Topics:
Leadership and Community
Imagine an evening filled with the rich aroma of farm-fresh flavors, the warm hum of community conversation, and the knowledge that every bite you take supports a sustainable and just food system. This is exactly what Marbleseed’s Farm-to-Table Fundraiser Dinner promises—a night of exceptional food, purpose, and impact. Hosted at the picturesque Seven Acre Dairy in Paoli, Wisconsin, this event is more than just an opportunity to indulge in a thoughtfully crafted meal; it is a call to support small- and mid-scale organic farmers across the Midwest.
Topics:
Leadership and Community : Public Policy
This letter introduces USDA Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to Marbleseed and our work.
Topics:
Farming Systems, Farming Systems : Organic
The pull into organic farming comes with an encounter – something clicks and you experience the beauty in the all-encompassing system of agriculture; the labor that transforms you and connects you more deeply to your environment and food. For me, it was a gravitational pull, as I worked on a farm during a summer in college. After months of stationary studying I felt liberated working outside, utilizing my whole being through the giving and receiving that comes from the art that is farming – the implicit connection that forges within self, place, and community. Little did I know that this encounter would plunge me into a life in organic farming. The work of the Real Organic Project drew me in – I left full-time farming to work on the certification team as the Midwest Regional Inspector in May of 2024. Since working with Real Organic, I have learned so much about the broader history, successes, and struggles surrounding Organic. I hope you catch the inspiration too!
Topics:
Farming Systems, Soils
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how deeply connected we are to the natural world, even when our daily routines seem designed to shield us from it. Rob Dunn’s “A Natural History of the Future” captures this truth with striking clarity, reminding us that the same biological forces shaping the natural world apply equally to humanity. Instead of speculating about technological breakthroughs or apocalyptic scenarios, Dunn draws on the unchanging principles of biology: evolution, competition, and adaptation to explore how life’s laws will shape our future.
Topics:
Farm Business, Leadership and Community
As Marbleseed prepares for our 36th Annual Organic Farming Conference and our communities settle into winter reflection, there’s no better time to get inspired by this year’s conference theme: Local Food Revolution.
Topics:
Leadership and Community, Leadership and Community : Farmer Leader, Leadership and Community : Healthy Communities, Leadership and Community : Public Policy, Leadership and Community : Racial Equity
As the team at Marbleseed sorted through all the posts and responses following last week’s election, this quote from Pui-ling Lew at the Food Culture Collective spoke to us the most. Let’s give ourselves permission to hold this moment little more loosely so that we can see the horizon more clearly”. We met at our annual staff retreat last week, many of us traveling the “day after.” We were eager to be in our organizational community and to hold space for the many of us that felt more unsafe in the rural places where we live. We have seen the empowerment of hatred, racism, xenophobia, homophobia and sexism over the past several years. It is easy to feel powerless and afraid. And not just afraid for ourselves and family members, but for the future of the planet that the Marbleseed farmers and community tends and stewards.
Topics:
Beginning Farmers, Beginning Farmers : Connect with Peers, Leadership and Community, Leadership and Community : Farmer Leader, Leadership and Community : Healthy Communities, Leadership and Community : Public Policy, Leadership and Community : Racial Equity
Much like the ecosystems that we are a part of; vibrant, viable, and sustainable communities are those that acknowledge and center the power of diversity. This is a part of why Marbleseed held our first allyship training in October—we were inspired to empower residents of rural areas to build welcoming communities and give them the tools to stand up for their neighbors of color after reports of racism, discrimination, and a lack of safety. Through our Allyship Training and the development of the Allyship Network on ASN, we aim to build stronger, more inclusive rural communities.
Topics:
Farm Business, Farm Business : Certification, Farming Systems, Leadership and Community, Leadership and Community : Farmer Leader, Leadership and Community : Healthy Communities, Leadership and Community : Public Policy, Leadership and Community : Racial Equity
On Monday, August 19th, Marbleseed Executive Director, Lori Stern, and members of Marbleseed staff shared comments at the USDA townhall advocating for local, sustainable, organic food systems and highlighting the important work Marbleseed has been doing with USDA funding. Under the Biden administration, there has been historic investment in organic agriculture and local food systems. Read our Executive Directors's comments prepared given the Marbleseed experience with the current, historic investments in organic and smaller farms managed by historically under-represented farmers.
