Wren's Nest: Farmers gather to share ideas, community

As the snow gets a bit soggy around the edges, thoughts of spring aren't far from the minds of Wrenshall area farmers, and many have been planning for the coming season by attending conferences and symposiums. My husband, Janaki Fisher-Merritt of the Food Farm, signed up for the virtual option of last month's organic vegetable production conference run by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and presented remotely to the Quebec ministry of agriculture.

We had a few representatives from Wrenshall attend the 33rd annual conference of the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service, or MOSES, also last month. My dad, Sandy Dugan, was one of the participants.

The MOSES conference featured three keynote speeches, more than 60 presentations, more than 70 sponsors, about 165 exhibitor booths and a bookstore. It's among the largest organics conferences in the country.

The 2022 theme was "Cultivating Community."

Keynoters emphasized three ideas:

Restaurants, markets, schools and hospitals that buy food from local producers build strong communities.

Indigenous peoples have long provided a model for humans to integrate their lives with other species in nature.

Certain activities in the current economy are elements that could coalesce to produce a post-capitalist solidarity economy based on values such as equity and sustainability.

Nikki Crowe of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa gave a workshop on approaches by the 11 Minnesota tribal nations to secure food sovereignty, develop food codes, and update food production. She highlighted programs supported by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the federal Natural Resources Conservation Services. The main message is that, despite obstacles, the tribes stand strong together in promoting conservation of natural resources and traditional community values.

Wrenshall representation included John Fisher-Merritt of the Food Farm and Rick Dalen of Northern Harvest Farm. Both serve in the MOSES farmer-to-farmer mentorship program as guides for farmers starting businesses. Meeting at the conference, mentors and mentees consult and share ideas. The variety of sessions, the array of exhibits, and the numerous personal contacts provide a significant boost to beginners.

Emily Pilz and Sandy Dugan also represented the Food Farm as conference attendees. Each sat in on several presentations. They learned about finding land for farming, the effective use of cover crops, problems in the meat industry, developing a motivated workforce, tools for no-till farming, and adding value to certain crops by fermentation.

A strong spirit of purpose, dedication, and fulfillment in producing high-quality organic food accompanied every encounter. That encouragement will help with starting the growing season and getting through the inevitable frustrations that lie ahead.

If you want to share your own Wrenshall-specific story, call Annie Dugan at 218-310-4703 or email [email protected]