Events

Click HERE for a list of area Farmers' Markets.

EVENTS ::

Grazefest Minnesota 2010: Graziers’ Panel Discussion + Supper
Featuring a social hour, supper with local and pasture-raised foods, and a moderated panel discussion of expert Minnesota graziers.  For more information click here or email Anne with SFA or call 320-226-6318.  All are invited to attend.
Location: Winona County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, MN
Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Date: September 10, 2010

Grazefest Minnesota 2010
Grazefest is an extraordinary education and networking opportunity for farmers, graziers, grazing specialists, grazing suppliers, and educators.  Featured topics at Grazefest Minnesota 2010 include: watering and fencing systems, grass-fed dairy and beef, direct marketing, pasture health and maintenance, preparing for fall and winter, cover crops, and riparian area. The Sustainable Farming Association hosts Grazefest Minnesota to promote the health benefits of pasture-raised foods, the positive environmental impacts of grazing, and the economic benefits of from local, pasture-raised foods.  Grazefest Minnesota highlights well-managed grazing systems that result in healthy animals and excellent living and working conditions for farmers and rural communities. For more information click here or email Anne with SFA or call 320-226-6318.  All are invited to attend. 
Location: Winona County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, MN
Time: 8:00am – 4:00pm
Date: September 11, 2010

Backyard Homesteading: Farm Tour, Potluck, & Produce Exchange
See how to backyard homestead with Ellen Telander: tour an organic farm in Winsted, Minnesota and take it to suburbia! Learn from the folks that have tried it all: raising ducks for eggs in suburbia, chickens for eggs/meat, how to milk a goat, make cheese, grow enough produce to feed your family on pennies a day, preserve the harvest, make cider from your own apple trees, make your own flour and more! Bring a dish to pass for a picnic potluck and your extra garden harvest for a produce exchange. For more info click here.
Location: Winsted, MN
Time: 11:0am – 1:30pm
Date: September 11, 2010

Grass Fed Cattle Co Farm Tour
Join The Grass Fed Cattle Co. for family day on the farm!  Get to know Farmer Dan and learn about his farming practices, the benefits of rotational grazing, the different types of grasses the cattle eat, and humane treatment of animals.  This will be a family friendly event; a casual and interactive way to learn about sustainable farming and making quality food choices!  The event is free, but we ask you to RSVP so we know you are coming.  Click here to RSVP. For more information email Kristi Hamilton or call 612-518-3817.
Location:  Farmer Dan’s, 23717 151st Ave, Spring Valley, MN 
Time: 11:00pm – 2:00pm
Date: September 11, 2010

South Central Chapter of SFA showing the video “Nourishing our Children” 
For more information email Al Wagner or call 507-256-7569.
Location: First Presbyterian Church, Albert Lea, MN
Time: 9:00am
Date: September 11, 2010

17th Annual Harvest Festival and Energy Fair
Each year, dozens of people businesses and organizations join the Lake Superior Sustainable Farming Association and Lake Superior Energy Association to host one of the region's most visionary events. The Lake Superior Harvest Festival & Energy Fair showcases the agriculture of northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin and the latest information and clean energy solutions.  The event aims to promote local food production and energy efficiency as a key component of a healthy community, economy and environment.  The Festival is a family oriented outdoor event that attracts thousands of visitors to feast on locally produced food, to stock up at the farmer's market, to watch demonstrations by crafters and environmental innovators.
Admission to the event is $4 adults, $1 children.7-17 and free for children 6 and under. Rain or Shine.  Join Us for this Annual Harvest Celebration! Visit the Harvest Festival and Energy Fair website.  Call 218-393-3276 or email.
Location: September 11, 2010
Time: 8:00am – 6:00pm
Date: Duluth Bayfront Park

Minnesota Food Association Community Work Day at Big River Farms
These are open to the public and provide an opportunity for interested folks and families to come out and work on an organic vegetable farm for a day, or half-day. We start at 10 am with a brief orientation to the farm, then either work as a whole group or in smaller groups on a variety of chores on the farm. Work includes preparing greenhouses and hoophouses, maintenance of facilities, planting, weeding, harvesting and other general farm work. We work on the whole farm, including the farm fields of the farmers in the Big River Farms Training Program.  We layout a buffet table for lunch and enjoy good conversation and good food. Lunch is potluck style, so please bring something to share if you can.  All are invited to attend. For general information and Community Work Days email Joci Tilsen or email Glen Hill or call 651-433-3676.  For more information about the Minnesota Food Association click here.
Location:  Big River Farms, Wilder Forest, Marine on St. Croix, MN
Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Date: September 11, 2010

