FEAST! Local Foods SCOOP: June 2020

 

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JUNE 2020  |  VOL. 2, NO. 12

Community is essential.

From COVID and social distancing, to the increased urgency around our need for actions and understanding around racial injustice, this has been a year of intense conversations. 

We welcome you to be a part of the local food conversation by getting involved with FEAST! Local Foods Magazine Volume Three, set for a mid-October release. Read on for an update from Ferndale Market and another partner that fuels FEAST!  Scroll down to learn about Adrian Lipscombe, her La Crosse, WI restaurant, and her crowdfunding project that's gathered huge momentum in a few weeks time.

Plus, enter this month's contest (scroll down for details). Here's to safe socializing and appreciating each other—especially those keeping our local food systems alive and well. 

—FEAST! Local Foods Network newsletter team 

 

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FEAST! Local Foods SCOOP: May 2020

 

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MAY 2020  |  VOL. 2, NO. 11

Warm weather is here...

and farmers are growing nourishing food for us, as they do every year. Do you know your farmers and food makers? We're happy to help with that! 

This month we introduce you to a company working to help you find local makers NearestYou, check in with one of the many CSA farms selling out their membership subscriptions, and recognize a Rochester restaurant cooking for students and front line workers. Finally, we introduce you to FEAST! partner, GreenSeam, and invite you to enter another contest. We hope you're enjoying the 3-day weekend and unofficial kickoff to summer!

—FEAST! Local Foods Network newsletter team 

 

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Wisconsin CSA ramps up to meet demand, documenting with "Dear Farm Journal" project

Keewaydin Farms is nestled in the rocky, rolling hills of the Driftless between Richland Center and La Farge, Wisconsin. There, Rufus Haucke and Joy Miller are building on this second-generation farm with their own layers of toil, trials and triumph. 

Rufus grew up on this land, and has operated the farm on varying scales and models over the last 15 years, whereas Joy joined him in 2017, and yes—she appears to have brought much joy with her! 

You’ll see that by following their Facebook page. Joy unleashes a range of experiences from their farm life in her creative project, “Dear Farm Journal.” She writes daily posts, always accompanied by multiple pictures and videos that truly look joyful. 

This year, those glimpses of farm activity include exciting developments like a truckload of Purple Cow compost, a new-to-them delivery van, and —most recently— news that they’ve brought on two additional farm workers. 

Joy said some of those investments were possible because of their incredibly popular CSA shares so far this year. “Our CSA has been going crazy,” she exclaimed.

Due to social distancing and concern about shopping in public markets, CSA programs have been thriving this spring, and like many local farms, their shares are selling out. Spring sold out early, and summer is now sold out as well, including the additional 50 shares they added. Their website even crashed a couple times.

Half-hog shares and egg shares sold out, so they arranged for more stock to scale up, including twice as many chickens. They’re still taking sign-ups for their fall and winter program, though— which runs through December 9th. They’re also starting to use an online sales platform that will allow people to order items without being a CSA member, and because they hired someone to do deliveries,

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FEAST! Local Foods SCOOP: April 2020

 

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APRIL 2020  |  VOL. 2, NO. 10

Down, but not out.

We're over 5 weeks into the #StayHome initiatives, and the curve has definitely been flattened. In the meantime, the food industry is taking a hit on all levels. 
We've checked in with many in our Network to give you some updates, which include some highs and some lows. Read on for a fun contest to give you the ultimate mood boost. Let's all celebrate the farmers, food makers, and farm to table restaurants we know and love.

—FEAST! Local Foods Network newsletter team 

 

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FEAST! Local Foods SCOOP: March 2020

 

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MARCH 2020  |  VOL. 2, NO. 9

How are you?

This used to be a commonplace question, even a rhetorical greeting. But now, it bears new weight. We have many new worries for ourselves and others—from the difficulties of homeschooling children to the very life-changing threat of the virus, and of course, to our food supply.

   Farms, food makers and sellers are classified as essential, but still face significant challenges to their labor force and supply chains. We'd like to "look to the helpers," as Fred Rogers famously quoted his own mother. Below, we're sharing information that we hope helps you see actions you can take to support the essential farmers and food makers in our short supply-chain.

—FEAST! Local Foods Network newsletter team 

 

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Vegetable Alfombra with artist Susan Waughtal

An interview with artist Susan Waughtal about the Vegetable Alfombra created at the FEAST! Local Foods Marketplace on December 7, 2019...

 

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FEAST! Local Foods SCOOP: February 2020

 

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FEBRUARY 2020  |  VOL. 2, NO. 8

Leap Year!



Did you know? Because there's a February 29th this year, the vernal equinox is 'early,' on March 19— just 4 weeks from today! The days are getting noticeably longer, the sun feels warmer (a bit), and we've got some local foods news to share: profiles on Sailor Mercy elderberry syrup and Main Street Farm, an update from NOSH in Winona (!), the winners from our recent survey, and more.

—FEAST! Local Foods Network newsletter team 

 

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FEAST! String Survey action captured in time lapse video

During the FEAST! Local Foods Marketplace festival on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, attendees were a part of a participatory art activity called String Survey, created and curated by Arlene Birt of Background Stories.

Arlene captured the action around the interactive art with a time lapse video, which you can see by clicking 'read more,' below. 

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FEAST! Local Foods SCOOP: January 2020

 

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JANUARY 2020  |  VOL. 2, NO. 7

Happy New FOOD Year!



We wish you new discoveries of food, food makers and farmers this year—keep reading for highlights and photos from FEAST! 2019, and a chance to win a $100 gift certificate!

—FEAST! Local Foods Network team members 

 

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FEAST! Local Foods SCOOP: December 2019

 

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DECEMBER 2019  |  VOL. 2, NO. 6

2019 is a wrap!



Thank you for helping make the 6th Annual FEAST! Local Foods Marketplace festival such a huge success! We wish you a healthy and happy new year—keep reading for highlights and photos from FEAST! 2019!

—FEAST! Local Foods Network team members 

 

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