New York Mills, MN

May 7, 2008Dear community group members,

I am writing to ask if you would like to be part of our Farmers’ market as a fundraiser for your group.  One Group will be selected for each week of the market.  During that week they will be able to rent a canopy for 8 dollars, where they will be able to sell their products.

What products could your group sell? Some ideas we have are:

Cold lemonade, cider, caramel apples

Ice cream cones (maybe homemade)

BBQ turkey or chicken sandwiches

Fresh baked breads

Grilled brats and beans

Pancake breakfast

home baked pies, fresh donuts, cookies

Pumpkins that you have grown as a group

Other veggies or fruits you have grown as a group

Anything unusual, special, and homemade foods that the customers would enjoy munching on while strolling through the market.

If you haven’t already heard the latest buzz about the New York Mills Farmers’ Market, let me catch you up to speed.  The New York Mills Farmers’ Market started on Saturday May 31.  It will run on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9AM to 1PM.  We have many interested farmers who will be setting up 10X10′ stalls to sell their fresh fruits, veggies, meats and homemade foodstuffs.  There is a great deal of excitement about the Market from the people of the New York Mills area! Since the Market is located at the New York Mills Sculpture Park, we have excellent access to Highway 10 traffic, so we anticipate a large volume of customers.

Take these ideas and discuss them with your group.  Then call us to let us know what date your group can be our fundraising guest.  The dates will fill up very fast, so call Pat Fredley soon.   Her number is 385-2187.

Heather Cassidy

Farmers’ Market Committee

385-2229

Horthelper@lakesplus.com

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.

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.

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%!

Thanks to Kevin Cederstrom for submitting this information.

The Community Garden project continues to move forward. The City Council approved the land-use request on Tuesday, giving the go-ahead to proceed with the project. With the approval the group now needs to produce a waiver form get a rider on the city’s insurance.

If and when the snow clears and digging begins, we will find out exactly what kind of soil we are dealing with. The plan is to till up a 100-foot by 50-foot area. Depending on what we find when we break ground black dirt will be hauled in to establish a good working soil.

A water delivery system will need to be established and possibly install a fence to keep the critters out.

In addition, the plan calls for a shared tomato and squash plot, children’s garden, herb garden and small storage shed. There will be no cost to individuals for the plot, seed or starter plants, as long as they are within a pre-determined seed list.

We’ll get word out soon to find interested growers and get them signed up for 10-foot by 10-foot individual plots. Signed agreements will be required committing to shared maintenance, involvement in classes, rules and regulations and initial garden preparation.

Please join us for a Round Table Discussion focusing on these topics:

Leadership ~ Volunteerism ~ Youth Involvement

Thursday, April 3 – 6:30 to 8:30 pm @ the NYM City Hall Ballroom

Everyone is invited!   Please RSVP horizonsteam@gmail.com.

Sponsored by the Horizons Team Volunteerism & Leadership Future Squads

If you have questions, please call 385-2436 or email jadams@newyorkmills.lib.mn.us.

We want YOU to join us for a Round Table Discussion focusing on these topics: 

Volunteers–how do we get them and keep them? 

Leaders—how does a leader become a leader? 

Youth—how do we get them involved? 

We want to hear from you on what works and what doesn’t.  We want you to share with others your ideas on how we continue to make our community strong. 

When: Thursday, April 3 – 6:30 to 8:30 pm 

Where: NYM City Hall Ballroom 

Snacks & refreshments will be provided

Free childcare available provided by certified babysitters 

Spread the word–everyone is invited!

Leadership & Volunteerism Future Squads will be holding a joint meeting on Tuesday, March 25, at noon, in the Library Meeting Room to discuss plans for our upcoming Round table discussion to be held Thursday, April 3, in the City Hall Ballroom.

Horizons Meeting
Monday, February 11, 2008, 5:30 pm,
NYM High School Media Center

Present: Pat Fredley, Lori Rothstein, Julie Adams, Lynn Kasma, Pam Robinson, Janet Malone, Heather Cassidy, Elise Korentayer, Karen Oelschlager, Pat Buerkle, Victoria McWane-Creek, Kevin Cederstrom, Connie Warner, Bill Warner, Todd Cameron, Michelle Helmeke, Beverly Backstrom

Meeting began at 5:40 pm, Todd Cameron welcomed everyone.

Because Pat Fredley had to leave the meeting early, the Economy Future Squad report was moved up in the agenda. Pat reported that the Economy Future Squad has three new members and met two weeks ago. They met with Dallas Flynn from the Detroit Lakes Farmers Market. He gave them information on grants, an outline on how to set up a Farmers Market, etc. Their goal is to have the Farmers Market up and running mid-to-late summer. They have 3 more meetings scheduled, the next one being February 18, 10 am, at Subway. Their main goal will be to find a location and to find 4 or 5 committed vendors. They are writing a grant for signage.

Lori Rothstein gave an overview of the Horizons program.

The minutes from the last Horizons Team meeting on Friday, January 11, 2008 were reviewed.

