May 2025 Newsletter

A month ago, I was having one of the worst weeks of my working life. I had let our wonderful staff know that if things didn't change (and I wasn't optimistic that they would), that we would have to drastically reduce hours for nearly half of our staff. We reached out to you, and many of you stepped up and responded with generous support and/or notes of encouragement. It's thanks to that, along with some of our foundation partners providing support or bridge loans, and finally receiving overdue federal funds owed from past work, that we were able to keep critical programs moving forward and avoid needing to reduce staff time.

While one of our grants was cancelled, and funding is still suspended on two others, we are optimistic that we'll eventually see the suspended projects opened up. Thank you for your support and financial gifts—they gave us breathing room and reminded us that we’re not alone in this work!

Jan Joannides, Executive Director

Intro to the Urban Ag Initiative:

2024 marked the pilot year of the Urban Agriculture Micro-Grant Program through Renewing the Countryside, created in partnership with the USDA’s Farm Service Agency’s National Urban Agriculture Initiative (NUAg). 23 individual farmers across the seven county Twin Cities metro area were chosen and awarded with micro grants to support their goals within their individual farming projects. These urban farmers are doing impactful work with the ongoing support of their families, neighbors, and community. Listening to their stories has revealed just how much food and farming can bring people together, creating connection and resilience within the cit even amidst political uncertainty.

The purpose of the micro grant program was to help make urban farmers aware of and connected with essential resources to ensure longevity of their work and support ongoing generations of urban agriculture. Each applicant applied for specific support related to their projects, such as access to more tools, seeds, infrastructure, or technical assistance to help strengthen and sustain their farming efforts. The micro grant program was designed to do more than simply supply farmers with the resources they requested. More so, it aimed to cultivate strong, resilient communities rooted in mutual support and equitable local food access!

April 2025 Newsletter

Kent Scheer, a friend of Renewing the Countryside and environmental advocate, recently put his thoughts on community-building, acceptance into words in the article below. He provides a strong shoutout to land access and Renewing the Countryside, as well as other colleagues in the field. Read Kent's full article:

During the 1970s and 80s, The Back-To-The-Land movement brought young outsiders to Wadena and this region in surprising numbers. They tended to be in their thirties, progressive, and free thinking. They came on a dream of independence combined with a desire to homestead, grow healthy food, and live self-sufficiently. They also came at a time our own young people were leaving in droves, never to return.

The first installment of this Pioneer Journal feature reviewed that history and its fortunate impact on our area. These new people made a difference. As they matured and became settled some reached out to help the area and to innovate exceptional projects like the Cultural Center, Wadena Beautification, and the Whiskey Creek Film Festival.

March 2025 Newsletter 

Dear Reader,

Right now, Renewing the Countryside and the communities we serve are facing an unprecedented challenge. The ongoing federal funding freeze has placed critical programs on hold, creating deep uncertainty for farmers, food systems, and communities across the country. 

At this moment, RTC is awaiting more than $350,000 in federal funding reimbursement for work we've already completed.

So today, we ask for your immediate, emergency support, as the uncertainty ahead is unlike anything we’ve faced before.

As 2024 comes to a close, we’re filled with gratitude for all the work we’ve done together. This year has been a testament to the power of community, generosity, and shared purpose. To celebrate, we’ve put together our Top 10 Highlights from 2024. Thank you to all who supported us in this work and aided in our mission of fostering just, vibrant, and sustainable communities. Because of our community, we have a solid foundation and a clear path forward heading into 2025. 

If you’re inspired by our work below, we invite you to make a gift today at  renewingthecountryside.org/donate.

November 2024

As Give to the Max Day approaches on Thursday, Nov. 21, we're grateful for the chance to share with you about the many projects we’ve so enjoyed working on over the past year.

Please enjoy our stories below about the fruits of our farmland access work, the ever-growing, very fun FEAST! Local Foods Marketplace that connects Minnesota food entrepreneurs with individual and wholesale buyers, the outcome of our first round of Urban Ag microgrants, a recap of my recent trip to Japan to speak about mini-forests, and much more, including our Staff Moment with Burke Murphy, new staffer as lead for the Minnesota Women in Conservation project!

—Hannah Lewis, RTC Grants and Projects Manager