The F.R.E.S.H. Project - Fresh Project Shawano, Wisconsin

Food - Resources - Education - Sustainability - Health - serving Shawano County, the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, and Ho-Chunk Nation in Wisconsin

Gardening

National Farmers Market Week was a Success!

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August 6-12 was National Farmers Market Week

The Shawano area saw excellent turnout at local Farmers Markets! With sidewalk sales on downtown Main Street in Shawano and many other local events, residents and visitors flocked to the Farmers Market. Some were disappointed when stands ran out of staple items, such as cheese curds!

*Learn more about the week from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.

This week, we’re celebrating National Farmers Market Week! Farmers markets are fertile ground for teaching children where foods come from and can serve as field trip sites that introduce kids to new foods, business practices, and agricultural production. Small to mid-sized farmers often rely on farmers markets for direct sales. Small school districts, Summer Meal Programs, CACFP sponsors, child care centers and family day care homes are also prime markets for these producers. Increasingly, Summer Meal sponsors are using farmers markets as summer feeding sites, which provide necessary nutrition while also increasing traffic at the market.

The Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, signed a proclamation highlighting the benefit farmers markets and other direct marketing outlets have on local economies. They contribute approximately $9 billion to the economy and generate revenue that support rural communities nationwide.

The National Farmers Market Coalition (NFMC) strengthens farmers markets across the United States so they can serve as a community asset while providing an income for farmers. The NFMC says farmers markets can:

  • Stimulate local economies
  • Preserve farmland and rural livelihoods
  • Increase access to fresh food
  • Support local communities

 

Pollinator Walk

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Come learn about the methods and techniques for successfully establishing a pollinator meadow in northeast Wisconsin.  Specific topics:  Site preparation, designing a seed mix, planting methods, what to expect eh first year, long term maintenance.  August 17, 2017 – Ann Reed’s Farm – 8-10 am and Debbie Boettcher’s Farm – 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  RSVP to Reena Bowman by August 12, 2017 (920) 866-1720.  See attached for further information:  Pollinator_Walk_Flyer

*Originally posted https://shawano.uwex.edu/2017/07/19/pollinator-walk/

The Wisconsin Cover Crop Conference

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Investing in your Farm’s Future

Holiday Inn,  Steven’s Point
February 27, 2018 9am – 4pm

This conference will be geared toward helping Wisconsin farmers more successfully use cover crops on their farms.
There will be something for everyone, from farmer’s that have never tried cover crops before to veteran cover croppers.  Many of the presenters will be Wisconsin grain and livestock farmers speaking from experience about what has worked and hasn’t worked in their Wisconsin cropping systems.

A detailed agenda and registration will be available soon.
Please check back for more details and SAVE THIS DATE!

*Info from http://fyi.uwex.edu/covercrop/

Kids Gardening Classes

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Beginning June 14th 6-7 pm and classes will continue on Wednesdays, June 14, 28, July 12, 26, Aug. 9, 23 and September 20th.  Plant your own herb garden, pizza garden and flower garden and flower garden.  Also grow your own pumpkins!  Dress ready to get dirty, wet and muddy!  Planting, weeding, watering and harvesting at each session.  Harvested produce will be sent home with participants!  No charge to attend!  Call the Shawano Park & Rec at (715) 526-6171 to sign up today.  For further information see flyer:  Kids Gardening Classes

*originally posted http://shawano.uwex.edu/2017/05/30/kids-gardening-classes/

Dreams of Green Garden Plots Available

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Photo by Carol Wagner Jamie Patton and her son, Sawyer, 4, pick cucumbers at their Dreams of Green garden next to Zion Lutheran Church in Shawano

Need a spot for a garden and don’t have the room?  A community garden is being made available through the cooperative efforts of Zion Lutheran Church, the Shawano County WIC Program and the Shawano County UW-Extension.  In a community garden, you get your own plot to plant and harvest.

The garden is located on the corner of Lincoln Street and Zingler next to Zion Lutheran Church in Shawano.  Water is provided on site and there is a $8 fee per plot to cover the cost of water. Each family/individual that signs up will be assigned their own plot(s).  Basic plot size is 10 foot by 10 foot.  If you would like to participate, please call the UWEX office at (715)526-6136.

*originally posted May 3, 2017 by rhonda.sumnicht at http://shawano.uwex.edu/2017/05/03/dreams-of-green-garden-plots-available/