MONROE - For three days, with five unique components and involving more than 20 farms, the Soil Sisters culinary event will celebrate Wisconsin's family farms and rural life in and around the farming communities of Monroe, Brodhead, New Glarus, Brooklyn and Blanchardville from Aug. 4 to 6.
The Soil Sisters weekend celebrates women farmers today, pioneering new approaches to family farm businesses while honoring Wisconsin's agricultural roots.
This annual event, now in its sixth year, is the largest women farmer-led tour event in the country; it falls during "Wisconsin Women in Sustainable and Organic Agriculture Week" from July 31 through Aug. 6, an official proclamation by Gov. Scott Walker made to showcase the growth and impact of this movement in Wisconsin. According to a news release, women represent about 11 percent of primary operators on all farms in Wisconsin, a higher number than neighboring Midwest states. Wisconsin has 1,180 organic farms, second in the country to California.
Soil Sisters offers an immersive farming and culinary experience, led by Wisconsin women, the "soil sisters." They're committed to growing healthy, fresh produce, raising animals for meats, dairy or fiber, hand-crafting artisanal food products or making other items on the farm, according to the release.
Soil Sisters highlights a cross-section of women farmers, representing one of the fastest growing groups of new growers prioritizing small-scale, diversified, community-focused agriculture.
From heirloom tomatoes to pickles, sheep to solar energy, farm-stay bed and breakfasts to beef, the farmers and artisan food producers share a unique diversity of farm experiences showcasing the summer's bounty. Choose from a variety of activities, including a Farm to Table Dinner at Dorothy's Range, Taste of Place culinary event at Cow & Quince, a Pizza on the Farm fundraiser held at Inn Serendipity and plentiful on-farm workshops, plus area restaurants featuring specials throughout the weekend. For the on-farm workshops, participants can preserve the harvest, make some cheese, paint some barn board art or just relax on a tree swing.
The Soil Sisters weekend celebration includes:
Green Acres: In Her Boots is a day-long, hands-on program for aspiring women farmers, facilitated by the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 4. This is a ticketed event.
Taste of Place at Cow & Quince Restaurant: Kick-off the weekend from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 4 at this local food celebration. This is a ticketed event.
Green Acres Workshops: On-farm, hands-on fun and educational workshops will be offered Aug. 4-6 at various times and locations. This is a ticketed event.
Farm to Table Dinner: This is a sit-down dinner from 4 to 9 p.m. Aug. 5. hosted by Dorothy's Range, featuring heritage pork. April Prusia is the co-owner of Dorothy's Range and host of the Farm to Table Dinner, set amidst 50 acres of restored prairie, pasture and oak savanna. The dinner will feature unique heritage pork no longer commercially available: a one-of-a kind tasting full of flavor and history. This is a ticketed event that costs $75 per adult.
Pizza on the Farm: This is a fundraising event hosted by Inn Serendipity, featuring made-to-order personal pizzas with local, award-winning Emmi Roth cheeses and root beer floats from 5 to 9 p.m. Aug. 5. This is a ticketed event that costs $35 per adult, $10 per child ages 2 to 12 and free for children under 2.
Tour of Farms: Farm stands will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 6 at numerous farms, sharing eggs, fresh produce, cut flowers and hand-crafted items. Tours will be given throughout the day, with some farms offering special demonstrations or activities. This is a free event.
Dine Fine: Numerous participating restaurants will be featuring menu specials Aug. 4-6. Specials will vary by participating restaurants.
For more information, visit www.soilsisterswi.org or call Lisa Kivirist at 608-329-7056. Soil Sisters is made possible by the Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation, Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service and Renewing the Countryside. Additional sponsors or media partners include Edible Madison, Green County Tourism, Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Emmi Roth USA.
The Soil Sisters weekend celebrates women farmers today, pioneering new approaches to family farm businesses while honoring Wisconsin's agricultural roots.
This annual event, now in its sixth year, is the largest women farmer-led tour event in the country; it falls during "Wisconsin Women in Sustainable and Organic Agriculture Week" from July 31 through Aug. 6, an official proclamation by Gov. Scott Walker made to showcase the growth and impact of this movement in Wisconsin. According to a news release, women represent about 11 percent of primary operators on all farms in Wisconsin, a higher number than neighboring Midwest states. Wisconsin has 1,180 organic farms, second in the country to California.
Soil Sisters offers an immersive farming and culinary experience, led by Wisconsin women, the "soil sisters." They're committed to growing healthy, fresh produce, raising animals for meats, dairy or fiber, hand-crafting artisanal food products or making other items on the farm, according to the release.
Soil Sisters highlights a cross-section of women farmers, representing one of the fastest growing groups of new growers prioritizing small-scale, diversified, community-focused agriculture.
From heirloom tomatoes to pickles, sheep to solar energy, farm-stay bed and breakfasts to beef, the farmers and artisan food producers share a unique diversity of farm experiences showcasing the summer's bounty. Choose from a variety of activities, including a Farm to Table Dinner at Dorothy's Range, Taste of Place culinary event at Cow & Quince, a Pizza on the Farm fundraiser held at Inn Serendipity and plentiful on-farm workshops, plus area restaurants featuring specials throughout the weekend. For the on-farm workshops, participants can preserve the harvest, make some cheese, paint some barn board art or just relax on a tree swing.
The Soil Sisters weekend celebration includes:
Green Acres: In Her Boots is a day-long, hands-on program for aspiring women farmers, facilitated by the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 4. This is a ticketed event.
Taste of Place at Cow & Quince Restaurant: Kick-off the weekend from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 4 at this local food celebration. This is a ticketed event.
Green Acres Workshops: On-farm, hands-on fun and educational workshops will be offered Aug. 4-6 at various times and locations. This is a ticketed event.
Farm to Table Dinner: This is a sit-down dinner from 4 to 9 p.m. Aug. 5. hosted by Dorothy's Range, featuring heritage pork. April Prusia is the co-owner of Dorothy's Range and host of the Farm to Table Dinner, set amidst 50 acres of restored prairie, pasture and oak savanna. The dinner will feature unique heritage pork no longer commercially available: a one-of-a kind tasting full of flavor and history. This is a ticketed event that costs $75 per adult.
Pizza on the Farm: This is a fundraising event hosted by Inn Serendipity, featuring made-to-order personal pizzas with local, award-winning Emmi Roth cheeses and root beer floats from 5 to 9 p.m. Aug. 5. This is a ticketed event that costs $35 per adult, $10 per child ages 2 to 12 and free for children under 2.
Tour of Farms: Farm stands will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 6 at numerous farms, sharing eggs, fresh produce, cut flowers and hand-crafted items. Tours will be given throughout the day, with some farms offering special demonstrations or activities. This is a free event.
Dine Fine: Numerous participating restaurants will be featuring menu specials Aug. 4-6. Specials will vary by participating restaurants.
For more information, visit www.soilsisterswi.org or call Lisa Kivirist at 608-329-7056. Soil Sisters is made possible by the Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation, Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service and Renewing the Countryside. Additional sponsors or media partners include Edible Madison, Green County Tourism, Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Emmi Roth USA.