New York Mills, MN

By Heather Cassidy
Farmers’ MarketCommittee as published in the New York Mills Herald 4/23/08

There is a lot of “behind the scenes” work being done to get the Farmer’s Market up and running here in Mills. The most recent meeting was on Monday April 21st at the Creamery. Some high-lights from that meeting are:

Signs
Dallas Flynn of the Central Regional Sustainable Development Partnership announced the availability of a $500 grant to help the Farmers’ Market group purchase our eye-catching banners. Steph Goins will be gathering estimates on banner prices.

Rules and Membership fees
New York Mills Farmers’ Market Bylaws have been written.  There is a membership fee of $25 per vendor, per season. This $25 membership fee would include two free days of display in a 10-foot by 10-foot section.

In addition to the $25 membership fee, the vendors would be charged a fee of $5 for every day they set up their 10′ x 10′ display(excluding the two free days).

Members would have the option of paying for a $100 Full Season Display pass, which would allow them to set up during the two day per week market for the duration of the season ( about 18-20 weeks). At the next meeting we will review the bylaws and the membership form in preparation for mailing these forms out to the local producers.

Recruitment of More Vendors
The farmers already involved grow everything from veggies to fruits, honey, maple syrup, organic pork, herbs, cut flowers, bedding plants, houseplants, freshly baked goods, and a few hand woven rugs and sewn fabric grocery bags. We are still looking for more vendors to be part of this highly anticipated Farmers’ Market. If you know any local farmers who have unique high quality farm products to sell, please tell them about our market.

We are currently drafting a letter to local groups like 4H, FFA, High school Ag class, and churches. Our goal is to get these groups involved as vendors at the market. Can your group (or business) grow pumpkins, or sweet corn, or sell coffee and freshly baked items? The market may be a great fundraising opportunity for you.

Vendors Information Exchange and Discussion
At the last meeting, lots of information was exchanged between the growers on resources available to promote our products through personalized websites, free signs, and business cards. The discussion turned to products we could sell in addition to fresh produce that would help us diversify our product lines. After our next meeting we will spend time supporting each other as growers by exchanging technical information. Come with your questions about growing, scheduling, marketing, etc.

Grand Opening Celebration
At the next meeting we will plan our Grand opening date and events surrounding this event. Some of the ideas in the air include: Horse Wagon rides, Seminars by local master Gardeners, and musicians, and children’s activities.

Friends of the New York Mills Farmers’ Market
The community and businesses in Mills are exited about our new Farmers’ Market. The market will draw people into our town and benefit the local businesses with greater traffic flow. Our entire town will have improved access to fresh, local produce, packed with nutrients. We will be supporting local farmers and market gardeners. In short, there are lots of reasons to support the New York Mills Farmers’ Market. “Friends of the NYM Farmers’ Market” is a group of people who are helping with the start up costs of the market through tax deductible donations.

The next meeting is April 28, 1 p.m., at the Mills Creamery.

Contact Pat Fredley at 385- 2187, or Heather Cassidy 385-2229 with any questions about the NYM Farmers’ Market.

The community is invited to take part in the annual park cleanup night May 5 at 4 p.m. in Smith Park. Bring tools and work gloves for raking and general cleanup. Adults, children, and organizations are all encouraged to take part in this community pride activity.

Everyone is encouraged to clean up their lots on May 3 ~ more information is available at the NYM City office (385-2213) or on the New York Mills Herald website.

Think Spring!

Article submitted by Lynn Kasma

Recent news reports have shown a dozen countries worldwide in the midst of food riots protesting the cost and availability of food.  This global issue will inevitably trickle down to us in some form though hopefully not as severe.  Regardless those who are struggling to make ends meet are feeling the pinch of increased prices at the grocery store and gas pumps and any relief available will be welcome.  So the question is:  Is it time to become involved in a community garden to ease your own budget or give to help someone else’s?

In either case the New York Mills community garden needs your help.  As a result of the Horizons program, a comprehensive approach to fight poverty in rural America, a group of dedicated volunteers are working diligently to offer local residents a chance to participate by:  reserving a 10′ by 10′ plot for personal or group use, donating tools and other items or through volunteer time.  In addition to individual plots a shared vegetable, herb and children’s space will be available.  All plots are free of charge with only a nominal commitment of time required.  

