Celebrating Earth Day Everyday with Plowshares & Prairie
Check out how Scott and Chelsea sustainably manage their 75-acre property of produce fields, prairie, and wetlands.
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FairShare CSA Coalition Connects CSA Growers and Eaters
We work to strengthen connections and provide resources that help people access CSA shares. Through our Partner Shares Program, we assist to limited-income households in affording CSA vegetable shares; and we help new CSA members find the right farm for their family.
From our Facebook Page
Conventional farming, the unsustainable alternative to organic farming, is evidenced to degrade water quality through fertilizer and herbicide run-off.
According to the Department of Natural Resources, "pollution from farms is the most widespread water quality problem.... Farm fertilizer and manure are the main sources of nitrate pollution found in more than 90,000 drinking water wells."
Highly concentrated feedlots and non-organic corn production encourage greater amounts of fertilizer, and thus more risk of pollution. Maintaining safe water quality is just one reason to support organic farming practices this #EarthDay.
Read more at host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/failure-and-a-call-for-patience-amid-rising-far...
Failure and a call for patience amid rising farm pollution of state waters
host.madison.com
Some in the dairy industry worry about 'brown water events' harming their wholesome brand.
This #EarthDay we are celebrating the farmers in our coalition who demonstrate exceptional efforts in supporting a sustainable food system. Chelsea Chandler and Scott Laeser of Plowshares & Prairie Farm do just that on their 75-acre property of produce fields, prairie, oak savanna, wetland, pond, stream, and woods.
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"We both have backgrounds in science and environmental policy, and in addition to running our farm, we work part-time at environmental nonprofits. Chelsea’s work focuses on energy and climate change, exploring local solutions across Wisconsin for reversing global warming. Scott’s focus is on protecting Wisconsin’s water resources, working with fellow farmers and state and local governments to examine policies and practices that address our water pollution problems.
We enjoy working towards these longer-term solutions as well as the more immediate and tangible reward that comes from caring for our farm and sharing healthy food with our community. Not just on Earth Day, but every day, we try to do what we can to make a positive impact on our environment, and to take care of this beautiful place for future generations."
Read more about Chelsea and Scott's restorative work at www.csacoalition.org/news/plowshares-prairie-celebrating-earth-day-everyday
Picture from Plowshares & Prairie
Registration for the 12th Annual Bike the Barns is only a couple months away! Sign up in early June for the most scenic ride yet, with stops in the Driftless region. Until then, stay tuned for updates on the route, the reveal of this year's graphic, and the 2018 T-shirt design!
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#BTB #driftless #fairsharecsa #savethedate #sustainable #localfood #biking
Photo of Winterfell Acres LLC by Etikette / LIGHT & LIFE
“For us, there is a lot to be said for having interpersonal relationships that a CSA offers to keep us motivated,” said David Bachhuber of Lovefood LLC. “There’s no confusion about why you’re growing or who you’re giving it to. You have these long-lasting relationships. I love that. That’s why we do market pick up. We can talk to people every week.”
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After four years on the waitlist, Lovefood LLC will be at the Wednesday Dane County Farmers' Market, which begins April 18th. Make sure to stop and chat with David and his fellow vendors! We promise, it'll make your day.
host.madison.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/the-wait-is-over-for-new-farmers-market-vendors/arti...
The wait is over for new farmers' market vendors
host.madison.com
Paleo Mama Bakery and Lovefood LLC. are two of the Dane County Farmer's Market's newest vendors starting this spring.
One of FairShare's core missions is to encourage and support sustainable choices on each of the member farms. Every FairShare-endorsed farm practices organic methods, proudly committed to stewarding the land and creating the most biodiverse, healthy soil. In celebration of #EarthDay, we are featuring farmers in the coalition who go above and beyond to manage their land sustainably.
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Tony Whitefeather-Miller of Whitefeather Organics told us his inspiration behind farming organically.
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"Sustainable agriculture is more then clean, quality, fair-trade, safe food for us to eat. It is also clean water, inputs that are safe for farmers, low ecological impact, and a choice on how to view and create our relationship with the planet EARTH!
These are the foundational thoughts that have formed our farm, and drive the choices we make."
Learn more about Tony's sustainable vegetable, meat, mushroom, and pizza ventures at whitefeatherorganics.blogspot.com.
Pictured: Mushrooms grown at Whitefeather Organics