By Steve McCarthy, LENA Treasurer with Joyce Phillips contributing

How can you gain the holiday spirit and buy (neighborhood) local?  A visit to Dean Mueller's place on Maher Avenue for your Christmas tree will help.  Dean has sold Christmas trees, from his front yard, since 1987.  Right here in the middle of Lake Edge neighborhood.  These are trees he grows on the family tree farm, in Adams county. 

You walk up his driveway to look through the available trees.  He typically offers white pine, balsam, and Frasers fir trees, with heights varying from about 5' to 9'.  This year he added concolor firs, for people looking for a tree with needles between the long needle white pine and a shorter needle tree.  Most of the time, Dean will meet you right away.  If he is not there, look around, pick a tree, and use the "honor system".  Very neighborly!

Many of the customers are neighborhood regulars.  You may be one of them.  Some people walk over, and carry the tree home.  Others bring a cart for a slightly longer haul.  Most will tie it to the car.  People have been known to come from far off Verona, just to buy from Dean - and to visit. 

Selecting a tree is only part of buying a tree from Dean.  A conversation is often a part of the holiday routine.  With Dean, this could be a time to catch up.  And since many are from the neighborhood, it is another change to visit with your neighbors.  Friends come from when Dean taught at Lafollette High School for six years, and then as an unemployment compensation adjudicator for the state.  You have to be ready to buy Dean's trees.  The neighborhood Christmas spirit is strong.  You cannot buy them before Thanksgiving, and you can't wait until Christmas.  Here it is a week before the holiday, and Dean already has a sign up: "Sorry, Sold Out, Merry Xmas - Dean"

By Amy Barrilleaux, Madison Water Utility

Madison Water Utility is looking for neighborhood input as it embarks on a unique educational campaign aimed at showcasing the latest in home water efficiency and innovation. The Water House Project will be a demonstration home on display to the public that features water and energy efficient fixtures, building systems and landscaping.
 
Location:
 
The water utility currently owns a large lot at 4724 Spaanem Ave., which is the site of a municipal well facility and 3-million gallon reservoir. Part of the property will be subdivided into three residential lots, and the utility will be responsible for all improvements necessary for their development. The demonstration home and two remaining residential lots will ultimately be sold to recover costs after a period of public education. Madison Water Utility hopes to begin construction of the home in the spring or summer of 2018.
 
Input from LENA
 
The Water House Project will be designed and built with neighbors, students, educators and the Madison community in mind, so public input is critical. Interested in following the project and providing feedback? Head to the Water House Project web page to learn more and sign up for the project email list.

By Pastor Lex Liberatore, Lake Edge UCC and LENA member

Last month a new neighborhood effort was announced to support our most vulnerable students and families at Frank Allis Elementary School. A joint effort will provide non-perishable food to up to 60 students each weekend (more by Fall). The first scheduled delivery is Friday, January 27. This program, led by Lake Edge United Church of Christ (4200 Buckeye Road), Zion Lutheran Church (Atwood Ave @ Linden Ave) and Frank Allis School Administration, will help some 60 students each week.
 
More than just food security, we want to build community. Beginning in March, a monthly First Friday meal will be offered without cost (a free will offering will be taken). First Fridays support our neighbors, and we mean anybody. Anyone in our school community and neighborhood, whether your budget is tight or not, can come and enjoy a hot meal and time together. First Fridays will give parents a break, give children a chance to run around and have fun, help us pack the next weeks food bags, and most important, give all of us time to talk. If our neighborhood can better understand each other, we can create a real sense of hope and connection. To find out more about First Fridays or the backpack program, or to find out how you can help out, contact Pastor Lex Liberatore, 608-222-8668 or email at pastor@lakeedge.org. The First Fridays program will officially begin Friday, March 3 at 5:00pm at Lake Edge church, across from Frank Allis Elementary School.

