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Renewing the Countryside Newsletter
March 2007
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In This Issue
-- This Month's Featured Stories
-- RTC News Flash
-- Resource Pick: Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR)
-- Partner Pick of the Month: Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) -- What We?re Reading: Lonely Planet Code Green: Experiences of a Lifetime -- Conference Picks: Agriculture, Marketing & Tourism -- Where We're Going: Minwanjige Cafe (White Earth Reservation, MN) -- What Does RTC Do?
Welcome to the March Renewing the Countryside newsletter, designed to provide a monthly toolbox of resources, ideas and inspiration for your own efforts and interests in rural revitalization.
Thank you for your continued support of Renewing the Countryside. Jan Joannides, Executive Director |
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This Month's Featured Stories --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Four Winds Farm
River Falls, WI While Prescott Bergh and Juliet Tomkins may own and manage Four Winds Farm, they're quick to give credit to their source of inspiration for ideas and diversification approaches to running their business: the soil, nature and the landscape of their 107 acre farm near River Falls, WI. Located about fifty miles east of the Twin Cities, Prescott and Juliet holistically manage their farm operations, focusing on pasture raised, grass-fed beef sold directly to customers on-site and at area farmers' markets.
Pointe of Joy Performing Arts Studio
At the age of seven, Lora Jane Hyden knew she wanted to be a dancer. That?s when she got to take her first and only year of dance classes as a child, growing up in Eastern Kentucky. The single year of classes (singular thanks to the unpredictable coal mining industry from which her parents drew their income) was enough to inspire a young and intensely artistic Lora Jane to later study dance in college and one day return to her hometown of Paintsville, KY, to start Pointe of Joy Performing Arts Studio, enabling other young people to be exposed to the beauty of dance. |
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RTC News Flash --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RTC Hires Tourism Director
Deborah McLaren joins RTC as the new Director of Sustainable Tourism Initiatives, focusing on Green Routes and other travel-related projects. Deborah brings a wealth of sustainable tourism experience to RTC, including serving as founder and former director of Indigenous Tourism Rights International (ITRI) and as a consultant for the United Nations monitoring ecotourism practices globally. New Green Routes Report The University of Minnesota Tourism Center, in partnership with RTC, recently released a report studying the awareness and interest in Green Routes. This report, derived from questionnaires administered to samples of potential "green tourists," indicated strong recognition of Green Routes and other RTC efforts, as well as a strong interest in environmentally-sensitive travel and in patronizing restaurants serving local foods. Download the full report here. Green Routes Workshops On a Roll Strong turn-out and response to the inaugural Green Routes workshops once again proved enthusiastic interest in this topic. Held across Minnesota in February and March, these afternoon workshops provided opportunities to learn more about sustainable tourism and what businesses and communities can do to keep things local. Workshops featured George Wilkes from the Angry Trout Cafe in Grand Marais, MN, and showcased real life examples of what's working in sustainable tourism in Minnesota. Click here for more information on Green Routes. Culinary Tours Launch this Spring
Tapping into the growing interest in food-based travel, RTC will partner with the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, to present RTC's first "A Culinary Tour" on May 11. A program of Green Routes, this day tour package takes travelers by coach to a selection of regional food artisans with, naturally, sampling encouraged. This tour ends with a dinner prepared by Chef Jenny Breen. E-mail info@greenroutes.org if you are interested in receiving more information on the tour.
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Resource Pick: Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since 1974, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance
(ILSR), has worked with various community groups,
governments and private businesses to develop
policies and programs that keep money and
resources local. By providing technical assistance
and information on environmentally sound economic
development strategies as well as showcasing what
is working in various communities, ILSR proves the
importance of prioritizing healthy local economies.
The "New Rules Project" explores a new approach to
build community by supporting "humanly-scaled"
politics and economics.
For more information about the Institute for Local Self-Reliance: |
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Partner Pick of the Month: Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A unique partnership between the College of Food,
Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the
University of Minnesota, the Sustainers'
Coalition and various non-profit
organizations including RTC, the Minnesota Institute
for Sustainable
Agriculture (MISA) umbrellas the diverse interests of
the agricultural community with University interests in
a joint effort to develop
and promote sustainable agriculture in Minnesota
and beyond. Their informative website provides
information for beginning farmers, seasoned
growers, and the general public interested in
supporting local foods.
Learn more about the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture: |
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What We?re Reading: Lonely Planet Code Green: Experiences of a Lifetime --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Treat your inner armchair traveler thirst with Lonely
Planet's recent entry into sustainable travel: Lonely
Planet Code Green: Experiences of a Lifetime.
Showcasing 100 different responsible travel
experiences from around the world ranging from
budget backpacking to luxury, this book draws from
the underlying theme that authentic, environmentally
and culturally-sensitive travel can change our world
for the better.
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Conference Picks: Agriculture, Marketing & Tourism --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spring brings a range of educational conference
options. RTC staffer John Ivanko will be presenting
on "Telling Your
Farm Story" at the
Southwest Marketing Network
Conference March 26-28 in Flagstaff, AZ. The
Southwest Marketing Network is an organization
dedicated to increasing regional marketing expertise
and opportunities for farmers and ranchers in the
Four Corners states of Arizona, Colorado, New
Mexico, and Utah.
RTC Executive Director, Jan Joannides, and Board President, Audrey Arner, will be participating in a panel discussion on "Local Sustainability for Businesses and Communities" at the Second Minnesota Conference on Sustainable Tourism, sponsored by the University of Minnesota Tourism Center on April 25-26, 2007, at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska, MN.
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Where We're Going: Minwanjige Cafe (White Earth Reservation, MN) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For a taste of local flavor from a Native American
table, wander to the Minwanjige Cafe on the White
Earth Reservation in Becker County, MN. A project of
the White Earth Land Recovery Project, this cafe
quickly earned a reputation for wild native foods,
served by a warm and welcoming staff. Local wild
rice, maple syrup, hominy corn, buffalo meat,
and strawberries, cranberries, raspberries and
plums form the heart of the Minwanjige Cafe's menu.
The Cafe is located at 33287 County Road 34 in
Ogema, at the intersection of 34 and 143
across from the Strawberry Lake Store. Call 218
-983-3834 for hours.
For more information on the White Earth Land Recovery Project: |
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What Does RTC Do? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Renewing the Countryside is a 501(c)3 non-profit
that strengthens rural areas by championing and
supporting farmers, artists, entrepreneurs,
educators, activists, and others who are
revitalizing the countryside through innovative
endeavors. We build awareness and support for these
initiatives by collecting and sharing stories of
rural renewal, providing practical assistance and
networking opportunities for those working to
improve rural America, and fostering connections
between urban and rural people.
As always, you can support our work by making an online donation or purchasing books from the Renewing the Countryside store. We're grateful to the Beim Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Emma B. Howe Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation, the Bush Foundation, The Brico Fund and North Central SARE, for contributing to our work. Find out more about Renewing the Countryside .
Please consider a contribution to Renewing the Countryside's work. |
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Contact Information ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
email:
info@rtcinfo.org
phone:
1-866-378-0587
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