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Grown by our Own

Grown by Our Own, a local food event for consumers, producers and home-growers, will be held Saturday, May 5 at the Two Harbors Community Center. Doors open at 9:30 a.m., presentations begin at 10 a.m.

Like many communities across our country and throughout the world, Lake County and the North Shore are experiencing a rapidly rising interest in locally-sourced food. Recent articles in our local papers have featured community supported agriculture (CSA) and school initiatives to grow food for themselves. For diverse reasons, more people are seeking out locally-produced foods or are starting to produce more themselves and to sell to others.

But who are these local growers, how can you access their produce and what might you be able to grow for yourself? Grown by Our Own presentations will feature all local producers, starting with David Abazs speaking about a study of the western Lake Superior region’s potential to feed itself. He will be followed by Cree Bradley, telling us about CSA’s and the Sustainable Farming Association, and Cindy Hale sharing her knowledge of raising chickens for meat and eggs, and how critical it is to have healthy soil.

The event will also include short presentations by other area producers, including Shary Zoff of Shary’s Berries; Jan Errickson of Sawtooth Apple Cooperative; Phil Cook of Superior Highland Maple Syrup; Steve Dahl, commercial fisherman; Jill Jacoby, shitake and oyster mushroom grower; and Terry Stroozas, honey-producing beekeeper. Details on local farmers’ markets and new community gardens in our area will also be covered.

A mid-event break will provide time to visit with the presenters, view exhibits by local farmers and others, and see what resources are available. Producers other than presenters will be on hand with information about their respective endeavors, and there will also be starter plants for sale.

In supporting local producers we support a more sustainable food system, consume food at its freshest and most delicious time, and help these friends and neighbors thrive in their small businesses. There’s a lot growing on in our area!

Grown by Our Own is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the North Shore Good Neighbors, a group of active citizens from the North Shore of Lake Superior who gather monthly to discuss topics of concern. The group hosts occasional informative public assemblies for discussion of issues and subjects concerning us all. For more information, contact: northshoregoodneighbors@gmail.com.

Tags: two harbors