ARGYLE — While the number of farms has been on the decline for many years, the number owned and operated by women is on the rise — according to the USDA Census of Agriculture. Soil Sisters, a project of the non-profit Renewing the Countryside, supports these new and all women farmers with a day-long workshop on August 4: Soil Sisters Share: A buffet of resources, support and inspiration for women farmers.
This field day celebrates “Wisconsin Women in Sustainable and Organic Agriculture Week,” an official proclamation by Governor Tony Evers designating from July 30 to August 6 a week to showcase the growth and impact of women farmers in Wisconsin. According to the latest Census of Agriculture, there are 38,509 female producers in Wisconsin, adding up to 35% of all producers in the state. That’s a whopping 16% increase in the number of female producers compared to the last 2012 census. Wisconsin has 1,334 organic farms, nearly doubling over the last ten years.
“Soil Sisters Share is based on the idea that women learn best from each other in a format where we can ask questions and mentor and inspire one another,” said Lisa Kivirist, coordinator of the Soil Sisters project and she and her family run Inn Serendipity Farm outside Monroe. “The full-day event for women offers an inspiring lineup of women farmers who share their knowledge and experiences, enabling participants to dive into the practicalities of successfully running farm and food-based enterprises, including value-added enterprises, land stewardship, risk management through income diversification, and body mechanics.”
Soil Sisters, a project of Renewing the Countryside, started in Green County over fifteen years ago to bring together rural women to share knowledge, resources and expertise to collaboratively advocate for conservation, sustainability, local food and networking. Featured on Around the Farm Table along with Midwest Living, Modern Farmer and a Top Rural Development Initiative Award winner, Soil Sisters spotlights the inspiring stories of women-owned family farms that produce food and fiber and host farm experiences while stewarding the landscape. Today there are over 200 Green County area women in the founding group along with additional networks and resources.
The August 4 Soil Sisters Share event will include over a dozen agricultural organizations and agencies at the event sharing resources, funding opportunities and answering questions, including North Central Sustainable Agriculture Resource & Education (NCR-SARE), Wisconsin Farmers Union, Midwest GRIT and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Additionally, the workshop will cover body mechanics basics and how to care for our bodies to keep farming for the long term with resources from the Farm Labor Dashboard AgrAbility of Wisconsin.
Registration is a special educational price of $30 and includes a locally-sourced lunch and scholarships are available. Registration also includes copies of two free books: Farmstead Chef co-authored by Lisa Kivirist & John Ivanko with seasonal, local favorite recipes from Inn Serendipity Farm and Renewing the Countryside: Wisconsin.
“I love having the opportunity to share my farming story and experiences with other farmers, particularly beginning women farmers starting out,” said Chelsea Chandler, the woman farmer who will be hosting this event on her family’s organic vegetable farm, Plowshares & Prairies Farm in Argyle. “Increasingly, female farmers today like myself create innovative new approaches to farming such as improving land access and exploring new markets. We have such an inspiring collaboration among women in sustainable agriculture and all thrive and grow by supporting each other in collective efforts to transform our food system.”
On the detailed tour of her organic farm, Chandler will take folks through the high tunnels used to extend the growing season and how financial support from Wisconsin Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) made these possible. The tour will also include the packing shed and converted barn used for wedding and agritourism rentals with plenty of time for questions.
“These Soil Sisters events bring together women in a safe space to collaboratively connect, share and inspire each other,” said Jan Joannides, Executive Director of Renewing the Countryside. “The research has shown that women thrive in such peer-based, informal learning environments, especially when we have the opportunity to gather together on a woman landowner’s property and draw inspiration from her conservation actions, like Chelsea Chandler has done on her farm.”
Renewing the Countryside is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization working to strengthen rural areas by building awareness and support for sustainable endeavors, reinforcing urban-rural connections, and providing practical assistance and networking opportunities for people who are renewing the countryside through sustainable and innovative initiatives, businesses, and projects.
For more information and registration, see www.soilsistershub.org.
