Welcome

Organic Foods MN Directory

Posted in Out & About on Sun, 05/17/2009 - 7:10pm by lee -

Just wanted to make you aware that I've recently started to build an Organic foods MN directory, seeing as no satisfactory directory of organic foods, growers, companies, markets, and artisan producers seems to exist. I'll be building out the directory over time, very much looking forward to your suggestions. In the meantime, you can find the directory under the "Food Related Links" tab above.

Just BARE Chicken, Part 2: The Commentary

Posted in Out & About on Fri, 05/15/2009 - 4:59am by lee -

In a recent post about Just BARE Chicken, I published an email interview I conducted with Julie Berling, Director of Brand Strategy for Gold'n Plump Poultry. I found Ms. Berling's answers to be both measured and thoughtful. It seems to me that Gold'n Plump is doing the a good thing by introducing Just BARE Chicken line of products, from raising the chickens at local farms to allowing customers to track where they come from.

10 Lessons From My First CSA Box

Posted in Farms & Gardens on Thu, 05/14/2009 - 6:09am by lee -

I've been a CSA member for a whole entire week now. Here's what I've learned:

Just BARE Chicken, Part 1: The Interview

Posted in Out & About on Wed, 05/13/2009 - 4:48am by lee -

I recently had the opportunity to conduct an email interview with Julie Berling, Director of Brand Strategy for Gold'n Plump Poultry. Gold'n Plump, located in St. Cloud, MN, is a $200 million + company (as of 2002), and one of the largest chicken producers in the Midwest. In recent years, Gold'n Plump has been taken to task for issues related to employee relations and treatment of chickens.

Will Allen and Growing Power

Posted in Out & About on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 8:18am by lee -

If you're a Midwesterner who follows urban farming (and you know you are), then you're likely to know all about Milwaukee, Wisconsin's 2008 MacArthur Fellow - and recent NRDC "Growing Green Award" winner - Will Allen.

May 24 Event at Riverbend Farm - Please Come!

Posted in Farms & Gardens on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 5:03am by lee -

Greg Reynolds, whose Riverbend Farm provides fresh, local, organic produce to many markets and restaurants in the Twin Cities (including The Craftsman, The Birchwood Cafe, and Common Roots Cafe), has asked for some help. I'm hoping that - together - we can provide it.

The Natural Resources Defense Council Loves Local Food

Posted in Out & About on Mon, 05/11/2009 - 7:19am by lee -

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a 1.2 million member environmental action organization (which The New York Times has called "One of the nation's most powerful environmental groups"), has an exceptionally broad, ambitious mission statement:

The Natural Resources Defense Council's purpose is to safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants and animals and the natural systems on which all life depends.