May 2023 Newsletter- Spring
Hello all!
May is here and I personally could not be any more excited. As a gardener, I have spent a large part of my winter counting down the days until that estimated last frost date has passed. We made it…or since we are in the Midwest I should say “We better have made it”! All of those plants we started and have cared for over months are ready to go outside. All of the seeds that will be directly sowed can now be placed into the ground. This is so exciting but can be very overwhelming.
My most favorite vegetable (or fruit, I'm not here to fight about it!) to grow is tomatoes. My daughter and I will eat tomato sandwiches all summer long and when it comes to preserving, nothing stocks my pantry more. I started every variety my heart desired from seed. I had close to 100 plants started and guess what? Every single one but two of them died and to be honest I don't have much hope for those two.
When I first started homesteading a lot of other people in my community helped and encouraged me. I would post questions on social media or ask if people had extra supplies like pots and grow lights and almost always someone was willing to help answer a question, share resources, or donate/ lend supplies. It's been important to me that when I have extra of anything whether it be a tool, seeds, plants, pots, jars, and so on to offer it to people who are just starting off in their journey of homesteading/gardening.
This past year as I was upgrading a lot of my supplies I was giving them to a friend often with a book to lend or a dozen eggs in tow. She was always offering me things in exchange, but nothing I really needed so I declined nicely. She constantly explained to me how she felt bad that she never had anything to give to me but I assured her that one day she would have something I would need. Sure enough this year she had beautiful tomato plants and more than enough to share. With help from her and doing an egg trade with some farm friends, I was able to replace all of my tomato plants. Other tomato plants are one hundred percent better than my dead tomato plants.
This same week I saw a post on Facebook for a dump truck of compost delivery for twenty-five bucks. If there is one thing I'm sick of paying for it's dirt. Without thinking that this was too good to be true I emailed them right away and set up the delivery date. My delivery came just a few days after and what I was delivered was not compost but a dump truck of fresh horse manure. I only own a shovel and wheelbarrow and I can tell you moving a dump truck manure I could not use right away was a lot less appealing than moving usable compost!
My surrounding neighbors own a lot of larger equipment than I do and have offered help with other large projects in the past which I denied out of pride in getting it done on my own. My neighbor across the street noticed (how could he not) the pile of my manure in my driveway and offered to move it with his tractor. This was the day I swallowed my pride. It would have taken me a whole day to move that pile but it took him under a half hour. He even offered to come back and turn it.
Being a part of this community has taught me to pour into things that I love, help others when I can, and accept help especially when you are overwhelmed. By doing this I've built beautiful relationships and saved a lot of money, blood, sweat, and tears. You may be overwhelmed now but abundance is on its way friends.
Happy Growing!
Allyssa McAley
Farm to Chef & Logistics Coordinator
NWI Food Council
Region Roots Local Farm & Food Hub
Hello Region!
The days that most Midwesterners look forward to are here! When the sun shines brighter, hotter, and a few hours later than just a few months before. When the grass grows long enough to need to be mowed and we start planting all of those gardens that we dreamed up when the sky grew dark early and there was still frost in the air.
Asparagus is one of the vegetables that first makes its way to our table. And of course there are endless ways that we can take full advantage of this beautiful green vegetable. Whether you choose to keep it raw and use it to top a salad for a little crunch, saute it in olive oil, salt and pepper, or cook it in a pasta dish or quiche, you can’t go wrong. I personally have and will do all of these things with the asparagus I have picked up so far!
I wanted to share a quick and easy recipe that looks lovely and tastes even better! As always, I use a recipe loosely and am always open to getting creative when I am in the kitchen. Buying puff pastry is a personal time saver for me. But, feel free to make your own if that is something you like to do.
Ingredients:
2 sheets of thawed puff pastry
1 Bunch thawed asparagus
6 oz Parmesan cheese
7 eggs (1 for egg wash)
Chives for garnish
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Roll out and slice Puff Pastry into 6 rectangles. Brush with egg wash and cook in oven for 10-13 minutes or until toasty brown.
After Puff Pastry is cool (about 10 minutes), cut out rectangle in middle leaving a border around and a layer of puff on bottom. Sprinkle half of the cheese into the middle of each rectangle. Next, decide if you would like to use the remaining 6 eggs scrambled or crack each in the middle keeping yoke in tact, arrange asparagus around inner boarder, sprinkle with salt and pepper plus remaining cheese.
Place back in the oven for approximately 10 minutes or until cooked through.
Remove from the oven and garnish with chives and enjoy!
Cheers!
Anna Martinez
Farm to Chef Coordinator
NWI Food Council
P.S. We’ve been getting some questions lately - what IS Region Roots? For those of you following along who aren’t quite sure yet, we’d love to tell you!