Topics:
Farm Business, Farming Systems
This is the first in a series of blogs profiling farmers who are taking part of OFRF’s Farmer Led Trials program. Farmers receive seed funding and technical support to address their challenges through structured on-farm trials. To learn more about OFRF Farmer Led Trials Program, visit their website page
here.
Topics:
Farming Systems, Farming Systems : Grazing, Livestock, Livestock : Dairy
Managed grazing dairy production is one of agriculture’s best kept secrets. In managed grazing systems, cows are rotated through paddocks of diverse perennial forages that are given a chance to rest and regrow. Because this practice works with natural systems, it can also improve farm profitability and resilience by reducing costs and building long-term productive capacity. Learn more about the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship's (DGA) new five-year $4.7 million USDA-NRCS Partnership for Climate Smart-Commodities entitled “Implementing Precision Ag Tech to Expand the Participation of Small Grazing Dairy Farms in Climate-Smart Commodities.”
Topics:
Farming Systems, Leadership and Community, Leadership and Community : Farmer Leader, Leadership and Community : Healthy Communities, Leadership and Community : Public Policy
This April, Marbleseed staff members attended the National Organic Standards Board meeting in Milwaukee. As an organization founded alongside the inception of USDA certified organic, the work of the volunteer board that advises the National Organic Program (NOP) at the USDA has always been crucial to our work.
Topics:
Leadership and Community, Leadership and Community : Farmer Leader, Leadership and Community : Healthy Communities, Leadership and Community : Public Policy, Leadership and Community : Racial Equity
The Great Lakes Intertribal Food Coalition (GLIFC) received the 2024 Marbleseed Changemaker of the Year award for strengthening the intertribal food system by supplying Tribal Elder Food Boxes to all 11 federally recognized Tribes in Wisconsin.
Topics:
Leadership and Community, Leadership and Community : Farmer Leader
Roger Blobaum, a visionary and trailblazer in the organic farming world, left an indelible mark on the agricultural landscape. His remarkable contributions encompassed a deep commitment to organic practices and advocacy. In this tribute, we celebrate the life and legacy of Roger, whose passion and dedication continue to inspire. As well as the essence of Roger, he was a loyal, passionate, precious friend and mentor to so many in the organic community.
Topics:
Beginning Farmers, Farm Business, Farm Business : Certification, Farming Systems, Leadership and Community, Leadership and Community : Farmer Leader
Marbleseed is honored and excited to be serving the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) as a regional partner in the Midwest region. Through the USDA, TOPP is investing up to $100 million over five years in cooperative agreements with non-profit organizations who are partnering with others to provide technical assistance and wrap-around support for transitioning and existing organic farmers. This of course has been a foundation of Marbleseed’s work for years.
Topics:
Leadership and Community, Leadership and Community : Public Policy
As we continue to push for building a diverse and just food system in the 2023 Farm Bill, we need you to share your stories and truths. No matter your background or understanding of agriculture, you have a stake in our food system. You are a steward of the land; you eat and thrive off the land. Therefore, this groundswell of rich work is crucial to formulate an equitable living world for all.
Topics:
Farming Systems, Leadership and Community, Leadership and Community : Public Policy
The Farm Bill is a HUGE package of legislation made up of many chapters, each with numerous sections and policy ideas. Marker bills are smaller bills that aren’t meant to pass on their own, but are introduced to promote and build support for a policy idea in the hopes that that idea will be included in a major omnibus package like the Farm Bill. Marker bills help build grass-roots and congressional support for policies.
Topics:
Beginning Farmers, Land Access, Land Access : Incoming Farmers, Farm Business, Fruits and Specialty Crops, Leadership and Community, Leadership and Community : Farmer Leader
Hoch Orchard & Gardens sits atop a ridge above the Mississippi River in the Driftless Region of southeastern Minnesota. This 60-acre, fully diversified organic farm includes 10,000 trees. There are over 50 varieties of apples, as well as cherries, apricots, plums, strawberries, raspberries, as well as a large garden area for vegetables.
