April 2025 Newsletter

As the agricultural landscapes of urban and rural communities face funding headwinds, a vibrant energy continues blossoming in the most unexpected places—our cities.

Urban agriculture’s innovative, resilient spirit offers a powerful and positive lens through which we can envision food-friendly cities and countrysides. As we foster development of local food systems and connect urban areas with their roots of agriculture, we are cultivating not just produce, but a renewed appreciation for the land and the vital work of our gardeners and farmers. At Renewing the Countryside, we know local food and sustainable practices hold immense promise for bridging the urban-rural divide and nurturing a thriving future for all through land, environment and healthy, quality food access. 

Even amid ongoing federal funding uncertainty, we remain steadfast in our work—adapting, adjusting, and advocating—and are so grateful for all who join us in support.

Gary Hampton

National Urban Ag Initiative-Twin Cities, Project Co-Manager
Renewing The Countryside

RTC, its programs, and its staff are being deeply impacted by the federal funding freeze. Click here to support RTC's work and read more about program impact.

LSP Family Farm Breakfast & Lobby Day

The RTC team held a strong presence at the Land Stewardship Project's Farm Family Breakfast and Lobby Day at the MN State Capital in March. RTC staffers spoke at the breakfast and attended meetings with legislators to advocate for farmland access, farm to school/early care initiatives and more!

News Flash: The Federal Funding Freeze & More

The ongoing freeze of federal funds continues to keep farmers and farmer-serving organizations in limbo and uncertainty. Read a few opinion pieces and articles on the issue below.

Back to the Land in Wadena—Kent Scheer, a friend of RTC, recently put his thoughts on community-building and farm access into words. He gives a shout out to Renewing the Countryside and other colleagues in the field:

"Here in Minnesota there are organizations devoted to helping aspiring farmers find their home and get prepared. The Land Stewardship Project, Renewing The Countryside, and the Minnesota Institute of Sustainable Agriculture are a few working hard on this important mission. We rural locals can do our part by being aware this work is happening.. We should wrap newcomers into our area culture and our small community rather than leave them outside to wonder.." Read Kent's full article on the RTC website.

Adjustments to RTC's Go Farm Connect Project—RTC's Go Farm Connect project had to make big adjustments in the wake of the federal funding freeze. This involved pausing the Connector portion of the project, a farmer-to-farmer network where seasoned farmers helped new, emerging farmers navigate USDA resources. This is one Connector's reflection:

"Years ago, after my own personal experience struggling to understand the maze of USDA programs, I had a personal mission to help others avoid the same confusion. The connector program [Go Farm Connect] was such a perfect fit.. I was thrilled to learn and grow through the training and team meetings. I found it to be a grounding part of my routine. I was able to assist many through my work with this group. It was also beneficial to work directly with local USDA staff to plan events, which helped me build rapport and empathy for their internal processes and goals. They're truly good people with farmers' best interests in mind. It's been an honor to work with you and the whole team. Hopefully my contributions to the project were meaningful to you and RTC." -Matt Hardy

The Connector portion of Go Farm Connect remains paused due to the federal funding freeze.

**Share Your Story: The Federal Funding Freeze**

The federal funding freeze is creating real challenges for farmers, organizations, and communities—whether through stalled grants, delayed payments, or disruptions to essential programs. If you’ve been impacted, we want to hear your story.

Click this link to share your experience. Your voice helps us advocate for the resources and support our sustainable agriculture community needs now more than ever.

Cute Baby Animal Break: International Pet Day Addition

April 11 was international pet day! The pets of RTC were highlighted on social media, but we wanted to share one here too, because why not?! Pictured above is BB Jefferson, Matt Barthelemy's blanket fort loving cat!

Minnesota Women in Conservation (MNWiC) will host the third and final webinar of its spring webinar series on Wed., April 23 from Noon-1 p.m. The theme for April's webinar is Forest Conservation featuring Minnesota State Forester Callie Bertsch. RSVP Here.

We’re pleased to welcome Gilbert Schwartz to the Renewing the Countryside team as our new Conservation & Stewardship Outreach Coordinator! Gil joined our team in January and brings 14 years of experience in agriculture and nonprofit work.

For the past decade, Gilbert ran a diversified family farm in northern Wisconsin, growing 25+ specialty crops using regenerative and permaculture practices. Now back in Minneapolis, he brings a holistic approach to conservation—drawing on an interdisciplinary education from the University of Minnesota and an Urban Farming certification. His work has spanned pollinator habitat creation, wild rice restoration, agroforestry, and leading workshops.

At RTC, he’s especially passionate about helping beginning and underserved farmers navigate NRCS programs and tap into resources for resilient, thriving operations. Off the clock, you’ll find him cooking with local and foraged ingredients, stretching it out in a yoga pose, basking in a hot sauna, or chasing adventure with his wife and their dog, Tulsi.

Beating the odds in Iowa: How a conventional farmer is building a regenerative legacy with the help of a Farmland Access Navigator

Born into a traditional row cropping operation, Andrew and one of his siblings took over family land in 2015 when their father and uncle retired (another brother and a sister live and work off the farm). They farmed together for a few years and then Andrew decided that he wanted to switch to regenerative farming. When it became clear that he and his brother didn’t align around changing land management practices, Andrew struck out on his own. 

Read Andrew's full story of switching to regenerative practices with the help of a Farmland Access Navigator here. Renewing the Countryside is just one of many partners working on the Farmland Access Hub. View the full list of partners here. 

Q: What is the name of the RTC project that helps local farmers and food advocates in creating, publicizing and conducting on-farm events in their regions to bolster their communities' access and commitment to buying local?

March's Trivia:

Q: Spring is just around the corner, which means bees, butterflies, and other pollinators will soon be buzzing back into action! Many sustainable farmers plant wildflowers and native plants to create pollinator habitats, but one common lawn care habit can actually make it harder for pollinators to thrive. 
A: Mowing!

Email your answers to mikell@rtcinfo.org and/or look for the chance to answer on Renewing the Countryside's social media. Give us a follow below!

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