Sharing Our Roots

TO ADVANCE A RESILIENT AGRICULTURE THAT DEMONSTRATES THE POWER TO HEAL OUR LANDS, NOURISH OUR COMMUNITIES, AND PREPARE EMERGING FARMERS.

WE CONTINUED THE TRANSFORMATION OF OUR 100-ACRE RESEARCH FARM AS A REGIONAL DEMONSTRATION AND TRAINING CENTER FOCUSED ON BUILDING LOCAL FOOD SECURITY AND RESILIENCY, CREATING WEALTH AND STRENGTHENING SOCIAL COHESION. WHILE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC LIMITED IN-PERSON ACTIVITIES FOR MOST OF THE YEAR, IT ALSO PROMPTED US TO INCREASE OUR CAPACITY FOR ONLINE EDUCATION AND TRAINING. ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: -EXPANDED THE COMMUNITY AREA OF THE FARM TO INCLUDE AN ORCHARD, POLYCULTURES, LAND-SHARE PROGRAM AND DEMONSTRATION GARDEN FOR MULTI-GENERATIONAL FAMILIES. -EXPANDED OUR WEB-BASED TRAINING PROGRAMS AND CURRICULA TO INCLUDE VEGETABLE PRODUCTION, ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT AND PERENNIAL CROPS. -COMPLETED THE ORGANIC CERTIFICATION PROCESS AND DOCUMENTED SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN SOIL HEALTH AND WILDLIFE POPULATIONS. -PROVIDED POULTRY TRAINEES WITH ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN COOP DESIGN ALTERNATIVES, POULTRY HEALTH, BIOSECURITY, AND LAND ACCESS STRATEGIES. -EXPANDED ON-FARM GARLIC PLANTING FOR COMMUNITY SEED SHARING IN 2021. -HOSTED 250 (PRE-COVID) VISITORS INCLUDING EDUCATORS, FIELD EXPERTS, SCIENTISTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND FARMERS INTERESTED IN OUR MODEL. -SECURED SUPPORT FROM NEW DONORS TO FINANCE THE FARM BUILD OUT. WE CONTINUED THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE DE-RISKING STRATEGIES FOR BEGINNING AND TRANSITIONING FARMERS INCLUDING ACCESS TO LAND, FINANCING, AND PERENNIAL PLANT MATERIAL. ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: -DEMONSTRATED FLEXIBLE LAND-USE EASEMENTS WITH DAKOTA COUNTY TO ENCOURAGE GROWTH OF DEEP-ROOTED PERENNIAL SMALL GRAINS ON MARGINAL LANDS -EXPANDED PERENNIAL NURSERIES TO PROVIDE FREE OR LOW-COST WOODY PERENNIAL PLANT MATERIAL TO REDUCE THE COST OF TRANSITION -PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING, DEMONSTRATION AND SUPPORT FOR DOZENS OF BEGINNING AND ESTABLISHED FARMERSWE EXPANDED OUR CAPACITY FOR REGIONAL GROWTH BY CONNECTING WITH NONPROFIT, FOR-PROFIT, GOVERNMENT AND INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS. THEY INCLUDE: -SHARED CAPITAL COOPERATIVE, A CDFI WORKING TO SUPPORT LATINX FARMERS THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF A POOL OF OPERATING LOANS FOR MSP-MODEL COOP CONSTRUCTION, AND COLLABORATING WITH MSP ON STRUCTURING A GROWER'S COOPERATIVE; -IROQUOIS VALLEY FARMS, WHICH PROVIDES FARMER-FRIENDLY MORTGAGE FINANCING TO BEGINNING ORGANIC FARMERS SEEKING LAND ACCESS; AND, -URBAN VENTURES, A TWIN-CITIES BASED NONPROFIT THAT IS WORKING WITH MSP TO APPLY OUR FOOD PRODUCTION AND TRAINING RESOURCES TO THE CHALLENGE OF REDUCING THE YOUTH HEALTH AND NUTRITION GAP IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.WE HIRED THREE COMMUNITY CONNECTORS FROM THREE IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORHOODS TO LEAD OUR OUTREACH AND FOOD SECURITY EFFORTS. COMMUNITY SURVEYS HELPED IDENTIFY THE MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES:1. ADDRESSING TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS TO FOOD SECURITY 2. SHARING FARM LAND WITH THOSE WHO NEED ACCESS FOR GROWING FOOD3. PRODUCING AND DISTRIBUTING FOOD TO THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO FARM 4. IMPROVING AND/OR ESTABLISHING NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY GARDENS. ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDED: -VISITED DOOR-TO-DOOR, DELIVERED OVER 800 LBS. OF CHICKEN AND 250 POTTED VEGETABLE PLANTS. -PLANTED AND MANAGED 2 ACRES OF CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FOOD CROPS INCLUDING MAIZE, BEANS, CHINSAGA AND MANAGU. -PROVIDED FENCING MATERIALS, TOOLS, SEEDS AND PLANTS FOR THE CANNON RIVER MOBILE HOME PARK NEIGHBORHOOD GARDEN IN FARIBAULT. -PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO 14 PARTICIPATING FAMILIES. -PROVIDED TOOLS, PLANTS AND SEEDS TO EAST AFRICAN FARMERS AT THE GREENVALE COMMUNITY GARDEN IN NORTHFIELD. HELPED EXPAND THE GARDEN BY 25%. -ASSISTED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN DISTRIBUTING BAGGED LUNCH MEALS TO HUNDREDS OF HOMEBOUND CHILDREN. -HELPED THE FOOD SHELF AND COMMUNITY ACTION CENTER IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF DIAPERS, FORMULA, TOILETRIES AND NON-PERISHABLES TO FAMILIES MOST IMPACTED BY COVID. -DELIVERED COMPOST TO A DOZEN HOUSEHOLDS LOOKING TO START A FOOD GARDEN AT HOME. WE LAUNCHED A PILOT PROJECT OF CLIMATE LAND LEADERS IN MARCH 2020 AND ENDED THE YEAR WITH 28 INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS REPRESENTING 20 FAMILIES AND 6900 ACRES OF FARMLAND. THE COHORT SET LAND MANAGEMENT GOALS AND MET MONTHLY WITH TWO FARM VISITS AND ADDITIONAL ONLINE TRAININGS. EACH MEETING INCLUDED PROGRESS ON GOALS, TACKLING CHALLENGES, LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND INSPIRATION. FOUR OF THE CLIMATE LAND LEADERS RECEIVED THE PRACTICAL FARMERS OF IOWA 2020 FARMLAND OWNER AWARD.ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDED: -PARTICIPANTS LEARNED ABOUT THE SOILS ON THEIR LAND THROUGH ONE-ON-ONE CALLS WITH DR. SHARON WEYERS, USDA AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE. DR. WEYERS HELPED DEVELOP A SOIL TESTING PROTOCOL THAT THE CLIMATE LAND LEADERS ARE FOLLOWING. -STARTED A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CORNELL COMPREHENSIVE SOIL TESTING LAB, WHICH OPENED IN JULY AFTER A COVID SHUT DOWN. FIVE CLIMATE LAND LEADERS HAVE SUBMITTED BASELINE SAMPLES FOR LONG-TERM RESEARCH. -PRODUCED A VIDEO FEATURING TWO OF THE CLIMATE LAND LEADERS DEMONSTRATING HOW TO DO A LAND WALK, WHICH WAS FEATURED ON AT LEAST FIVE VENUES WITH HUNDREDS OF VIEWS.