On March 26th the central chapter of Sustainable Farming Association (SFA) gathered at Sprout for their annual meeting. Sprout has served as a common meeting ground for this group throughout the years, and this was a nice return to the community.

The central board used the Sprout kitchens to prepare a fantastic feast for the chapter to enjoy and reunite around the table. The food and the friends made for a great reason to wake up with the roosters and journey to Little Falls. Our bellies were filled with farm fresh food from members of the central chapter as we sat comfortably amongst our handmade wooden harvest tables. It was time to reflect on what community means and how food is a major part of developing this. It was a day of gratitude to share stories and information, talk about the upcoming harvest season, and engage in collective thought about how to build the network of SFA to support the farming community. We learned about the many events and programs the Central Chapter hosts throughout central Minnesota, the Ag and Water Quality Certification program, and the power of community.

I think the mantra of SFA sums up the sentiment of the day: "Agriculture done well, heals." We are grateful for the hardworking individuals that spend their time making sure that the best food they can produce gets to our tables. We are reminded that farmers serve us everyday and we must continue to think about ways to support them in return. Let’s eat well to be well and acknowledge eating as an agricultural act. Cheers to good food that builds our beautiful community!

To initiate conversations and collect stories, Heidi leaned on her curiosity of food culture. "Food is part of our everyday life, and is essential to all people," says Heidi. "I have found that exploring the complexities of food from production to consumption has very organically brought up social issues around food, including food insecurity, sustainable farming, and healthy living." The end result of the mural aims to reflect the stories shared throughout the process.

Our Give to the Max Commitment
​Thanks to generous individual donors and grant support, we have been able to provide Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares at no cost to individuals and families with barriers to access fresh, local foods. We currently provide 58 households with regular Winter CSA shares that include a mix of fall and winter produce, local meats, baked goods, farm fresh eggs, and more.

When you donate to Sprout on Give to the Max Day or year-round through our 4giving site, your donation does the double duty of purchasing from local growers and makers and then connecting items to families in our community.

On a blustery Sunday afternoon, eight women and one brave man, ventured to Boys-N-Berries Farm in St. Mathias, MN. The afternoon was designated to pick the remainder of the squash that was left in the field and donate the produce to local food relief efforts. These strong souls bundled up, put on their working gloves, and groomed the expanse of the frozen ground.

The goal was to find as many undamaged goods as possible, a more difficult task than usual at this time of the year given the early freeze that visited the north. We then dispensed the squash into a wheelbarrow at one end of the field to a trunk of the two car options. Collectively, the two volunteered vehicles were filled to capacity and ready to ride low off the field. The squash were primarily carnival (a variety of acorn that lives up to its name through the portrayal of vibrant colors and patterns) and distributed to Erich Heppner for the Central Lakes College - Food Pantry, and Matt Annand to prepare for the Sharing Bread Soup Kitchen.

The event was organized by 100 Rural Women and had participation from Sprout staff, Region Five Development Commission employees, and other members of the community. In this frigid setting, this group found warmth in the company of each other and the generosity of Boys-N-Berries Farm.

Artist Bruce Jacobson (SpiritWood Fine Jewelry) creates hand-crafted jewelry from selected sustainable hardwoods. Individually selected for distinct grain and features, sustainable hardwoods are shaped and contoured to accentuate the uniqueness and beauty of the wood. Bruce hand-shapes and finishes one-of-a-kind earring deisgns using a variety of woods: Plum, Mulberry, Koa, Ash, Purpleheart, Tulipwood, Blackwood, and more. To view the incredible selection of SpiritWood Fine Jewelry, visit brucejacobson.art/spiritwood

Created by: Dying to Film (www.dyingtofilm.com)

This project is made possible by ArtPlace America’s National Creative Placemaking Fund, awarded to Region Five Development Commission.