Are you ready to celebrate this season's harvest? The next 100 mile radius potluck will be at a local farm, where we can properly welcome fall! Meet new people, see friends and eat delicious food!

The potluck will be on Sunday (Oct. 25) at 6pm at Abundant Acres Farm. Meet on Earlham's campus at the (former) Security/Clear Creek Co-op building at 5:30 to carpool and caravan or visit Google Maps for directions from Richmond.  continue reading »

The Palladium-Item in Richmond published an article today about taking advantage of locally grown food:

1,500 miles. That is how far the average food item travels before reaching your plate. Imagine a cross-country trip with your family. The cost to fuel your vehicle, keep your family cool, and the wear and tear it takes on your vehicle and your family. This is the typical journey of a large variety of food items. For items such as fresh fruits and vegetables, 1,500 miles can do a number on the quality and freshness of those items. The amount of fuel burned and pollution emitted from the journey of out-of-season bananas from Costa Rica consume a great deal of fuel and other natural resources.

You can read the full article, or view the local food directory (hosted here at ProgressiveWayneCounty.org) mentioned in the paper. Thanks to Stephanie Hays-Mussoni for putting this article together!

The annual Chamber Farm Tour will be of Dutch Acres Organic Dairy Farm, 1648 Pleasant Plain Road, Fountain City, IN., Thursday, June 18, 2009, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Learn about:
* The milking process
* Calves and selective breeding through
* Artificial insemination
* Natural compost bedding barns
* Feeding and field rotation
* Water retention pond and filtration system

Make bus and/or dinner reservations @ 962-1511 or email kellyh@rwchamber.org by June 15. Dinner reservations required. Seating and parking are limited. Bus leaves the Chamber at 5:00 p.m. Additional pick up @ Fountain City Wesleyan Church.

How can we support local farmers? What are Richmond-area farmers doing to grow food sustainably? Bring your garden questions on Thursday, April 16. Free lunch included. Earlham School of Religion Dining Room, noon. All are welcome, no RSVP necessary.

Join the Chamber of Commerce Agribusiness Committee and a distinguished panel for a discussion regarding the marketing potential for locally grown products in our area. Could we market our own locally grown produce and other products? Hear what’s already happening in our area and other parts of the state and nation. We encourage producers, consumers and vendors alike to participate in this discussion.  continue reading »

It's time for the most challenging potluck yet! Whether it's your 1st or 6th, please join us for a 100-Mile Radius Potluck!

What do you love about local food? The taste? The safety? The sustainability? The joy? Celebrate these reasons and more - meet new people, see friends and eat delicious food!  continue reading »

Take a tour of an organic dairy farm right here in Wayne County! This is the opportunity to become acquainted with a local organic farmer and understand the value of organic farming and the impact it has on you as a consumer. Learn what it really means to be an organic farm from raising and feeding and milking the cows to transporting and packaging the milk as an organic product. You will hear about the certification requirements and what it takes to earn and retain organic certification. The dairy is a member of the Organic Valley cooperative. The milk produced on this farm is purchased by Organic Valley and processed locally at Smith Dairy.  continue reading »

Earlier this morning, Chris Nolte from 1490 WKBV AM interviewed Anna Lisa Gross, who has tirelessly coordinated the 100-Mile Radius Potlucks sponsored by ProgressiveWayneCounty.org in July, August, and tomorrow night for September. You can listen to the full audio of the interview [MP3, 6:09]. Remember that you can also check out the local food directory, and see a highlight video from the first potluck. We hope to see you there tomorrow night!

Kent Baxter, who helps to run the Abundant Acres Farms CSA mentioned here earlier, has an article in today's Palladium-Item about the benefits of buying local, especially when it comes to food. Highlight:

The advantages include boosting our local economy, possibly reducing the risk of bacterial contamination, and lowering dependency on fuel to transport these food items, possibly decreasing costs of the goods you purchase...By reducing the number of miles our food travels, we can enjoy a fresher and probably safer product due to reduced processing.

You can read the full article.

Pasture Walk and No-Till Field Day

Thursday, August 21st 10AM-3PM

Where: 2312 E. Overman Road, Fountain City

Who: Ivan Esch of Esch Ag Service

The event is open to the general public, those wishing to attend should bring their own lunches and lawn chairs.

The event starts at 10am.

10am – 12pm is the pasture walk and then after lunch 1pm - 3pm is the no-till clinic.

If you plan on attending please RSVP

Raquel Baker by August 20th.

For more information please contact Raquel Baker at the Wayne County SWCD office 765-966-0191 x3