October 2021

With the leaves changing colors, the brisk wind moving in, we are looking at filling our pantry and preparing for the long, cold winter ahead. As you make those plans with us, consider filling your pantry with local goods. Your dollar supports so much more when you can keep it local.

Please enjoy these updates, and as always, we welcome your thoughts.

September 2021

September offers plenty of gorgeous days, perfect for soaking up the sun and cool breeze. But with changing of seasons we often rush around, finishing tasks. Here's hoping you can take some time to enjoy fall colors, crisp air, and end-of-season bounty of apples, pumpkins and all the pretty winter squash popping up at farmers markets.

In this month's Rooster we share gratitude for the valuable connections that have been made and shed light on upcoming events as well. Key among those planning ideas is a farmland access opportunity, just below, that we're very excited and hopeful about. Please enjoy these updates, and as always, we welcome your thoughts.

August 2021

We appreciate you as your support for and interest in strong rural communities and healthy local food systems is fundamental to their vitality.

This month we're especially looking forward to the return of the Minnesota State Fair, August 26-September 6. Keep reading to learn about our plans for local food and agriculture info at our Eco Experience Building events, and so much more going on!

June/July 2021

We’re back! After a June drought, this is a combined newsletter for June and July. [Less email is good, right!?]

Are you enjoying in-person events with a new-found appreciation, like we are? We're especially looking forward to the Co-op Farm Tour, coming up on July 10. Keep reading for a farmland access success story near Rochester, MN and a special field day linked to our Conservation Connections project, plus an update on our Farm to Early Care deliveries, and more.

May 2021

We hope you've been enjoying the season for its outdoor markets and increasing numbers of in-person events—and for the most part, avoiding the fickle weather!

We're sharing news of the Co-op Farm Tour, as well as some virtual events and a new book from Beth Dooley, ways to engage with farm to school efforts in Minnesota, and an application opportunity for Land Stewardship Project's Farm Beginnings program.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day!

April 2021

April in the upper Midwest brings serious changes and hope for new growth. This April has been no exception, both in the weather and in our world. In snow and buds, rhubarb and flowers, and the conviction in the murder of George Floyd, we see a glimmer of justice and a little hope, though there's still such a long way to go.

April also means friends and colleagues who are farmers are beyond busy in greenhouses and fields. In this issue, meet Jen Zimmerman of Maltwerks and our new staff member Melvin Giles, learn about opportunities to join Wisconsin Women in Conservation and the Land Stewardship Project with offerings for farmers and growers. Also, a last chance* to purchase local food from our FEAST! Online Marketplace!

March 2021

Happy Spring!

In this issue we have an immigrant's farmland access journey, a new regional flour mill in Wisconsin, and we introduce you to two new Vista project volunteers, a new Farm to School project, and more. Read to the end and you'll discover a chance to win a free registration to the Cottage Food conference, April 6-9!

February 2021

Have you had enough cold weather? Seems like it was many months ago when we were in a deep freeze—oh how a couple of warmer days can make you forget the long, dark, and cold days of winter. Our thoughts are with those in Texas who are still dealing with the aftermath of the polar vortex, but the rest of us are probably squinting at the sunny and quickly-lengthening days plus warmer temps, and envisioning the first spring radishes and peas.

BUT—it’s still pretty chilly and more cool days are to come, so what to do? BAKE. Attend virtual conferences. And get ready for planting seeds!

In this issue we share a broad perspective on farmland access, a new virtual conference just for cottage foods, a conference all about school gardens, and a new cookbook from Beth Dooley, focused on the sustainable crops of the Forever Green Initiative. Check it out!

January 2021

We're a month into a new year, and for many of us that means planning for a new growing season....and also, conference season—though this time, without the travel. In this month's updates we're sharing news of a few of those conferences, as well as a new brewer supplier database, farm to school efforts continuing in unique circumstances, and a program tailored to women landowners all about conservation.

We appreciate the opportunity to share these updates with you, and welcome your thoughts. If one of these stories strikes a chord, feel free to let us know!

December 2020

As we all gather our thoughts of a difficult year, we can take comfort in some silver linings of this pandemic—and look forward to the light at the end of the tunnel in 2021!

During this year we adapted, as many did. Some highlights:

• shifted an online sales platform to allow for online ordering from farmers' markets as early as March 21
• held a virtual fundraiser in May that saw the silliness of a kazoo-a-long as well as testimonials from staff and partners in some of our core programs
• continued our farm to early care work, focusing on activities for parents and caregivers to do at home to help kids learn about farm-fresh foods
• planned for a hybrid version of the annual FEAST! Local Foods Marketplace—and then adjusted to online-only when infection numbers increased
• doubled the number of our Farmland Access Navigators (now eight!) who provide one-on-one support to beginning farmers in IA, WI, and MN. Our navigators have helped >70 farmers achieve secure access to land
• forged two new partnerships with NRCS to increase conservation training and resource connections to women landowners and historically underserved farmers (BIPOC, immigrant, low-income, and veteran)
• Soil Sisters became an official project of RTC, supporting this vibrant Wisconsin-based network of women in sustainable ag to grow new networks + continue their successful annual event.

The other necessary ritual at the end of each year is a reminder to you, that if you're deciding on donations that have impact, we hope you'll consider donating to RTC. Below, we introduce you to one of our board members. Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful holiday!