What is the Kickapoo Harvest Gleaning Project?
Kickapoo Harvest: Gleaning for Healthy Communities is a grass-roots initiative aimed at getting healthy, locally produced food into the hands and mouths of those who need it most.
To get involved e-mail Nicole Penick, Farm and Food Coordinator, or call 608-637-3615.
2011: Gearing Up for a Busy Season!
Coulee Cap recently released a report about the effects of the 2011-13 State budget on our communities “safety net”. Click here to read more.
We are planning to expand our gleaning efforts to help support food pantries in their efforts to feed the growing number of families accessing their services.
2010: Another Successful Season!
We had another successful year and were able to distribute 38-40 boxes once a month from June through October–too much produce to get an accurate tally, but it is in the 3000-lb range yet again.
We had great support from Keewaydin Organics, Ridgeland Harvest, Harmony Valley, Driftless Organics, and Pat Slattery Farms. High quality produce and a lot of variety made for beautiful boxes which the residents throughly enjoyed.
Without the support of the Vernon Area Farm to School program, Bjorn Bergman, and Marilyn Volden, Food Service Director for Viroqua Area School District, this gleaning project would not be possible. Their contribution of their AmeriCorps Member (Bjorn)’s time and the high school kitchen and cooler space made the whole project happen.
We also had great support from the Kickapoo Home School Cooperative, which helped glean and deliver food boxes to the residents of Park View Manor. They also sang several songs to the residents which was a gift unto itself.
We appreciate Park View Manor’s willingness to work with us in coordinating the use of the Community Room and communication with the residents for delivering the boxes and holding the cooking demos. Thanks, Tonya! Park View
Manor is low income housing complex for senior citizens and folks on disability. The complex has 100 residents, and we delivered food boxes to about 40 of the residents each month.
We also want to thank our chefs for this season: Kim Sandker from Viroqua Food Co-op, Elizabeth Murphy from Organic Valley and Donna Karasek from Children and Family Services!
A Big Thank YOU to this year’s sponsors: Vernon Electric Operation Round UP, Gundersen Lutheran Community Giving and the Coulee Region Cooperative Fund.
2009 Pilot Project: A Success!
The summer 2009 pilot project engaged community members and youth in harvesting of excess “un-marketable” produce and fruit grown on area farms. This produce was then distributed to interested, low-income residents of Park View Manor, a low-income apartment complex in downtown Viroqua. Harvested produce and fruit was cleaned and nicely boxed by volunteers before being distributed to Park View Manor residents. In addition, area chefs offered cooking demonstrations and recipes to interested residents during the morning delivery of the boxes. The gleaning events took place every 3rd Friday of the month from July -October. The food boxes were distributed Saturday mornings.
The residents at Park View Manor really enjoyed receiving their boxes and attending the cooking demos. Based on their feedback many are hoping we will do it again next year. Our volunteers also had a great time and are looking forward to next season’s harvest.
Volunteers: 30 folks from Vernon County including the Kickapoo Homeschoolers Group
Harvest: 2886 pounds of local produce, including 76 bunches of kale, 60 bunches of Swiss chard, 42 heads of lettuce, 35 bunches of parsley, 12 bunches of dill and 100 stalks of brussel sprouts.
Farmers & Gardeners: Driftless Organics, Ridgeland Harvest, Keewaydin Organics, Harmony Valley, Dave Miles, Turkey Ridge Orchards, Pat Slattery, Small Family CSA, Mike Horan, Bob & Mary Lake and Susan Boudreau.
Park View Manor: 40 residents participated each month — 158 boxes
Chefs: Kim Sandker– Viroqua Food Co-op, Macon Luhning –Organic Valley and Frank Wildingway–The Driftless Cafe.
Sponsors: Gundersen Lutheran, Viroqua Food Co-op, Vernon Electric Operation Round Up, Viroqua Public Schools – Farm to School Program
Project Background
Throughout the 18-month long community food assessment process the VSN Food & Farm Initiative Steering Committee recognized several reoccurring themes regarding food security in Vernon County.
1. Farmers have excess produce, described as 2nds and 3rds, which are not aesthetically pleasing enough to be marketed to area grocery outlets, restaurants, road-side stands or farmers markets.
2. There are no harvest or distribution opportunities to get less desirable produce items into the hands of those who want and need it most.
3. Food insecurity is an issue in Vernon County especially in regards to low-income and senior populations’ ability to access healthy, locally produced food.
4. There are few opportunities for area residents to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare healthy meals sourced with locally produced food items.
5. There are few opportunities for area youth to reconnect with their food source by engaging in farm production activities like the harvesting of fresh, eatable produce.
