Mother Earth Gardens to Add Second, Nordeast Location

MARIE FLANAGAN

Residents in Northeast Minneapolis might notice some action this winter on the corner of Lowry and Stinson. Mother Earth Gardens, a popular South Minneapolis garden center specializing in organic gardening, sustainably-grown plants, and earth-friendly products, is working on the variance procedures to add a second store in the Windom Park neighborhood.

Paige Pelini and Karen O'Connor own and operate Mother Earth Gardens. They purchased the South Minneapolis business in 2007 and hope to open their Northeast location in April 2013, “even if it’s just a soft opening,” according to O’Connor. The Northeast location will have two buildings (a two-story building with retail and residential space and a single-story building with multiple retail spaces), currently occupying 2358 Stinson Parkway and 2314-2318 Lowry Avenue.

“I actually used to live in Northeast," said O’Connor. “We have a lot of existing customers who live in Northeast. It’s a similar demographic to our customer base in South─it’s an active community that supports the arts, gardening, and local businesses.”

So what can Northeast green thumbs expect from Mother Earth Gardens? O’Connor says their philosophy of sourcing and selling plants and products that have been grown, produced, and delivered in a sustainable manner will carry through to the new store. During the planting season, they’ll have as many as 50 varieties of heirloom tomatoes, extensive options of unusual edible and medicinal herbs, native plants, and rain garden plants. Their selection of annual and perennials will be sourced from local growers like Rush Creek Growers, Green Earth Growers, and Glacial Ridge Growers.

The indoor retail space at the Northeast location will be larger than the indoor space at their South location─on top of traditional garden center supplies and gifts, O’Connor says they hope to fill that extra indoor space with more supplies for urban farmers, from beekeeping supplies to backyard chicken supplies. And just in case you thought garden centers were only good for visiting in warm months, Mother Earth Gardens also hopes to offer free winter seminars, possibly partnering with theEastside Food Co-op.

Pictured above: Honey Grape organic heirloom cherry tomato (plant purchased at Mother Earth Gardens).

 Mother Earth Gardens, South Minneapolis location.
 Photos courtesy of Mother Earth Gardens, by Karen O'Connor

Cross posted from Mother Earth Gardens to Add Second, Nordeast Location - Twin Cities Taste - November 2012 - Minnesota

[where: Sustainable Food, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Twin Cities, Minnesota]

Upcoming Event Salutes Lake Superior's Sustainable Fisheries

An upcoming event, "A SALUTE TO LAKE SUPERIOR'S SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES," hosted by the University of Minnesota Sea Grant Program, spotlights the state's seasonal abundance of lake herring from Lake Superior and celebrates the people involved in managing, harvesting, studying, and preparing this sustainably harvested fish.

The second annual event will take place on Tues., Nov. 13 from 5-7:30 p.m. at the McNamara Alumni Center in Minneapolis. A cook-off and tasting event, the “Salute” celebrates the people involved in the success of Lake Superior’s fisheries. Some local Duluth chefs are making the journey to the Twin Cities to compete. Local chefs include Avery Cassar from At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Café and Scott Graden from the New Scenic Café. Admission for this event is $20. For Northland guests, Minnesota Sea Grant is providing a bus for transport at $10 per seat.

For more information about the “Salute,” visit the Minnesota Sea Grant events page here.

A New PastureLand

Remember PastureLand’s award-winning gourmet butter and artisanal cheeses produced from the milk of family operated, organically certified, grass-based dairy farms in Minnesota? They had been a Flanagan household favorite for years. But the PastureLand we knew—the organic, Minnesota-based grass dairy cooperative—is no more. 

As reported in May 2011, PastureLand was having some problems, and their butter and cheese began disappearing from market shelves. In winter 2012, Edelweiss Graziers Cooperative purchased the naming and brand rights to PastureLand, which means the PastureLand brand (previously made in Minn.) will now be used to market dairy products made by five Wisconsin farm families. 

Bert Paris has been dairy farming in Wisconsin since 1983, and started grazing his herd on pasture in 1993. Today, his family is one of the five families that make up the new PastureLand cooperative. 

“We really liked the name, and we wanted to carry on some of the beliefs about grass-based dairies, family farms, and sustainability,” said Paris. “We are so proud to carry on the PastureLand name to continue to promote grass-based dairy products.” 

So what are the differences between the old PastureLand and the new PastureLand? Well, the product line will be totally different, for starters. Whereas the former PastureLand label was organic, the new PastureLand is not. And the former PastureLand products were 100% grass-based dairy products, but the new PastureLand products will be at least 60% grass-based. 

