The Gathering: Coming Together Around Local Food - CANCELED

The Gathering: Coming Together Around Local Food – CANCELED

EVENT UPDATE: “The Gathering: Coming Together Around Local Food” scheduled for this Saturday, March 14th in Mason City has been cancelled, due to growing concerns around the COVID-19 virus. The safety of attendees, vendors, volunteers and the general public must come first. We do not take this decision lightly. In this challenging time, we follow the guidance and policies as established by community and public health officials. Due to the number of expected attendees, the inability to maintain the recommended six foot space between guests, and the lack of prevention supplies available locally, we ultimately feel it is in the public’s best interest to cancel this event. Please click here for the full announcement.

The Gathering: Coming Together Around Local Food is an interactive gathering that inspires and promotes a deeper understanding of how to engage in the local food system.

We are excited to work with Ag Ventures, ISU Extension & Outreach, North Iowa Corridor and local farmers to host the 2020 Gathering – Coming Together Around Local Food. Come explore all of the exciting activities, including:

The Market Place – Meet local food and farm businesses. Samples and product for sale.
Mini Workshops – Expand your knowledge of buying, using, and growing local food.
Kid’s Edition – Hands-on, educational activities will be available.

Event Details

MARKET PLACE BUSINESS VENDORS AND RESOURCE PARTNER VENDORS

Albert Lea Seed, Apples on the Avenue, Blossom St Honey, Cerro Gordo County ISU Extension, Eagle Lake Gardens, Elderbridge Agency on Aging, Finer Honey Farms, Farmers Markets of North Iowa, Grand View Beef, Hazel Acres, Healthy Harvest of North Iowa, Honey and Ewe Farm, Iowa Farmers Union, Limestone Brewers, Mossycup Farms, Netzro SBC, North Iowa Fresh, LLC, Practical Farmers of Iowa, Purple Ribbon Beef, Red Rooster Ranch, Red Shed Gardens, Ruth Willier’s Home Baked, Sustainable Iowa Land Trust – SILT, The Thomas Farmstead, Twisted River Farm, and Wings & Things. Concessions from Cedar Valley Ex-Press will be available on-site!

In light of the cancelation, we very much encourage you to consider reaching out to these businesses to make your purchases directly – remember to support our small, local businesses during this trying time.

MINI WORKSHOPS
Expand your knowledge of buying, using, and growing local food by attending one (or more!) of our 20-minute mini-workshop sessions. These sessions will be hosted by various partner organizations and businesses from throughout North Iowa. If you’re interested in hosting a workshop, let us know!

2020 Mini-Workshop Schedule:

Note: due to the cancelation of the event, we will be adding videos of the presentations, as we are able.

Mini-Workshop Recordings

9:00 – 9:20am: “Stop – Don’t Pull the Weed!” with Journey Health Shop
9:30 – 9:50am: Demonstration on Brewing Beer with Limestone Brewers
10:00 – 10:20am: Protecting Iowa Land for Healthy Food Farming with Sustainable Iowa Land Trust – SILT
10:30- 10:50am: How to Buy Local Meat with Lewrights Meats and Purple Ribbon Beef
11:00 – 11:20am: “What is a CSA?” with North Iowa Fresh, LLC and Bode Farm
11:30 – 11:50am: “Too Good To Waste” with Net ZRO Renewable Energy
12:00 – 12:20pm: “Cover Crops” with Albert Lea Seed
12:30 – 1:00pm: “How to Become a Farmer 101” Panel