Do-It-Yourself

WJR's picture

Community Owned Agriculture (COA): A Step Beyond Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

Submitted by WJR on February 4, 2010 - 8:11pm

Place:  Cahoots Coffee Bar, 1562 Selby Ave., St. Paul

How can city folks farm in the country?  What would it take to become
a food producer on actual farmland, without living in the country?
And why would city folks want to do this, when they can grow food at
a community garden close to home, or contract with a CSA farmer, or
shop at a farmer's market?

Some reasons:

*  To produce essential crops that need more acreage than the city
usually provides, such as grains
*  To actually own production on a long-term lease or purchase of the
land
*  To invest assets into real, productive property
*  To become part of a group that works together based on interest
and investment, without necessarily doing farm work
*  To participate in a new type of land and farming reform
*  To opt further out of the industrial agriculture system
*  To slowly learn the essentials of farming, if desired, for future
purposes

This workshop presents a new concept in farming--how to become a co-
producer, with others, of food on agricultural land leased or
purchased by the group.  It describes the first COA effort and how to participate in it.

Presenters: Wilhelm and Leslie Reindl

Sponsored by Wilderness Connections, St. Paul
FFI alteravista@usfamily.net, 651-633-4410=

 

exco's picture

Collective Home Buying Workshop

Class Details
Class times: 
April 10, 2010 - 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Class Location
Address: 
My house or somewhere close
South Minneapolis TBA
South Minneapolis, MN
United States
44° 58' 47.874" N, 93° 15' 49.8096" W
See map: Google Maps
Facilitator Information
Facilitator username(s): 
Laila
Facilitator email(s): 
lailalailad@yahoo.com
Facilitator's experience: 
Part of the Cooperative Autonomous Housing Network, member of a new collectively run/owned house in South Minneapolis.

Interested in buying a home collectively or creating a collectively run home. This is for you!

Register: 
Register
Coops
Alicia's picture

DIY Wind Turbine

Class Details
Class times: 
March 1, 2010 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
March 8, 2010 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
March 15, 2010 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
March 22, 2010 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
March 29, 2010 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
April 5, 2010 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Class minimum size: 
5
Class maximum size: 
10
Class Location
Address: 
Hack Factory
3119 26th St E
Minneapolis, MN, 55406
United States
44° 57' 19.71" N, 93° 13' 33.7152" W
See map: Google Maps
Additional class location information: 
Go through the gate and in the side door.
Facilitator Information
Facilitator username(s): 
Alicia
Facilitator email(s): 
aliciadvorak@gmail.com
dzorand@gmail.com
Facilitator's experience: 
Joe and Alicia (and friends) built a wind turbine for the IDEA Shanty for the Art Shanty Projects. They learned a lot along the way and did a lot of problem solving. Joe has worked at KidWind for 3 years teaching about wind power. Alicia works as a bike mechanic and has a lot of experience building and constructing things.

In this class participants will build a working wind turbine from scratch - based roughly on DIY plans from MAKE Magazine and the following websites:
http://www.greenterrafirma.com/DIY_Wind_Turbine.html
http://www.mdpub.com/Wind_Turbine/index.html
http://www.velacreations.com/makechispito.html

Register: 
Register
Build a working wind turbine from scratch that can charge a 12volt battery
michelle's picture

Knitting for the Kneedy

Class Details
Class times: 
February 2, 2010 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
February 9, 2010 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
February 16, 2010 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
February 23, 2010 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
March 2, 2010 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
March 9, 2010 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
March 16, 2010 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
March 23, 2010 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
March 30, 2010 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
April 6, 2010 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
April 13, 2010 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
April 20, 2010 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
April 27, 2010 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
May 4, 2010 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
May 11, 2010 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
May 18, 2010 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Class minimum size: 
1
Class maximum size: 
392
Facilitator Information
Facilitator username(s): 
michelle
aaron_love
Facilitator email(s): 
michellemlarsen@yahoo.com
aaron.hottinger@yahoo.com
Facilitator's experience: 
Michelle initially learned to knit at Girl Scout camp six years ago, and since then has been learning new techniques a such from friends, the Internet, and books. They have knit a plethora of scarves and hats, an odd number of socks and slippers, a few mittens and gloves, numerous afghan squares, some houseplant hangers and cozies, and a sweater or four. Aaron has been knitting since 2007. He has knit more hats than can be counted and half of at least three sweaters, among other things. He has made belts and mittens and begun many socks and aspires to finish something that requires more than one ball of yarn.
Facilitator phone number(s): 
952.807.3450 is Michelle's #
952.297.7248 is Aaron's number

Our class will knit or crochet things which we will donate. There will be folks around who can teach you to make your first dishcloth if you've never made a stitch in your life, or to keep you company while you stitch if you're working on your 346th Norwegian sweater, or to give you a pointer or two if you're somewhere in the middle. There will be yarn for you to work into something useful, and needles and patterns to help you. There will be organizations happy to recieve the useful something you've made. You provide your hands and time, the rest will be there waiting for you. 