 

In addition to working on a grass-based gouda cheese with the new PastureLand label, called “Peace of Pasture,” they’re developing a Greek-style yogurt with the help of Bert’s brother, Ron Paris, ofWisconsin’s Sugar River Dairy yogurt fame. As Bert puts it, he and his brother were sharing a beer one evening, and decided they’d like to try making a grass-fed based Greek-style yogurt. After experimenting for about three months, the PastureLand cooperative has just about finalized their new non-homogenized, Greek-style yogurt. PastureLand hopes its yogurt will be available starting next April during the grazing season in select natural food co-ops and grocery stores, along with the gouda cheese.

Cross-posted from: A New PastureLand - Twin Cities Taste - November 2012 - Minnesota

[where: Sustainable Food, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Twin Cities, Minnesota]

You can Help Shape the Future of Urban Ag in Minneapolis

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is developing a plan for urban ag in Minneapolis, and they want your input. If you're interested and/or engaged in urban ag in Minneapolis, consider attending one of these public meetings. You can also share your thoughts about urban ag in Minneapolis using an online form.
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From the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board website...

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) has begun a process to develop a plan to support urban agriculture. This plan will guide the MPRB in defining and prioritizing community needs, recommending service delivery goals, and guiding allocation of funds to support urban agriculture within the park system.
                              
Increasing numbers of Minneapolis residents are actively engaged in various urban agriculture activities, and interest in community gardens, farmers markets, community supported agriculture (CSA), and local food production has steadily increased in this decade.  The Board of Commissioners recognizes the many benefits of a sustainable, local food system and has supported community gardens since 2002 by resolution. 

Supporting urban agriculture aligns with the MPRB’s mission, values, and vision for the future.  The MRPB Comprehensive Plan states that park facility renewal and development is to respect history and focus on sustainability, accessibility, flexibility, and beauty.  Sustainability is a core value of the MPRB, and supporting urban agriculture is one component of improved sustainability.  The MPRB seeks to develop a plan that explores opportunities to partner with others, efficiently utilize MPRB resources, and align service delivery of services with the needs of Minneapolis residents and park users.

Share your thoughts at an upcoming public meeting:

            

November 13, 3-4:30 pm	Logan Rec Center	690 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis
November 15, 6-7:30 pm	Linden Hills Rec Center	3100 43rd St. W., Minneapolis
November 17, 10-11:30 am	MPRB Headquarters	2117 W. River Road, Minneapolis
December 3, 6-7:30 pm	Farview Rec Center	621 29th Ave. N, Minneapolis
December 4, 6-7:30 pm	Nokomis Rec Center	2401 E. Minnehaha Pkwy., Minneapolis

[where: Sustainable Food, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Twin Cities, Minnesota]

Wisconsin Rush Creek Reserve From Uplands Cheese Released

SLEEPYNEKO

Cheese lovers, the time is nigh. This week, Uplands Cheese
released their first batches of Rush Creek Reserve for the 2012 season.

You might know Upland’s for their award-winning Pleasant Ridge Reserve (it won “best in class” from the American Cheese Society for the past three years, and won the Best Cheese in America in 2010). Uplands makes Pleasant Ridge Reserve on their farm in Wisconsin from spring until fall using fresh, grass-fed milk. This aged, Beaufort-style cheese is pale gold with a firm texture (Beaufort is an Alpine cheese produced in the French Alps). Like a Beaufort, Pleasant Ridge Reserve is rich, smooth, and melts beautifully.

But now autumn is upon us, and as the cows’ diets rotate from fresh summer pasture to drier winter hay, Uplands makes their seasonal Rush Creek Reserve. Whereas Pleasant Ridge is an aged, hard cheese, Rush Creek is a soft, young cheese in the style of Vacherin Mont d'Or (a washed-rind soft cheese made in Switzerland and France). Made from September - November, the 12-ounce wheels of hand-made cheese are wrapped in boiled spruce bark and are aged just two months. Rush Creek is best served slightly warm with the top of the wheel sliced off to expose the luscious, slightly pungent cheese in the center of the wheel. Spoon the creamy cheese onto a bit of baguette, take a bite, and smile. Rush Creek is just hitting the markets, so watch for it to start popping up at local cheese markets—Surdyks has it now.

If you have the time, consider checking out this episode of Wisconsin Foodie, which features Uplands Cheesemaker Andy Hatch as he makes Rush Creek Reserve. Hatch shows you how he makes it, and demonstrates his recommended serving technique.

Cross-posted from TC Taste: Wisconsin Rush Creek Reserve From Uplands Cheese Released - Twin Cities Taste - October 2012 - Minneapolis, St. Paul, Minnesota

[where: Sustainable Food, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Twin Cities, Minnesota]

Hennepin County High Tunnel Workshop

I just received this information, and I wanted to share it right away for all my urban and rural farming friends. FYI, a polytunnel (also known as a polyhouse, hoop greenhouse or hoophouse, or high tunnel) is an above ground tunnel made of polyethylene, usually semi-circular, square or elongated in shape. Farmers use these to extend their growing seasons. Air warmed by the heat from hot interior surfaces is retained in the building by the roof and wall, so farmers can plant earlier in spring and grow later into fall.