Region Roots is a program of the NWI Food Council and is a mission-driven, non-profit food hub. The hub provides new market opportunities to farmers throughout NW Indiana to reach restaurants, institutions, schools and wholesale buyers. We ensure farmers receive 100% of the price they set for their products–no extractive big biz price haggling here! The hub adds a small markup to cover the cost of pick up from farms and delivery to buyers, getting fresh, locally grown products to buyers within days of harvesting. Region Roots is farmer-founded and farmer-led and continues to grow by supporting NWI Food Council programming that purchases food at fair market prices from farmers to be distributed to those who need it most. Farmers that join Region Roots have full control over their listings and get to build their relationships and capacity with the support of a growing network and team of committed coordinators. Know a farmer or wholesale buyer who might be interested? Send them our way! Our two Farmer-to-Chef Coordinators, Anna and Allyssa are here for you. anna@nwifoodcouncil.org / allyssa@nwifoodcouncil.org
Policy Updates
State:
The Indiana Department of Health is developing the State’s five-year chest/breastfeeding strategic plan and our next step is gathering information from Indiana residents and partners to inform top priority areas. We value your experience and want to know what is important to you and your community. You can help improve chest/breastfeeding services and support in Indiana by taking and widely sharing our Needs Assessment Survey by Friday, May 26, 2023. Some of the questions pertain to your local community and others are about the state as a whole.
Farm Bill:
For food and agriculture policy lovers, Farm Bill season is in full swing! We’ll be keeping an eye out for opportunities to amplify the voices of the communities we serve.
In the meantime, we’d like to share more information about ways to get involved, resource hubs for community members, and an assortment of resources to help you learn more about the 2023 Farm Bill and why it’s important. If there’s something else you’re looking for that you don’t see here, please reach out!
Farm Bill 101
NSAC (National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition) intro to the Farm Bill
The Farm Bill provides some of the most important funding for SNAP/EBT programming, Food Bank distributions and operations, farmer programs and support and food systems grants. Please let your representatives know that you want to see our Working Hungry supported with expanded funding for food assistance and farm viability!
For a Deeper Dive
The Farm Bill: A Citizen’s Guide Daniel Imhoff
How Does it Happen?
Learn about the process and parts of the Farm Bill at the USDA website
Listen to Farmer Voices
Check out the Young Farmers Podcast
Why Does it Matter?
Civil Eats Farm Bill Reporting, including Faces of the Farm Bill
Advocate!
Contact local legislators through the Ag Senate Committee, website here. Or email here: FarmBill2023@ag.senate.gov
Upcoming Opportunities
Check out these upcoming opportunities for growers in our region!
Our friends at FAITH CDC are looking for historically underserved and BIPOC farmers interested in selling into the new Local Food Purchasing Agreement. If you or someone you know is interested, please fill out this form by June 8th!
Keep an eye out for more information on their BIPOC farmer fellowship program, launching in late fall.
We're super excited to launch our Farmher to Mama program later this year! If you or any farmers you know are interested in joining our female farmer collective, let us know!
Please contact Becca (becca@nwifoodcouncil.org), Porchea (porchea@nwifoodcouncil.org), or Anne (info@nwifoodcouncil.org) for more info!
Grant Opportunities
Check out opportunities for funding food systems programs:
Organic Transition Initiative (OTI)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced details around its $75 million investment in conservation assistance for producers transitioning to organic production. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will dedicate financial and technical assistance to a new organic management standard and partner with new organic technical experts to increase staff capacity and expertise.
USDA Cooperative Agreements for Composting and Food Waste Reduction
The cooperative agreements support projects that develop and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans. Eligible entities are encouraged to apply by June 15, 2023.
Big Green DAO
Any organization that is growing food can apply for $10k-$25k in funding from the Big Green DAO. Successful applicants will not only receive funding, but they'll also become a part of an amazing community made up of previous grantees and donors. Apply by June 2nd, 2023.
Lots of Compassion Grant
Designed to support local leaders looking to transform vacant lots into gardens to help grow compassion in their community. In 2023, 10 grantees will receive $20,000 each to transform a vacant lot into a garden. A total of $200,000 will be awarded annually. Applications are due by June 2, 2023.
Food Systems Job Openings
Indiana Department of Education Farm to School Coordinator–
The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) Office of School and Community Nutrition is seeking a full-time Farm to School Coordinator as part of the USDA Farm to School State Formula Grant. This grant-funded position will work closely with IDOE’s Farm to School Specialist.
Partners in Food and Farming Co-Director–
PIFF is hiring our second Co-Director. This is a full time job, located in Indiana and we are looking for someone who will work closely and collaboratively with our part time Co-Director. Major responsibilities include: Fundraising and financial management, Network development, Staffing and Board leadership, and general organizational admin.
Snack Time Explorers Program Director--
The SnackTime Explorers Program Coordinator is a new, full-time position at Pilot Light overseeing operations of the SnackTime Explorers (FFVP) program.The Snack Time Explorers initiative is rapidly growing to include 3 new school districts in the coming academic year.
Pinney Purdue Vegetable Production Research and Education Field Assistant--
The field assistant will support production of vegetable crops, data collection and research, and education events.
Community Food Systems Manager
The Indiana Department of Health Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity are hiring a Community Food Systems Manager. As part of the SNAP-Ed team, this position facilitates the collaboration of food system partners to develop, support, and sustain projects and programs that further the goals for an equitable, vibrant, and resilient statewide food system. This position is hybrid, with an office in Indianapolis.
Fischer Farms Job Openings (Multiple)
Fischer Farms in Southern Indiana is looking to fill multiple positions, including an agronomist, a herdsman, a network builder, sales, an accountant, and a process manager. Check out the link above!
Support NWI Food Council
All funds raised go toward programming and outreach to support Northwest Indiana's local food system. We're a a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and donations are tax-deductible.
Donate by Card
You can easily pay by debit or credit card right now using PayPal.
Donate by Check
Please make checks payable to “NWI Food Council” and mail to:
PO Box 530
Crown Point, IN 46308