By Stacey Fiener, Owner/Farmer of My Fine Homestead

The tasks vary from farm to farm however these are our daily and weekly tasks at our farm, My Fine Homestead.

• Bill waters the vegetables started in flats daily. 
• We feed and water the chickens, turkeys, ducks, rabbits, goats, horses, and cows – our menagerie - each day. I milk the cow in the mornings, and someone (often Aidan) gets eggs. Sometimes these chores spill over into the afternoon even though we try to have them done by mid-morning.
• Afternoons are usually filled with field work, repairing fences, or maintaining/fixing equipment.  
• And, with a little luck, Bill or Liam mows the lawn each week.

Included in this category is harvest. Each week we spend two days, Tuesdays and Fridays, harvesting produce from the fields for members and market. The number of boxes changes from week to week because shares are every other week.  Tuesday is a bigger day with at least 50 boxes to fill.  There are less on Fridays (local pickups) at the farmers market. 

Harvest days are long days, but fun because harvest is the culmination of growing produce. It is also a day to look forward to because others arrive to help us. There is a spirit of cooperation and camaraderie that makes the work go quickly.  We spend the morning and afternoon picking, pulling, digging, cutting, and collecting vegetables.  As we harvest, we cover the crates with thin, wet white flour sack towels to protect produce from the heat until it is delivered to the pack shed.  Once there, it is soaked to remove the heat from the field, rinsed, bagged (if necessary), and stored in the walk-in cooler.

After that is done for all the crops harvested that day, I print labels.  Bill, and whoever is helping, counts out and assembles boxes. Next, labels are taped to the appropriate size box. Then the fun begins, the washed and cooled produce is brought back out of the cooler to be distributed. This is when we find out how well we did counting items in the field. If we’ve done a good job, we have the correct number. If not, someone hustles to the field to get more amid good-natured calls of, “It wasn’t me that messed up!”, or “I got all mine!” Then with all the produce accounted for, boxes are closed up and sorted in stacks according to their delivery location.  We load the boxes in the cooler – first delivered are first in so they are the last loaded into the van the next morning. 

All that is left is to shut the lights off in the pack shed. Harvest day is done.
Wednesday is delivery day the various pick up sites.  I get up early to put the weekly newsletter together. I try to get most of it done pre-dawn before I’m distracted by the rest of my family as they get up for the day.

I list the box contents, any announcements, add a recipe or two, and write this part – what has been happening on the farm. This section gives you a window into the work we do. My goal is to connect you to us, your farmers, our practices, and ultimately to your food.  After the newsletter is sent out, we load the van. Bill and Liam line the back of the van with a combination of styrofoam insulation and bubble-wrap to keep the produce cool. We load the boxes, and after a final check with the kids, we’re off! (Saturdays are similar except the newsletter is done already, and we deliver to only one stop – the Spring Green Farmers Market.)

By evening the boxes will be in your hands, and we will be on our way home. Tired but satisfied. Harvest and delivery days are busy yet rewarding. 

by Angela Jenkins, LENA President

A few months ago, I had this idea, an idea that was stewing and is now becoming a reality! My family and I are CSA members for the past few years through my work in what is called a workplace CSA. We have always been interested in the concept but never had the guts to pull the trigger until the second season it was offered. This was largely due to a dear co-worker who graciously offered her produce with me throughout that season. She was either going to be out of town or there were simply too much for her and her roommate to consume. It was rather strange but each week, I brought home a large bag filled with fresh, organic vegetables which we enjoyed. Then my co-worker asked if we would be interested in splitting a share for the next season. I hadn't thought about it but after some discussions with the family, we've decided to go for it. It is then I learned about the healthcare rebate from our health insurance which saved us some money. The farm had other offerings (e.g. organic free-range eggs) in addition to produce which I took advantage. Before long, we were accustomed to the process and routine; box of fresh, in-season, organic produce delivered once weekly with our fresh eggs. Prior to this, I've never been a meal planner but inevitably, I had to modify my cooking behavior in order to consume the fresh veggies we receive on a weekly basis. It was a challenge initially but it didn't take long before we got used to the new routine. You see, the farm publishes weekly newsletter to its members with information around the farm and of course, the vegetables for the week. This way, you know what you'll be receiving and can plan accordingly. It became a routine where we look forward to the newsletter weekly and plan meals for the upcoming week. I loved it! I mean, it was great! Other than the occasional item here and there, we've eliminated vegetables from our grocery list. How great is that?! I think it is.

