Dinner On The Farm

My name is Monica, and I am an environmental educator, or “naturalist” by trade.  A typical day for me can be anything from a farm tour to leading hikes in the prairie to showing families how to collect sap for maple syrup production. As this is my first blog entry, I want to say a little bit about what inspires me to celebrate all things local.

From a young age, I remember hearing simplified versions of global environmental issues. In a tone reserved for tales with unhappy endings, I was told about the horrible ways we as humans destroy the rainforest, create holes in the ozone layer, and litter animals’ habitats with our waste.  I was baffled by these huge problems, and even more baffled that grown-ups hadn’t figured out what to do about it all.   Now that I’m one of those grown-ups and a naturalist as well, people of all ages ask my opinion on environmental issues.  People want to know everything; how to save the polar bears, how to keep the air clean, how to end world hunger.

I definitely don’t have all the answers.  But, as I pursue those answers, I find the most sense – and the most hope – in striving for sustainability in daily life.  As food production affects the state of the soil, water, and living things more than almost anything else we as humans do, what we choose to eat is one of the most important decisions we make.  Buying local is a decision to support a sustainable business or family farm, to strengthen your community, and to strive for sustainability in your daily life.

I’m excited to be part of the dream team at Dinner on the Farm as the Education Coordinator, and I’m looking forward to sharing and exchanging ideas with all of you!

Monica Rauchwarter

Before I introduce myself I have a confession to make. I have no background in the local/organic food arena. There, I said it.

I didn’t grow up on an organic farm. Only recently did I come to learn what a co op is. And I still have trouble remembering exactly what CSA stands for.

I should probably be ashamed of myself. What business does someone like me have writing for Dinner on the Farm?

I’m not ashamed though, because I know I’ve got company. I’m the voice of those of us who grew up on fish sticks, instant potatoes and frozen pizzas. Home-cooked meals in my northeastern Wisconsin childhood home usually centered around some sort of meat slathered in Campbell’s Condensed Cream of Mushroom soup. Does this sound familiar to any of you? If so, then my goal is for you and I to learn together.
Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, let me tell you a little bit about myself.  I moved to the twin cities in 2005 to attend the University of Minnesota, where I received a B.A. in journalism. After college I spent a few years working as a business writer for a large corporation here in the cities. It didn’t take me too long, however, to realize that I was not the cubicle-dwelling, corporate ladder-climbing, business suit-wearing kind of girl. So I left my job and took some time off to do a little soul searching.

What I found was a passion for healthy food. Not the “fat-free,” “low-carb” or “reduced-sugar” kind of food, but real food. Food that is free of artificial preservatives, coloring, irradiation, synthetic pesticides, fungicides, ripening agents, fumigants, drug residues and growth hormones. Food that comes from your home garden, a local farmer or the co op down the street.

I decided I wanted to use my career and experience as a writer to advocate for the local, organic food movement. Once I made that decision, I enrolled in culinary school. Why culinary school? Because I want a strong knowledge of food and cooking techniques to be the foundation of my efforts. What I’ve found is that a big reason people turn to convenience foods in the first place is their lack of cooking knowledge. It’s my goal to teach and inform so that people feel more empowered to make better decisions when it comes to their food.

I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am to be working with Dinner on the Farm to help further the local food movement. The work that Dinner on the Farm is doing to connect people with their local farmers is important work, and I only hope I can serve the cause well.

Megan Dorn

I’m Jennifer, one of the new additions to the Dinner on the Farm team. You will be hearing from me every now and again, so I thought we should get acquainted. Here in short is my story:

For three years my husband and I ran a pasture-based farm. We raised layers, meat birds, beef, pork, lamb, rabbit and 2 milk cows. We also lived in a 384-square-foot house with no running water or electricity. I managed the local farmers market where I sold eggs, canned peaches, pickles and baked goods. I also helped start a community garden, and organized educational classes about gardening. At the moment my husband is finishing up school, and I am home un-schooling our two kids, raising milking goats and a few laying hens.

Whew, that is me in a nutshell.

I hope you are as excited as I am for this upcoming farming season. Please check in on us every now and then and see what is happening in the local farm and food scene. Until then, remember to celebrate all things local!

Jennifer Peterson

This week we are going to go behind the scenes to meet the team behind dinner on the farm!

I started dinner on the farm in 2009 with a mission to create unique events that celebrate and support local farms, breweries, vineyards and other small businesses. I knew so many people that had the best intentions to eat, drink and buy local, but weren’t sure how to go about it. My hope was to give people the opportunity to create a trust relationship in a mutual learning environment with those who grow and care for their food. To create events that were unforgettable and accessible to all. Over the past three years that dream has been nurtured into more than I could have ever imagined. I’ve met so many amazing people, from farmers and chefs to brewers and guests at the events; and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to continue to bring people together around all things local!

 There are some new and exciting things happening this year at dinner on the farm. For starters, I was inspired to add a giving component to the structure of each event in 2012, so we will be working with nonprofit local food organizations to explore ways we can help support their efforts by donating a portion of our ticket sales. We are also expanding our reach to the Southern California local food scene, working with producers in the Los Angeles area to create similar events for their local consumers. Last but not least, I have been gifted the talents of three incredible women, whom you’ll meet in blog posts later this week, to help me spread the word about Dinner on the Farm. Their energy is contagious, and we are having so much fun brainstorming ways to support more local businesses.

I am looking forward to a great fourth season of Dinner on the Farm! Hope to see you all this summer.

Monica Walch Latz