Owners Jackie and Harry Hoch are actively looking to bring new owner/caretakers to the operation as they are ready to transition out of full-time farming. The Hochs’ are working with American Farmland Trust and Renewing the Countryside with the goal to make this property affordable to the next generation of farmers.
Topics:
Farming Systems, Leadership and Community, Leadership and Community : Farmer Leader, Leadership and Community : Healthy Communities
Bailey Lutz details their experience as a queer farmer who tends a herd of goats outside of Decorah, Iowa. Read about the Queer Farmer Convergence and defying the status quo.
Topics:
Beginning Farmers : Connect with Peers, Leadership and Community
The ASN is a collective and farmer-led platform with the intent to grow the community of farmer folks, create synergies in the work that we do, and build power towards systemic change that supports organic and regenerative agriculture.
Launch Week drew attention to the platform through social media promotion and partner organizations sharing with their networks. Folks were invited to join the ASN, participate in daily “challenges” within the platform (such as building out your profile, introducing yourself to the community via the live feed, joining a group…), and join us for 6 virtual events that were held directly on the site throughout the week.
Topics:
Farming Systems, Farming Systems : Grazing, Fruits and Specialty Crops, Fruits and Specialty Crops : Fruits, Fruits and Specialty Crops : Nuts, Leadership and Community, Leadership and Community : Farmer Leader, Livestock, Livestock : Beef, Livestock : Poultry, Production, Production : General
Marbleseed's Stephanie Coffman owns and operates a small beef operation on the Rush River watershed in Pierce County, Wisconsin with her husband. Read about how they practice good conservation on their farm. With the help of their local USDA-NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service), they have been able to install infrastructure to rotationally graze their challenging and hilly pastures.
Topics:
Farming Systems, Leadership and Community
Marbleseed Executive Director, Lori Stern and Farmer Education Manager, Alex Bagwajinini Kmett discuss the Farmer Viability Convergence session which took place during Marbleseed's 34th Organic Farming Conference in February 2023.
Topics:
Beginning Farmers, Beginning Farmers : Connect with Peers, Land Access, Farm Business, Farming Systems
Learn about Wisconsin Women in Conservation (WiWiC), a state-wide collaborative effort led by the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute in partnership with Marbleseed, Renewing the Countryside and Wisconsin Farmers Union. A five-year multi-faceted project funded by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), WiWiC brings together Wisconsin women landowners to connect and learn about conservation practices, resources, and funding opportunities.
Topics:
Beginning Farmers, Beginning Farmers : Connect with Peers, Land Access, Land Access : Incoming Farmers, Farm Business, Farm Business : General, Farm Business : Marketing, Leadership and Community, Leadership and Community : Farmer Leader, Leadership and Community : Healthy Communities, Leadership and Community : Public Policy, Leadership and Community : Racial Equity
Fresh Roberson is a chef, activist, healer, farmer and founded of Fresher Together, a collaborative food and farming project for healing, economic development, training and retreat in the south side of Chicago. They will be facilitating a workshop at Marbleseed's 34th Organic Farming Conference on February 25, 2023, entitled: Funding Your Farm with Little to No Debt - Grants and Creative Fundraising Strategies For Farmers.
Topics:
Leadership and Community
Marbleseed is a prairie plant native to the Midwest. It has a deep taproot and thrives in areas grazed by cattle and is one of the first to return, resilient after fire. This drought-tolerant, perennial plant is often used in prairie restoration efforts, providing nectar and pollen as rewards for bumblebees, butterflies, and other insects. Although it is native, today it can be difficult to find.
After deep conversations with staff and the Board of Directors, reviewing options presented and brainstormed, “Marbleseed” emerged as the new name for MOSES. The tagline “farmer-led, rooted in organic” was the last critical piece. Buoyed by success in reaching unanimous consensus, we set about the task of creating a logo.