Todd and Lori gave information on the financial structure and the process for allocating funds. There is $1,729.03 in the account, $1,500 of which is the first part of the $10,000 Northwest Area Foundation grant to be used for the final Work Plan. The remaining $8,500 is coming later. The $2,000 in Barrier Elimination Funds is expected soon. Lynn Kasma also reported that a $1,000.00 grant in conjunction with Youth Service Day was received. This grant will be administered through IMPACT to be used for the Community Garden by the Quality of Life Future Squad. Todd said there is a one page requisition form for Future Squad members to use when requesting funds. All allotments will be signed off by the Horizons Team.

Different aspects of marketing the Horizons program were discussed. Lynn will be organizing a booth for the Trade Show coming up on March 29th. Victoria McWane-Creek handed out copies of the brochure she put together. After discussing how many to print and for what reason, it was decided that Victoria will look into getting a modified quote. Julie Adams discussed how each Horizons Team member plans to meet with an organization or two in the community to discuss the Horizons Program. Todd will be on “Talk of the Town” on Lakes Radio next week. Kevin Cederstrom writes articles pertaining to Horizons as the need comes up.

Lori showed the group the Horizon’s sponsored Minnesota blog http://minnesota.communityblogs.us  and explained the different features. Julie showed the group the New York Mills blog at http://newyorkmills.communityblogs.us. Lori explained that it is very important for us to blog all of our activities as the Northwest Area Foundation uses the blog to track the activities of each Horizon community. Julie gave a brief outline on how to use igoogle to see the latest entries in the blog.

Future Squads Updates:
Economy—report was given earlier
Quality of Life—Lynn reported that they have narrowed their focus to working on the Community Garden. They have written an Action Plan and have received a Youth Service Learning grant. They want to start the Community Garden this spring. Right now they are looking at locations. They also hope in incorporate the school and the Cultural Center in on some activities such as having “green” classes, canning classes, and art classes using items from the garden. Todd suggested that he would be interested in teaching a “square foot gardening” class. Their next meeting will be soon.
Leadership—Julie reported that they have met and are looking at sponsoring Leadership Plenty, but in a modified form. Lori had agreed to help teach if her schedule allows. Julie reported that Denise Peltier has been doing research into mentoring programs.
Volunteerism—Victoria reported that her and Connie Warner have met and are putting together a form that will be mailed to all the organizations in the community. They information gathered from the form will help them but together a registry so that connecting people to volunteer opportunities will be easier. They are trying to include youth in on their project. Victoria asked if it is possible if students could get Service Learning credit for volunteering.

Lori reported there will be regional training sponsored by Horizons coming up this spring—the dates and location is to be determined. The topics they hope to cover are Non-Profit 101, Youth Engagement, Resources, and Committees that Work. Lori will get more information out to us as soon as possible.

Lori also reported on the Community Education Fund. There is $1500 in that fund. There is a form to fill out and can be used for trainings and workshops to help the Future Squads jumpstart their work. The applications for those funds go to Lori.

Discussion about the status of the Thrift Store idea that had come from the Study Circles—it was decided that it would be a project that the community would support, so if we find the right person to start this, it could be very successful.

The date for the next Horizons Team meeting was not decided.

The meeting adjourned at 7:05 pm, with the room available for any Future Squads that wanted to meet.

Kevin Cederstrom, New York Mills Herald–Published Thursday, February 7, 2008

The New York Mills Horizons community vision group is holding a meeting Feb. 11, 5:30 p.m., at the school. The meeting is open to the public including all past and present participants in the program, as well as a chance for new people to get involved in this community vision process.

The agenda includes an overview of Horizons and what the group has accomplished to this point, marketing, discussions on the blog site, the Horizons Team Work Plan, and Future Squads update. The Future Squads, four focus groups formed earlier in the Horizons process, consist of Economy, Quality of Life, Volunteerism, and Leadership.

The purpose of these groups is to find ways to better serve the community through ideas such as improving the economy, promoting energetic leadership in the community, helping various volunteer groups to work together, and how to carry out specific ideas such as starting a community garden in New York Mills.

Economy – support and assist agriculture, entrepreneurship and established business support

Leadership – Locating, training and mentoring visionary leaders for NY Mills’ future

Quality of Life – Addressing outdoor recreation, culture and arts, and other issues impacting quality of life

Volunteerism – Unify volunteer efforts, support service organizations, engage new volunteers, mentor youth and volunteer recognition

The public is invited to attend the meeting and encouraged to get involved with one of the four Future Squads.

The Horizons program, sponsored by the Northwest Area Foundation and brought to New York Mills by the University of Minnesota Extension, is a community leadership program aimed at reducing poverty in rural and reservation communities with populations of 5,000 or fewer. The program is about the changes a community can make to move from waiting to leading, from talking to action, from control by few to the participation of many, and from indifference to pride. Ultimately, it is about community leadership that can act to reverse a community’s economic and population decline and move toward prosperity.

It explores the perceptions and the sources of poverty, recognizing that it isn’t always just about lack of money. The program focuses on poverty, because poverty impacts everyone in a community. Horizons builds stronger community leadership, acknowledging that leadership is as important as good roads, great schools and clean water.