Minnesota Women in Conservation

 I’m really pleased to announce the launch of Minnesota Women in Conservation, a project of Renewing the Countryside and NRCS. Please do spread the word to your networks if you are able:) The Facebook event is shareable from here: https://www.facebook.com/share/FxHMKhFeDzeZsfoN/

Building on Minnesota’s deep-rooted history of conservation, a new collaborative program aims to connect women land stewards to each other and to local conservation resources. Minnesota Women in Conservation (MNWiC) is launching this new initiative with a series of “Fall Learning Circles” throughout the state, starting Thursday, November 7, at Nygaard Nursery,  215 15th St. NE, Dilworth, MN. The event is from 6 to 8pm and will feature television meteorologist Lisa Green of KVLY and Ho-Chunk Nation Chef Candace Stock. The program will explore the benefits of planting northern-adapted trees, especially fruits, for both conservation and food. 

The event is being organized and hosted by Noreen Thomas, MNWiC North West Region Coordinator and well-known grain farmer at Doubting Thomas Farms in Moorhead. Thomas has a long history of hosting farm events and advocating for science-based innovative conservation practices that also improve the farm’s bottom line. Thomas is passionate about niche grains and also grows traditional Native American crops in partnership with the White Earth Nation. 

The focus will be on helping attendees choose trees that are right for them and for their farm goals. Clay County Soil Conservationist Kate Volk, who is with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, will talk about federal programs that can help homeowners and farmers design and fund climate-smart practices like tree planting, irrigation, cover crops, grazing, high tunnel growing and more. 

Green will discuss the expected arrival of La Nina and what that might mean for Spring 2025 weather conditions. Attendees will leave with a better idea of how to design their Spring planting schedule, given that we’ll likely have a different outlook than the mild winter of 2023-24. 

A team of four MNWiC Regional Coordinators are currently focused on building women’s local networks in 11 counties across the state: Clay, Norman, Wilken, Rice, Goodhue, Dakota, Aitkin, Itaska, Chippewa, Swift and Lac qui Parle. The goal is to share resources, experience, advice, and challenges, as well as get familiar with local NRCS agency staff and helpful programs. Women outside of the focus counties are very welcome to participate. This brand-new initiative will support women land stewards across the state through educational workshops, field days, farm tours, mentorships, a newsletter and on-line earning opportunities. The programs follow a “Learning Circle” model, which focuses on peer-to-peer education and resource sharing between local networks of participants.