Greetings!
A Note from the Production Manager Kate Ritger 
Greetings Subscribers and Friends!
As you can tell, we grow a wide assortment of hot and sweet peppers. The gardeners have been introducing you to our spectrum of hot peppers at distribution. We will never put them in your bags, but encourage you to take what you like. Last week you received bell peppers and a tapered pepper in your bag. The taper was a Krimzon Lee pepper. Here's what Johnny's Seed says about it:
"Beautiful, thick-fleshed, paprika type pepper. Sweet and spicy flesh is choice for roasting, frying, grilling, salsa and adventurous salads." This is a delicious and versatile pepper, and I hope you will love it.  I asked Environmental Studies Professor, Diane Veale Jones, to help us understand the Farm Bill. I hope her outline and resources are thought-provoking to you. A New Farm Bill? by Diane Veale Jones, RD
Professor, CSB/SJU Environmental Studies Department
There was no 2012 Farm Bill and if the impasse regarding the allocations of funds between the Senate and the House continues, there will be no 2013 Farm Bill. As a Registered Dietitian and a professor who teaches about food and agriculture, the composition of a Congressional bill that establishes policies for agriculture, nutrition, forestry and conservation is important to me. If you eat food, the farm bill should also be important to you. If you are concerned about farmers, the farm bill should be important to you. If you are concerned about conservation, the farm bill should be important to you.
Farm Bill Basics
The two components of the federal farm bill are agricultural support and food assistance. Currently, the allocation of money for these areas is based on the 2008 Farm Bill.
Agricultural Support
Approximately 20 % of the farm bill is related to agriculture. These include:
* Subsidies for farmers who grow commodity crops, corn, wheat, rice, soybeans, cotton, peanuts, dairy and sugar for assistance due to e.g. weather, price fluctuations, natural disasters.
* Conservation of farmland through resource management programs, e.g. protection of wetlands, land retirement programs (unfarmed land).
* Trade support for agricultural exports, international food assistance programs.
* Credit programs in the form of loans or direct payments to farmers and ranchers.
* Rural development loan and grant programs for, e.g. economic development, broadband communication.
* Research programs to assist farmers, e.g. extension service, organic food production, biotechnology.
* Forestry programs to manage the nation's forests.
* Energy support programs for renewable energy development, e.g. biofuels, biorefineries, education.
* Livestock programs to support poultry and livestock producers.
* Crop insurance and disaster insurance to assist non-commodity farmers.
* Miscellaneous programs to address other issues, e.g. low-income farmers.
Nutrition Assistance
Approximately 80% of the farm bill is related to nutrition assistance. These include:
* Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly called Food Stamps, which provides monetary assistance for Americans below the federal poverty level.
* Senior Commodity supplemental Food Program provides a monthly supplemental food package of USDA commodity foods to low-income seniors (130% below the poverty level).
* Senior Farmer's Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) provides grants to states for coupons for low-income seniors to be used at Farmer's Markets, Community Supported
Agriculture (CSAs) and roadside fruit and vegetable stands.
* As part of the National School Lunch Program, school can receive reimbursement for after school snacks following organized activities.
* American Indian Food Distribution Programs provide USDA food to low-income Indians living on reservations.
* Miscellaneous programs to address other issue, e.g. natively grown food support, hunger-free community grants
Impasse
The House voted to remove SNAP/Food Stamps from the proposed 2013 Farm Bill, while the Senate supported keeping the nutrition assistance program. To date, there is no meeting to reconcile the two versions of the bill. Both the House and Senate, however, voted to reduce funding for both the agricultural and nutrition components of the bill. An additional controversy surrounding the farm bill is the issue of subsidies to farmers who grow commodity crops.
Will there be a 2013 farm bill? I do not know, but I do know that it will be different than the 2008 farm bill. The goal is to reduce federal spending to reduce the national deficit.
