well as grilled vegetarian protein; we ask that guests bring their favorite potluck dish to share.
Pie and Art Raffle: This year we are enhancing an LSP favorite with the opportunity to win some locally-made art as well! 🥧🎨😋
An opportunity to hear from LSP members and staff about on-the-ground organizing and how you can get involved.

Let us know you can make it to ensure we order enough food and supplies.

August 2024

Thursday August 1

All Day: Early Bird Discount Deadline for LSP's Farm Beginnings Class
Thursday August 1
Early Bird Discount Deadline for LSP's Farm Beginnings Class
Hybrid

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 2024 through March 2025, with some additional educational opportunities to take place later in 2025.

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 contact Whitney at wterrill@landstewardshipproject.org or Annelie at annelie@landstewardshipproject.org

You can apply to the course at https://bit.ly/FBApp24-25.

Friday August 9 – Saturday August 10

Wisconsin School of Managed Grazing

Friday August 9 – Saturday August 10

Wisconsin School of Managed Grazing

Marshfield Agricultural Research Station, 208356 Drake Ave N, Stratford, WI 54484, USA

GrassWorks is bringing back the popular Wisconsin Grazing Schools for the first time in over 10 years. They’re updating the schools to tackle modern grazing opportunities and challenges.These two-day intensive workshops will provide opportunities for in-depth discussions, field exercises, and reference materials that cover both livestock and agroecological topics related to grazing.

For details and to register, click here.

September 2024

Sunday September 1

All Day: Final Deadline for LSP's Farm Beginnings Class
Sunday September 1
Final Deadline for LSP's Farm Beginnings Class
Hybrid

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 2024 through March 2025, with some additional educational opportunities to take place later in 2025.

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 contact Whitney at wterrill@landstewardshipproject.org or Annelie at annelie@landstewardshipproject.org

You can apply to the course at https://bit.ly/FBApp24-25.

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