Then I had this idea. What if we start a public CSA site right here in the neighborhood?! Wouldn't that be great? To be able to share the same experience we had with friends and neighbors? I brought this up casually with a few neighbors and surprisingly, the reactions were overwhelmingly positive. I've never organized something like this before and I didn't know where to begin but I mustered up the courage to contact the FairShare CSA Coalition office. We invited the Executive Director, Erika Jones to share information about CSA and FairShare to one of the LENA meetings. She helped us create a survey to gather interest in the neighborhood with the premise that if there is enough interest, we would pursue the opportunity. Well, you've spoken and here we are.


Based on the survey results and with help from our friends at the FairShare, we've identified a farm that meets our needs; My Fine Homestead, located just west of Muscoda in Blue River. I've had the opportunity to meet the farmers, Stacey Fiener and Bill Meyer last week. They were kind enough to come to meet me at the Monona Community Center where my 4 year old had her final ballet class. Both Stacey and Bill are equally as excited as I am in building this relationship. Here are some of the details discussed:

• Sign up information
  • Stacey planned to have the sign up for the upcoming season online by January 1
  • There will be an early-bird discount (5%) if signed up by January 31
• Pick up information
  • Every Wednesdays
  • Between 2:30 and 6PM*
  • At the Lake Edge UCC (4200 Buckeye Road) - more information to come
• Other details
  • Boxes will be labeled with name and type of share
  • Begin as early as spring (end of March or early April) or summer (in June)
  • Complete the survey to be included in future communications
    
  • Check out the website or Facebook page to learn more about the farm
    

Questions? Do not hesitate to reach out to Stacey directly via email at stacey@myfinehomestead.com.

*notification can be sent via text or email (please specify)

Thank you Carrie and Erika at FairShare for your assistance and Pastor Lex at the Lake Edge UCC for agreeing to let us use the facility as a pick up location. There is a secondary goal and I have ideas in how we may contribute to the Allis nutrition program. More information to come on that. Until then, please feel free to spread the word and I can't wait for the upcoming season to begin!

Q. Tell me about FairShare CSA Coalition
A. FairShare CSA Coalition aim to support and connect CSA farmers to us (CSA members).

Q. Are all CSA farmers FairShare members?
A. No. The FairShare farmers have been through a peer-reviewed application and interview process to ensure their ability to provide the highest quality foods and customer service. The farms must be certified organic or are practicing organic farming techniques (i.e. in transition to be certified).

Q. What financial assistance are available?
A. All FairShare farms participates in the financial assistance in addition to health care plan reimbursements (limited to produce and fruit only). Eligible households may apply for assistance via the Partner Share Program from FairShare.

Q. How does the healthcare reimbursement work?
A. Learn more about this on the FairShare website: Health Insurance Rebate.**

Q. What types of shares are available and how much?
A. Depends on the farms however My Fine Homestead offers many options year-round. Check out their website for information.

Q. Is this only available to Lake Edge neighbors?
A. No - this is open for all who wish to support local farms and in having fresh, seasonal farm products delivered weekly.

Q. I have an extensive garden during the growing season. What options are available to me?
A. The farm offers spring and winter shares along with other goodies such as meat, eggs, and sweet shares.

Resources:

FairShare CSA Coalition: http://www.csacoalition.org/

**Contact Carrie Sedlak at carrie@csacoalition.org or Erika Jones at erika@csacoalition.org for questions re: Heatlh Insurance Rebates