Likely changes if there is compromise:
* Subsidies for commodity crops replaced by increased crop insurance support, which continues to benefit large-scale farming
* Reduction in conservation programs
* Reduction in funding for SNAP, tightening of eligibility requirements
Sources:
Feeding America. "Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)" 2013. http://feedingamerica.org/how-we-fight-hunger/advocacy-public-policy/policy-center/federal-anti-hunger-programs-and-policies/commodity-supplemental-food-program.aspx#
Johnson, Renee and Jim Monk. "What is a Farm Bill?" Congressional Research Service. October 3, 2012. http://www.nationalaglawcenter.org/assets/crs/RS22131.pdf
Food Research and Action Center (FRAC). "Farm Bill FAQ." nd http://frac.org/farm-bill-faq/
Plummer, Brad. "The Senate is voting on a $955 billion farm bill. Here's what's in it." June 10, 2013. Washington Post. com http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/06/10/the-senate-is-voting-on-a-955-billion-farm-bill-heres-whats-in-it/
USDA. "Afterschool Snack Program." February 21, 2012. http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/afterschool/
USDA. Food Distribution Programs on Indian reservations. June 20, 2013. http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/programs/fdpir/
USDA. "Senior Farmer's Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP." Nd http://www.fns.usda.gov/sfmnp
USDA. "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: A Short History of SNAP." July 25, 2013. http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/rules/Legislation/about.htm
Jelly, Syrup, Juice and Pickles for Sale! At distribution this week we'll have jelly, syrup, juice and pickles processed in the monastery kitchen by Kate and the gardeners. They make great gifts! The sale will happen at the garden. St. Cloud folks, be in touch if you are interested in making a purchase.
Grape Jelly: $4 ˝ pint, $8 pint
Grape Syrup: $3 ˝ pint
Grape Juice (frozen, pasteurized and ready to drink): $4.50 ˝ gallon
Dill Pickles: $7 per quart
Dill Pickled Green Beans: $8 per quart
Book Conversation of The Conundrum
An Invitation from CSB Sustainability Office
We are all consumers, and some of us embrace the 'green' approaches to live more 'sustainably.' But we often turn these increases in efficiency into increases in consumption. In The Conundrum, David Owens walks us through the history of energy and the quest for efficiency and in the process, overturns most traditional wisdom about being 'green.' He argues that we already have the technology and knowledge we need to live sustainably, but asks, "Will we do it?" That is the conundrum. Join us as we discuss this provocative read over the course of two sessions, Tuesdays, Sept. 17 and 24, 4:30-5:50 p.m. in the Fireside Room of Main (CSB). Contact Judy Purman by September 6 to sign up. jpurman@csbsju.edu. Space is limited.
We Want Your Leaves!
After you jump in your piles of racked leaves this fall, please bring them to the garden. We want to use them next season for mulching the tomatoes and other vegetables. No branches or grass clippings please, but lots of leaves! Stock Your Freezer with Meat Beef, pork, duck, goose, and chicken! Christina Traeger of Rolling Hills Traeger Ranch has specials on meat to stock your freezer. Her animals are all 100% corn and soy free. Contact Christina at 320-293-2995, or britishwhitebeef@gmail.com to place your order now. Nutrition Education
Saturday, September 14, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Central Minnesota Sustainability Project invites us to join them at the Great River Regional Library Mississippi Room where JoDee Christianson, a Community Nutrition Educator with the University of Minnesota Extension program, will present information about nutrition, the benefits of fresh vegetables, and navigating grocery stores and local markets on a limited budget.
Canning and Preservation Class
Saturday, September 21, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Due to popular demand CMSP will be co-hosting another canning and preservation with the African Women's Alliance at the Great River Library Mississippi Room. This class will focus on canning tomatoes. | 
Common Ground Garden is a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm, where members purchase a share of vegetables and each week during the farm season receive a bountiful box of fresh produce. We pride ourselves on producing fresh, clean, healthful food picked at the peak of flavor and nutrition. As much as we are able, we grow our vegetables without the use of any chemical herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers. We use cover crops, rotations, compost and ingenuity to produce your food in a way that's healthy for you and for the community. When necessary for pest control or to combat disease, we use only products approved for organic gardening.