Kickapoo Harvest: Gleaning for Healthy Communities
What is the Kickapoo Harvest Gleaning Project?
Kickapoo Harvest: Gleaning for Healthy Communities is a grass-roots initiative aimed at getting healthy, locally produced food into the hands and mouths of those who need it most.
To get involved e-mail Nicole Penick, Farm and Food Coordinator, or call 608-637-3615.
2011: Gearing Up for a Busy Season!
Coulee Cap recently released a report about the effects of the 2011-13 State budget on our communities “safety net”. Click here to read more.
We are planning to expand our gleaning efforts to help support food pantries in their efforts to feed the growing number of families accessing their services.
2010: Another Successful Season!
We had another successful year and were able to distribute 38-40 boxes once a month from June through October–too much produce to get an accurate tally, but it is in the 3000-lb range yet again.
We had great support from Keewaydin Organics, Ridgeland Harvest, Harmony Valley, Driftless Organics, and Pat Slattery Farms. High quality produce and a lot of variety made for beautiful boxes which the residents throughly enjoyed.
Without the support of the Vernon Area Farm to School program, Bjorn Bergman, and Marilyn Volden, Food Service Director for Viroqua Area School District, this gleaning project would not be possible. Their contribution of their AmeriCorps Member (Bjorn)’s time and the high school kitchen and cooler space made the whole project happen.
We also had great support from the Kickapoo Home School Cooperative, which helped glean and deliver food boxes to the residents of Park View Manor. They also sang several songs to the residents which was a gift unto itself.
We appreciate Park View Manor’s willingness to work with us in coordinating the use of the Community Room and communication with the residents for delivering the boxes and holding the cooking demos. Thanks, Tonya! Park View
Manor is low income housing complex for senior citizens and folks on disability. The complex has 100 residents, and we delivered food boxes to about 40 of the residents each month.
We also want to thank our chefs for this season: Kim Sandker from Viroqua Food Co-op, Elizabeth Murphy from Organic Valley and Donna Karasek from Children and Family Services!
A Big Thank YOU to this year’s sponsors: Vernon Electric Operation Round UP, Gundersen Lutheran Community Giving and the Coulee Region Cooperative Fund.
2009 Pilot Project: A Success!
The summer 2009 pilot project engaged community members and youth in harvesting of excess “un-marketable” produce and fruit grown on area farms. This produce was then distributed to interested, low-income residents of Park View Manor, a low-income apartment complex in downtown Viroqua. Harvested produce and fruit was cleaned and nicely boxed by volunteers before being distributed to Park View Manor residents. In addition, area chefs offered cooking demonstrations and recipes to interested residents during the morning delivery of the boxes. The gleaning events took place every 3rd Friday of the month from July -October. The food boxes were distributed Saturday mornings.
The residents at Park View Manor really enjoyed receiving their boxes and attending the cooking demos. Based on their feedback many are hoping we will do it again next year. Our volunteers also had a great time and are looking forward to next season’s harvest.
Volunteers: 30 folks from Vernon County including the Kickapoo Homeschoolers Group
Harvest: 2886 pounds of local produce, including 76 bunches of kale, 60 bunches of Swiss chard, 42 heads of lettuce, 35 bunches of parsley, 12 bunches of dill and 100 stalks of brussel sprouts.
Farmers & Gardeners: Driftless Organics, Ridgeland Harvest, Keewaydin Organics, Harmony Valley, Dave Miles, Turkey Ridge Orchards, Pat Slattery, Small Family CSA, Mike Horan, Bob & Mary Lake and Susan Boudreau.
Park View Manor: 40 residents participated each month — 158 boxes
Chefs: Kim Sandker– Viroqua Food Co-op, Macon Luhning –Organic Valley and Frank Wildingway–The Driftless Cafe.
Sponsors: Gundersen Lutheran, Viroqua Food Co-op, Vernon Electric Operation Round Up, Viroqua Public Schools – Farm to School Program
Project Background
Throughout the 18-month long community food assessment process the VSN Food & Farm Initiative Steering Committee recognized several reoccurring themes regarding food security in Vernon County.
1. Farmers have excess produce, described as 2nds and 3rds, which are not aesthetically pleasing enough to be marketed to area grocery outlets, restaurants, road-side stands or farmers markets.
2. There are no harvest or distribution opportunities to get less desirable produce items into the hands of those who want and need it most.
3. Food insecurity is an issue in Vernon County especially in regards to low-income and senior populations’ ability to access healthy, locally produced food.
4. There are few opportunities for area residents to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare healthy meals sourced with locally produced food items.
5. There are few opportunities for area youth to reconnect with their food source by engaging in farm production activities like the harvesting of fresh, eatable produce.