Southwestern Wisconsin (Vernon, Crawford, Richland and Monroe counties) loses $376 million every year with its current food consumption and conventional farming activities. Yet we have all the assets and resources to turn this around and to build healthy, sustainable communities based on viable family farms and businesses, a healthy environment and a strong workforce.
These were among the conclusions of VSN’s exhaustive, 18-month long community food assessment, which culminated in May 2009 with a Local Farm and Food Economy presentation. The presentation drew hundreds of area residents, including many small farmers. Jessica Luhning began the evening by describing the Food and Farm Initiative (FFI), including its team members, allies, accomplishments, and future plans.
Ken Meter, CEO of Crossroads Resource Center in Minneapolis and creator of “Finding Food in Farm Country” studies, displayed graphs and explained the numbers to illustrate the troubled state of Vernon County’s local food economy. He also provided similar data from around the nation, emphasizing that southwestern Wisconsin is not alone in its struggle to keep local food dollars local.
As a result of VSN’s study of local food economies, many area entrepreneurs, eaters, and growers are networking to create more opportunities for keeping local food in the community. A commercial kitchen, food processing businesses, a gleaning project to benefit the elderly, and farm-to-school meals are just some of the projects that VSN’s Food and Farm Initiative has inspired.
VSN Instrumental in Stopping Coal Ash Landfill
In 2007, Dairyland Power Cooperative (DPC) announced a plan to appropriate 600 acres of prime farmland for a coal ash dump–a project with high potential to harm the area’s watershed. VSN acted quickly. We helped broad-based community groups organize. In cooperation with these neighborhood groups, we recruited nationally recognized experts to speak on the hazards of coal ash landfills, printed and distributed educational materials, and met with DPC staff to negotiate a compromise that would protect the environment.
One expert at our day-long community workshop on opposing coal ash landfills said, “No one in this country has stopped an ash pit from coming in. You might be the first.” And we were.
In an unprecedented turnaround, DPC halted its efforts and began exploring coal ash recycling alternatives. Family farms, the general quality of life, and associated economic benefits were preserved.
This experience brought together residents from all walks of life–dairy farmers, young entrepreneurs, town board members, and environmental activists. VSN learned that in the Kickapoo River valley people’s shared commitment to the land can overcome any philosophical or lifestyle differences.
Success Stories
VSN Completes Local Food Economy Study
Southwestern Wisconsin (Vernon, Crawford, Richland and Monroe counties) loses $376 million every year with its current food consumption and conventional farming activities. Yet we have all the assets and resources to turn this around and to build healthy, sustainable communities based on viable family farms and businesses, a healthy environment and a strong workforce.
These were among the conclusions of VSN’s exhaustive, 18-month long community food assessment, which culminated in May 2009 with a Local Farm and Food Economy presentation. The presentation drew hundreds of area residents, including many small farmers. Jessica Luhning began the evening by describing the Food and Farm Initiative (FFI), including its team members, allies, accomplishments, and future plans.
Ken Meter, CEO of Crossroads Resource Center in Minneapolis and creator of “Finding Food in Farm Country” studies, displayed graphs and explained the numbers to illustrate the troubled state of Vernon County’s local food economy. He also provided similar data from around the nation, emphasizing that southwestern Wisconsin is not alone in its struggle to keep local food dollars local.
As a result of VSN’s study of local food economies, many area entrepreneurs, eaters, and growers are networking to create more opportunities for keeping local food in the community. A commercial kitchen, food processing businesses, a gleaning project to benefit the elderly, and farm-to-school meals are just some of the projects that VSN’s Food and Farm Initiative has inspired.
VSN Instrumental in Stopping Coal Ash Landfill
In 2007, Dairyland Power Cooperative (DPC) announced a plan to appropriate 600 acres of prime farmland for a coal ash dump–a project with high potential to harm the area’s watershed. VSN acted quickly. We helped broad-based community groups organize. In cooperation with these neighborhood groups, we recruited nationally recognized experts to speak on the hazards of coal ash landfills, printed and distributed educational materials, and met with DPC staff to negotiate a compromise that would protect the environment.
One expert at our day-long community workshop on opposing coal ash landfills said, “No one in this country has stopped an ash pit from coming in. You might be the first.” And we were.
In an unprecedented turnaround, DPC halted its efforts and began exploring coal ash recycling alternatives. Family farms, the general quality of life, and associated economic benefits were preserved.
This experience brought together residents from all walks of life–dairy farmers, young entrepreneurs, town board members, and environmental activists. VSN learned that in the Kickapoo River valley people’s shared commitment to the land can overcome any philosophical or lifestyle differences.