View the Ashland County Grows web page here!
Highlights from the March 2025 Newsletter:
News From the WI Farmers Union
Wisconsin Farmers Union Stipends
Wisconsin Farmers Union, along with the Nature Conservancy, has launched their “Small Farm Sustainability Stipends,” which provides a $2,000 stipend to help buy equipment, cover labor costs, and attend educational events.
As a note, you do need to be a Wisconsin Farmers Union member to receive this scholarship, but membership is only $30 a year, and there is support to help with the fee if that is a burden.
Mental Health Resources for Farmers
Here’s another message from the Wisconsin Farmers Union:
“We deeply value the mental health and well-being of farmers. We recognize the unique challenges and pressures they face in their profession, and we are committed to providing support and resources to address these concerns.
Through various initiatives, we strive to raise awareness about mental health issues in the farming community and promote a culture of openness and understanding.
FEED Webinar Series
The Spring 2025 FEED webinar series is now over, but you can find all recorded presentations and materials on the UW Extension website for food system networks here: https://foodsystems.extension.wisc.edu/2025-feed-webinar-series/
Seven one-hour webinars were offered for those thinking about getting into farming or food producers, those already making food, processors, and food service industries. Guests learned tips for running and growing a successful food business from specialists and entrepreneurs.
Try This!
Gardeners trying to avoid plastic containers are turning to soil blocking
National Public Radio offered a great program about a new way of planting seeds that reduces waste and increases productivity (March 26 on “All Things Considered”).
Listen or read more here: https://www.npr.org/2025/03/26/nx-s1-5334478/gardening-soil-blocking
Have you tried this way of planting thousands of seeds or seedlings? Let us know how it went!
