Trace Chiodo

It was great to be there. Always is. Thank you for your hospitality!!

I've heard lots about boycotting large companies because it will make the 1% scared and they don't care about me or the earth.

Pros: that^. Supporting local keeps money in the local community, and some local things are more environmentally friendly.

Cons: some local things are inefficient and not as environmentally friendly. I save $100s of dollars every year using these three companies because they either give me money for using them (wells fargo) or they are 3x cheaper (walmart and amazon).

George William wrote:Hey Trace. I’ve been reading your posts from this summer and it’s really incredible. You’re doing great work. I’m also a younger permaculture enthusiast and I’m curious if you have any advice on getting community gardens off the ground. I’m in an urban environment and while there is a community garden in town, there’s A LOT of room for growth. So I’m thinking of different ways of getting access to land and resources to create more food production and community in my city as you appear to be doing. Hope to hear back! Again, keep up the inspiring work!

Wow, thanks! i'm glad.

I have never started a community garden, but I am working on doing that for this spring. I have found that there are a lot of grants through statewide ag organizations, the USDA/Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the county, and the city. The money is ranging from $500 to $100,000 per year for whatever you want to do within their framework. Some grants are even for home gardeners. I have been communicating (kind of a one-sided conversation) with the city I live in, a suburb. In Minneapolis though, I have more governmental friends who are more open to change and helping out. I plan to barrage my suburb government until they answer me, and be nice to them. Then I plan to door knock all over my neighborhood to find people interested in helping out. I've made a budget and plan.

One thing you can try is hooking up with organizations already in place. They may already own the vacant lots or have the infrastructure to take on more opportunities if you apply for grants through their name. You can ask neighborhood organizations, workforce development centers, grocery stores with extra parking lot space, the skys the limit. Once you have the land, then look for how to get free compost: Minneapolis delivered to me 6 y^3 without a question when I said I had a community garden.
feel free to text or call me@ I have just one year of experience, but glad if I can be of help.
952-836-6124

John Weiland wrote:Trace,   You may have come across this information already, but just in case you haven't:  Deep Winter Greenhouse information and examples in Minneapolis from the U. of Minnesota.  Good luck!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPk7vTCzPPc


https://extension.umn.edu/growing-systems/deep-winter-greenhouses#design%2C-construction-and-operation-2066620

I've been there!
Thanks for sharing the links.

Douglas Alpenstock wrote:I enjoyed the photos! It's cold and grey here, rolling down to the longest night of the year. Green growing things are inspiring!

Happy holidays

Anne Miller wrote:Why is Wheaton Labs a longer stay?

While these farms mostly weren't set up for long term residents, or just a few,
Wheaton Labs provides a variety of stay/work options including staying more than one night or indefinitely for many many people.

Anne Miller wrote:Thank you for sharing your summer experience.

What a wonderful opportunity to learn and help folks at the same time.

Your photos are lovely.

This reminds me of the experience that folks get at Wheaton Labs though instead of growing vegetables and tending animals, folks learn about permaculture and building.

Yeah, exactly, and Wheaton Labs is a longer stay.  I got the impression any of these farms would like some more residents (they really appreciated the community feel we provided more than we know. I am happy that all the farms are working so hard to grow organic food, and some were very conscious of the impact they were having on the land, while others not so much, but all were concerned about the food system.

Permaculture has yet to flower here. I hope I can sow and pollinate it.

Will Allen Event. Will Allen, the Grand Poo-Bah of urban farming hosted a workshop with various panels on Environmental Justice, Native American legends, Composting, Hyroponics, Seed Saving, and more. Will Allen is the founder of Growing Power in Milwaukee, WI, operating greenhouses, vermiculture, and composting partnerships.

Round River Farm and
Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center
(PERMACULTURE stuff to see)

They had swales, a passively heated and cooled greenhouse, hugelkulturs, and a plethora of berry and nut trees. This is the farm that can feed Finland, MN if need be.

This Topic is about an experience I had this summer thanks to my good friends Matt Barthelemy and Meira Smit. Matt started this grassroots community initiative called farm buds. Its where you carpool with a group of people to farms around Minnesota and Wisconsin to help them out in exchange for food and camping rights on their land. Farmers share their wisdom with people visiting. It has been a great way to learn how the broader organic food system works in the region, build a resilient network of farmer friends, and learn about opportunities outside of the cities, if anything a break from the soul crushing noise, oppression, struggle, pollution of the city. I struggle to call most of the farms visited local as they were usually at least a one hour drive, but they may be the best we got.

This summer we visited:
Prarie Rose Farm; Moorhead, MN
North Circle Seeds; Vergas, MN (Lol what a town name)
Urban Roots; St Paul, MN
Round River Farm; Finalnd, MN
Blessed Farm; Cambridge, MN
Philadelphia Farm; Osceola, WI
Frogtown Farm; St Paul, MN
Chengwatana Farm; Palisade, MN
Stegar Center; Ely, MN

Yes, 80 year old Will Stegar, founder of Climate Generation, global warming whistle blower, schooled us 20 y olds in pine tree throwing, and he was the only one not wearing gloves. But what can you expect from an artic explorer? He is going on another trip this year so... be inspired you 80 year olds. Your body is capable of more than you think, I think... Im not there yet. And yes, he is building a castle using local materials and natural building techniques in the middle of the woods.

I would like to mention CSAs. At Prarie Rose Farm, I was made aware of the reason CSAs are so desirable. Community-supported agriculture is powerful as a farm business model because rather than selling produce at market price, which is often not enough money, a farmer sells at a price that gives what they need to live a comfortable life. It is a human centered approach.

At Round River Farm and Wolf Ridge in Finland MN, we visited a 30 y old homestead, retreat center, organic farm, and permaculture center. David and Lisa designed the farm and retreat center so that if hard times come, the retreats will stop and the food produced will be enough to fee the whole town of Finland. This is a great example of resiliency: education, food source, water, shelter, permaculture, solar, civic involvement.

I am happy to have made so many wonderful connections this year and hope you gain something from me sharing. Ask me anything!

Cheers,
Trace