Big River Farms In-Field Training Sessions – Seed Saving Basics 
These training session continue throughout the growing season. These are practical, hands-on sessions for 2-3 hours in the fields at Big River Farms. These sessions are aimed at the immigrant farmers in the Big River Farms Training Program but are open to the public for a fee of $20 per session. Everyone is welcome but space is limited so reservations are preferred; but walk-ins are always welcome. Pay at the session. Interpretation is available in a variety of languages with at least one week advanced notice. Please contact us if you are requesting interpretation. Anyone seeking first-hand, practical, in-the-field knowledge on various aspects of sustainable and organic farming or gardening should attend. Trainer: TBA.  For training information/registration email Katie Kubovcik or call 651-433-3676 or click here for more information on the Minnesota Food Association.
Location:  Big River Farms, Wilder Forest, Marine on St. Croix, MN
Time: 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Date: September 12, 2010

Haiti Gardens Mini-Market & Annual Benefit
When in Haiti in March 2010, a Haitian friend said:  “Do not forget us” and thus Gardening World Wide, Haiti Gardens continues to support three program leaders in Haiti to motivate growing fruits and vegetables in home gardens to feed their families.  Stop on by to purchase fresh produce from local gardens including home-made horseradish and sauerkraut, baked and canned goods, Haitian coffee and exquisite vanilla. Enjoy B-B-Q Pork in a bun along with relishes, refreshments and treats in a Delightful Outdoor Café!    And, visit with folks who have recently been to Haiti, along with a tour of the productive Square Foot Garden. For more info contact Connie (320-963-3690) or Donna (320-558-4048).
Location: corner of Highway 55 and County Rd 8, Maple Lake, MN
Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Date: September 12, 2010

9th Annual University of Minnesota SROC Open House
Exhibits, demonstrations and activities build on the theme of "Agriculture for the 21st Century" and demonstrate what the UM and others are doing to promote rural vitality, address social and economic issues, sustain food, fiber and fuel production systems, and preserve a healthy environment. The intent of the Open House is to cultivate greater understanding of how various aspects of our daily lives are "rooted" in agriculture. The Open House is FUN, FREE and intended for people of all ages and interests. This event is co-sponsored by the UM SROC, Extension, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS), MN Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES), and community partners.
Location:  University of Minnesota Southern Research and Outreach Center, Waseca, MN
Time: 4:00pm – 8:00pm
Date: September 16, 2010

Perennials for Biomass
Attendees will meet at the SROC main building in the small meeting room. The event will start out with short videos of the business harvests from fall 2009. We will then drive to the demonstration site from last fall to view the re-growth of the hybrid willow after a year of growing time. Attendees will also be updated on the hybrid wilow and hybrid poplar spacing trials, clone trials, and harvest timing trials being conducted at SROC. The landscape position plots will also be available for viewing as well as other close by biomass plots utilizing grass species. For more information contact Dr. Gregg Johnson, UM-SROC-Waseca, 507-837-5617, Jill Sackett, UM Extension/Rural Advantage, 507-238-5449 THIS IS A FREE EVENT!!
Location: University of Minnesota Southern Research and Outreach Center, Waseca, MN
Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Date: September 22, 2010

Big River Farms In-Field Training Sessions – Hoophouse Production and Season Extension
These training session continue throughout the growing season. These are practical, hands-on sessions for 2-3 hours in the fields at Big River Farms. These sessions are aimed at the immigrant farmers in the Big River Farms Training Program but are open to the public for a fee of $20 per session. Everyone is welcome but space is limited so reservations are preferred; but walk-ins are always welcome. Pay at the session. Interpretation is available in a variety of languages with at least one week advanced notice. Please contact us if you are requesting interpretation. Anyone seeking first-hand, practical, in-the-field knowledge on various aspects of sustainable and organic farming or gardening should attend. Trainers: Aaron Blyth, and Melanie Timpano, BRF Production Coordinator. For training information/registration email Katie Kubovcik or call 651-433-3676 or click here for more information on the Minnesota Food Association.
Location:  Big River Farms, Wilder Forest, Marine on St. Croix, MN
Time: 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Date: September 26, 2010