5 Ways to reduce your food waste

Did you know you can make a big impact on the world, just from your kitchen? Approximately 1 billion tons of food, nearly one-fifth of all food available to consumers, is wasted each year. 

This food waste creates a big environmental footprint, generating up to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. To celebrate the International Day of Zero Waste, we’re sharing five small, manageable changes you can make to help you reduce food waste (and maybe save some money, too)!

1. Plan meals around what you already have 

Checking your fridge, freezer, and pantry before you go shopping helps use up food before it spoils. Consider creating a “use-it-up” meal each week like a soup, curry, or stir fry to use up whatever needs using. 

2. Sign up for a CSA share 

A Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share is a great way to reduce food waste - both in your home and on the farm! CSA farmers know in advance how many shares they need to fill, which reduces the likelihood of overproduction - a huge contributor to agricultural waste. 

Receiving a weekly share encourages members to be more creative and resourceful in their cooking, learning about new veggies and how to enjoy them! Find a share near you here.

3. Store food in ways that help it last

A few simple adjustments on how you store your produce can extend the life of your fresh food:

• Put herbs upright in a jar with a little water

• Leafy greens stay fresher in a container with a cloth to absorb moisture

• Keep produce that needs to be eaten quickly at the front of your fridge or keep it eye-level so it’s top of mind 

There are plenty of produce storage charts available online to help remind you of specific storage tips to keep your fruits and veggies fresh. 

4. Make the most of “ugly” produce 

Don’t be afraid of the wrinkled carrots or soft tomato at the back of your fridge! Turn less than perfect veggies into soups, sauces, or stock. Use overripe fruit for baking. Take that stale bread and make breadcrumbs. 

5. Compost what you can’t use

Food waste and scraps make up the largest part of trash in Wisconsin landfills (up to 20%). Composting your food scraps not only keeps them out of landfills, it also returns carbon and important nutrients to the soil! 

New to composting? Check out some composting resources here!

Small steps make a difference in the world

Reducing waste doesn’t require perfection, just small changes. What’s one change you’re going to make this spring to reduce your food waste? 

Community care, on and off the farm

Wrapping up after a fulfilling conference over the weekend, we were reminded once again how much better our world can be when everyone is welcome to share a variety of perspectives and life experiences. 

Our community is stronger when everyone has a voice and can participate fully without fear.

Our food system is infinitely more robust and can meet the needs of our community - both farmers and eaters - when everyone feels safe, welcomed, and valued.

In preparation for the conference last week and in response to the rising risks our farmers and farmworkers are facing in their communities and across the country, staff and the planning team were trained on constitutional observer practices. 

You can create and build communities of support for your neighbors, too. Below are some helpful resources to get started:

• The Handbook for Constitutional Observers

• Minneapolis groups offering food aid

• Support those affected by ICE occupation in MN

• Anti-performative ICE Resistance Guide

We invite you to remember the sentiment shared by Fannie Lou Hamer: "Nobody's free until everybody's free."

In solidarity, 

The FairShare team

Apprentices in action

In October, our Organic Vegetable Farm Manager Apprenticeship program apprentices and farmer educators gathered at Full Circle Community Farm to learn, connect and celebrate. We had the pleasure of hosting SG of SG Tractors who led our group through a workshop on tractor parts, maintenance, and troubleshooting. 

SG introduced our field day group to the different tractor engine parts and expertly guided us through how the engine parts work together to power the engine. Apprentices and farmer educators then delved further into tractor systems and safety practices, and got to perform maintenance on the Kubota MX6000 tractor - changing engine oil, greasing joints and more! 

Each host farm in the apprenticeship program is so unique - in its scale, location, land, crew, history, culture and any/all choices farmers make to run their farm, which is something that makes this program so special. That also means that even while the program’s on-the-job training is guided by a standard job book of competencies, each apprentice’s experience is going to vary based on their host farm. 

Some farms use tractors regularly and some more frequently lean on hand scale tools. This tractor workshop was an opportunity to supplement the skills that apprentices are learning during their time with their farmer educators by deepening their training and knowledge on tractors. We’re grateful SG was able to come to Wisconsin to shepherd us through this important learning.

During our day-long workshop, we were able to take a mid-day moment for a tour of Full Circle Community Farm, led by Isaac (apprentice) and Scott (farmer educator). We got to see everything from their packshed - with their innovative and cost-efficient pulley racks for drying produce - to their hoophouses, greenhouses and fields. We were joined by some furry friends on the tour as well!

Finally, we came together in the hay loft under twinkling lights to celebrate our graduating apprentices, who shared about their highlights and future plans. Sabee Culinary Services catered our lunch and dinner with a delicious seasonal menu developed using local produce - including Full Circle’s veggies! The night completed in a ceremony where our graduating apprentices made their congratulatory walk and received a small gift from FairShare - a polaroid photo and a branded harvest knife and sheath. 

We thank everyone there and behind the scenes who made this a magical October Apprenticeship field day.