We're looking into a couple of organizations to which to donate, but don't yet know for sure which ones it will be.

Register: 
Register
We'll make great things, then we'll donate the things to folks who perhaps could use them more than we would.
michelle's picture

Knit & Such

Class Details
Class times: 
February 7, 2010 - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
February 14, 2010 - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
February 21, 2010 - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
February 28, 2010 - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
March 7, 2010 - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
March 14, 2010 - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
March 21, 2010 - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
March 28, 2010 - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
April 4, 2010 - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
April 11, 2010 - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
April 18, 2010 - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
April 25, 2010 - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
May 2, 2010 - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
May 9, 2010 - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
May 16, 2010 - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
May 23, 2010 - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
May 30, 2010 - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Additional class time information: 
End time varies from week to week. Each person is free to come and go as they are able.
Class minimum size: 
1
Class maximum size: 
492
Class Location
Address: 
group members' housesSt Paul or Minneapolis or Bloomington, MN
United States
45° 12' 40.428" N, 122° 58' 36.3576" W
See map: Google Maps
Additional class location information: 
This class location varies from week to week. Give us a call or shoot us and email to find out where we'll be. We're really friendly, please please don't be nervous about calling. Alternatively, we've got a facebook group called Knitting and Such. It's another good way to find out where we'll be meeting.
Facilitator Information
Facilitator username(s): 
michelle
aaron_love
Facilitator email(s): 
aaron.hottinger@yahoo.com
Facilitator's experience: 
Michelle initially learned to knit at Girl Scout camp six years ago, and since then has been learning new techniques a such from friends, the Internet, and books. They have knit a plethora of scarves and hats, an odd number of socks and slippers, a few mittens and gloves, numerous afghan squares, some houseplant hangers and cozies, and a sweater or four. Aaron has been knitting since 2007. He has knit more hats than can be counted and half of at least three sweaters, among other things. He has made belts and mittens and begun many socks and aspires to finish something that requires more than one ball of yarn.
Facilitator phone number(s): 
952.807.3450 is Michelle's
952.297.7248 is Aaron's

Come and knit with us!  We can teach you the basics (we have some supplies to get you started), help you through a rough spot in your pattern, or just keep you company while you work on your own fantastic creation.  Crochet, cross-stitch, embroidery, latch hook, origami, bookbinding, friendship bracelet making, macrame, calligraphy, collage, and anything mostly portable and not too messy or noisy are also very welcome.  

This is a friendly knitting group. We meet at folks' houses, we potluck, we celebrate silly birthdays. We would love to see some new faces! We've got a facebook group, Knitting and Such, if you'd like to check us out before you join us for an afternoon.

Register: 
Register
Sitting and knitting and such, with great conversation and delectable foodstuffs.
Chandler's picture

Pillow Making/Sewing Class

Class Details
Class times: 
February 24, 2010 - 12:00pm - 2:00pm
March 3, 2010 - 12:00pm - 2:00pm
March 10, 2010 - 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Additional class time information: 
3-week class
Class minimum size: 
6
Class maximum size: 
10
Class Location
Address: 
Louisiana Court Apartments Communit Room
2740 Louisiana Court
St. Louis Park, MN, 55426
United States
44° 57' 13.032" N, 93° 22' 22.9404" W
See map: Google Maps
Facilitator Information
Facilitator username(s): 
Chandler
Facilitator email(s): 
nomracc@comcast.net
chandlerdomian@gmail.com
Facilitator's experience: 
Elizabeth Carmon has been sewing all of her life - everything from clothes to quilts. She has been a part of the Midtown Farmers Market and included in the Powderhorn Art Fair.
Facilitator phone number(s): 
952-933-0411

Knowledge of basic sewing skills helpful but not necessary.  Students will learn hand stitching, button sewing and pillow making.  By the end of the series they will have produced something special they can be proud to display.  This will be a fun and easy class.

Register: 
Register
Students will learn hand stitching, button sewing and pillow making. By the end of the series they will have produced something special they can be p
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