Hybrid hazelnut plants grow in this high tunnel in Nebraska. - Photo by Marie Flanagan

Save the Date for the Hennepin High Tunnel Workshop October 2nd

By Betsy Wieland, Agriculture Extension Educator in Hennepin County, U of M Extension

Minneapolis, Minn. (September 7, 2012) — High tunnel or hoop house fruit and vegetable production is a rapidly growing farming technique in Minnesota.  Thanks to increased consumer demand for local food and financial assistance from the USDA’s NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) EQIP program, new high tunnels are being installed across the state and country.  The workshop will take place October 2, 2012 from 9am to 4pm in Greenfield, MN at Knapton’s Rasberries, Pumpkins, and Orchard and will give new growers a solid foundation and provide helpful information to current high tunnel growers. The workshop is being offered by the  U of M Extension Hennepin County in partnership with the USDA-NRCS in Hennepin County. 

The day will be split into two parts, with the morning session focusing on getting started with high tunnels.  Topics will include: selecting the right structure and location, crop and variety selection, production techniques and tips, and understanding the EQIP program and how to get funding.  The afternoon session will focus on keeping your Seasonal High Tunnel productive over time covering topics of: soil fertility management, pest management, crop rotation, and structure maintenance.  Speakers for both sessions will include University specialists, industry representatives, USDA NRCS staff, and high tunnel growers. 

People can choose to attend the morning session, the afternoon session, or stay all day.  The cost is $15 for the morning or afternoon session, and $20 to stay all day.  Lunch and tour of the farm from 12:15-1pm is included in all options.

Registration information will follow soon.  For more information, contact Betsy Wieland at 612-596-1175 or eliza003@umn.edu.

[where: Sustainable Food, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Twin Cities, Minnesota]

Fall for Minnesota Mushrooms

WILD CHANTERELLES AND LOBSTER
MUSHROOMS TO DOUG FLICKER
AT PICCOLO. BY MIKE KEMPENICH.

As harbingers of spring, Minnesotans revel in the flavor and season of morel mushrooms. But fall’s mushrooms make a brilliant contribution to seasonal cuisine as well, and definitely deserve a Twin Cities Taste spotlight. Minneapolis local Mike Kempenich agrees; he’s the chief “fun guy” and owner of The Mikeology Store, a Minneapolis-based cultivator of exotic edible mushrooms, and he says “now is the perfect time” to savor the flavor of seasonal mushrooms. 

As one of 52 exotic mushroom cultivators in the U.S., Kempenich is kept busy cultivating about 2,000 pounds per week of exotic mushrooms such as oyster, king oyster, maitake, and chicken of the woods. Kempenich is a savvy forager, always hunting for the perfect specimen. He harvests ideal wild specimens at the peak of their season, and then brings them into the lab so that he can clone and cultivate them in a somewhat surprising environment—a 3,000 square-foot warehouse in Brooklyn Park.

MIKE WITH CHICKEN OF THE WOODS

“You have to maintain an environment that the mushroom is used to in the wild,” said Kempenich. “You can imagine that it’s complicated and challenging.”

Chicken of the woods (or sulfur shelf mushrooms) are attention-grabbing with their bright orange and yellow shelves. Mild in flavor, meaty in texture, chicken of the woods are as versatile as their namesake, so they’re flawless in pasta sauces and soup. As a case in point, Kempenich says one of the best bowls of mushroom soup he ever ate was a chicken of the woods mushroom soup at Café Levain.

MIKE WITH HEN OF THE WOODS

Maitake (or hen of the woods mushrooms) are also popping up on market shelves and menus. Maitakes have a fairly pronounced umami flavor and a texture that pairs well with beef. Valued for heartiness and rich in vitamins B1, B2, D, as well as vegetable fiber, Kempenich says hen of the woods mushrooms are great on the grill (or roasted with a bit of olive oil and garlic over a bonfire).

As for his location in Brooklyn Park, Kempenich says he wants to be as close to the market as possible to ensure the best quality and freshness. Mikeology mushrooms markets include Seward Co-op, Mississippi Market, Eastside co-op, and The Wedge, and you’ll see them popping up on seasonal menus at more than two-dozen local restaurants like Piccolo, Saffron, Sea Change, Vincent, Café Levain, the Sample Room, and Travail.

If you can’t get enough of this mushroom stuff, check out this charming video Kempenich produced last fall about foraging for hen of the woods and chicken of the woods mushrooms in the early autumn.

Pictured: These dangling logs of pressed wood shavings are used to grow cloned oyster mushrooms in the fruiting chamber at the Mikeology mushroom farm in Brooklyn Park. Photo by Mike Kempenich.

Cross post from Fall for Minnesota Mushrooms - Twin Cities Taste - September 2012 - Minnesota

[where: Sustainable Food, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Twin Cities, Minnesota]