🌿 Gil and Maeve represented Renewing the Countryside at the Enviro Show in Owatonna—a fun, free event promoting eco-friendly living and sustainability. Gil shared resources for connecting farmers and landowners with conservation support, while Maeve promoted the FEAST! Local Marketplace is coming up this November in Rochester and RTC's Minnesota Women in Conservation (MNWiC) initiative. We were blown away by how many incredible conservation orgs were tabling. Minnesota has so much to offer! 💚 A special thanks to Steele County, Steele County Free Fair, and Owatonna Community Education for dedicating their time to put this event together. #EnviroShow #FEASTLocal #MNWIC #SustainableMN #renewingthecountryside (fb)

After a decade of vision and collaboration, the Midwest Elderberry Cooperative (MEC) is turning its goal of an American elderberry aggregation and processing hub into reality. You're invited to a Field Day at Fountain Ark Farms, May 31st 8am-12pm to see the fabrication progress on: * high-volume elderberry destemmer * 670-sf commercial dehydrator trailer * New frozen storage infrastructure This event is an opportunity to connect with fellow growers, discuss how to align production growth with processing capacity, and explore collaborative use of the hub for aronia, honeyberry, and more. Admission is free. Light morning snacks and beverages will be served. Please RSVP via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/midwest-elderberry-cooperative-field-day-tickets-1335352578509?aff=oddtdtcreator This milestone is made possible through the support of key partners, including Renewing the Countryside, The Walton Family Foundation, Builders Initiative, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Forever Green Initiative, Savannah Institute, and our grower community. #Elderberry #AgricultureInnovation #SustainableFarming #FoodSystems #LocalFood #CooperativeFarming (fb)