To reserve a garden plot contact Lynn Kasma at 385-4060 or through e-mail at lrkasma@hotmail.com.  If you visited the March Trade Show and filled out a form at the Horizons booth then you’re already on the list.  Current plans are for 12 plots unless demands require more.  They will be offered on a first come basis and we welcome civic groups, church groups or service groups who want to challenge their green thumb skills and provide for the needy.

To donate, a list of items needed include: garden tools, hoses, plant support systems, fertilizer, black dirt and a shed.  The drop off location for tools is the NYM Regional Cultural Center.  For any other items contact Lynn or Kevin Cederstrom at 385-4136.

To volunteer time to help prepare the soil, build the shed, paint signage or share your gardening knowledge please contact Lynn or Kevin for times and dates.

In conjunction with the community garden there will be a series of classes covering organic gardening techniques, food canning, freezing and storing methods, green issues supporting local food production and consumption, alternative energy innovations and art classes utilizing the inedible portions of garden plants.  These classes will be offered through the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center, 4-H, U of M Extension, I.S.D. #553 and other local organizations.  This collaborative effort is further supported by the City Council with approved use of public land, for the garden, next to the City Shop.

Additional benefits for involvement in the community garden include:

• Support of green issues by eating food locally grown
• Improved health through exercise and consumption of organic produce
• Positive family activity- teaching your children respect for the earth and skills to provide for themselves
• Helping the less fortunate by sharing excess produce
• Reducing the cost of your personal food budget

Your help is needed to help alleviate poverty in our community.  The Horizons program is offered through the U of M Extension Service with a $10,000 grant from the Northwest Area Foundation.

I don’t know how many of you have tried it, but it is slick! 

The first meeting of the NYM Area Youth Council will be on Thursday May 1, 5:00-6:15p at Otter Tail Wadena Community Action Council in the conference room.  A meal will be served.  RSVP horizonsteam@gmail.com. 

This meeting will be to get to know each other.  All youth ages 8-18 who want a voice in area happenings for, by and about youth are welcome to be a part of this NYM youth in action movement!  Parents and other concerned adults welcome to observe! 

Contact Victoria 218/371-8653 for additional information. 

I intended to put this link up last week–yikes does time fly!

Anyway, here is some information about the Community Garden as written about int he New York Mills Herald:

City Council approves NYM Community Garden

Wow!  What a great conference!  I learned a lot though it feels like a complete overload!  I have ideas and hopefully with the aid of the Youth Council can utilize the vast amounts of information I received last week.  Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu was especially inspiring as well as Pedro Noguera. 

Basically the gist of the conference was to make sure that the voice of youth is heard and listened to in Service Learning and that if it is not mandatory, then it should definitely be led by the youth.  My thoughts on the subject exactly.  But I did get some cool tools that will help to bring out the voice of the youth - with practice.  So we will get started!

leadership-volunteerism-rountable-notes-4-3-08.doc  Sorry it has taken me so long to post this, but I have been traveling and haven’t been able to sit still long enough to get it all done!  But, I am excited about the results of our roundtable.  There were 20 people in attendance with a nice 50/50 mix of youth and adults.  

Everyone had a lot to contribute, the energy was great and the ideas that we heard really did help us gain some direction!  A Youth Council was tagged as the best idea of the night and that is the direction that we will head!  Youth planning and taking action steps with guidance and support! 

Please enjoy and share the video from the roundtable!  We had a good time and learned a lot.  Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate and make it  a success!

Thanks to Heather Cassidy for submitting this information.

Our next Farmer’s Market meeting will be on Thursday April 17th.

We will meet at the Sculpture park to sketch out a layout for the best traffic flow and customer comfort at 9:45 AM, if the snow is mostly gone.

Then we will head over to the Creamery at 10 AM to blaze through an exciting agenda that will get us closer to our opening date of Memorial day weekend!

If you know a youth group, church group, or farmer that should get in on the action, please tell them!

If you can’t make the meetings, email Heather Cassidy at horthelper@lakesplus.com. I can keep you “in the know”.

There is a great deal of interest in our Farmers Market. It is exciting to know the community is behind this project 100%!