Local Sustainability Efforts | The Empty Nesters Kitchen

“If you just think exclusively about what would be the best tasting or most profitable, you’re just not seeing the big picture”

~ Dan Barber

Sustainability. What does it mean? And why is it so important?

You will get a multitude of answers to the above questions depending on who you ask. It can vary based on a myriad of factors including the environmental, social and economic conditions in a given region.

The EPA’s formal definition of sustainability is:

“The idea of sustainability—commonly defined as the ability to maintain or improve standards of living without damaging or depleting natural resources for present and future generations—was ingrained as a foundation of environmental law with the signing of the 1969 National Environmental Policy Act.Jun 26, 2018″ ~ United States Environmental Protection Agency

What I know for certain is that instituting sustainable living habits into our daily lives is crucial to our future, and we need to work together to achieve long-term sustainability.

Continue reading The Farm To Fork Project: How We Can Work Together To Achieve Sustainability →

“If you ate today, thank a farmer”

~Author Unknown

I believe that getting to know the farmers who supply our food is imperative. It heightens our respect for the dedication and hard work that they put into what we consume. These interactions make the ingredients on our plates even more meaningful.

Two weeks ago I visited the 155 acre Hmong American Farmers Association Farm (HAFA) in Vermillion Township. This is an area that is heavily rooted in agriculture. The farm is located approximately 15 minutes south of St. Paul.

I learned of HAFA and the variety of programs they have been implementing while listening to Pakou Hang (Co-Founder and Executive Director of HAFA) speak on the panel at a Future of Food Tour event. This was hosted by Kerry Diamond, Editorial Director of Cherry Bombe. The event was held at the Lynhall in June and was part of their ongoing Wisdom Series. Shortly after the event I reached out to Pakou to hear more about the organization. Following our discussion I expressed interest in visiting the HAFA Farm.

Continue reading HAFA Farm Tour: Part 1 in a 2 part series →