Category: Local Focus
When to Plant Seeds Indoors with North Circle Seeds
Anyone else dreaming of warmer days and springtime gardening? It may not feel like it today, but spring will be here before we know it. That’s why now is the perfect time to plan your garden and pick up some local organic seeds at the co-op — you’ll need to start some of them indoors … Continued
Original Local Food with Chef Austin Bartold
The Twin Cities food scene is vibrant and storied — a showcase of diverse traditions and food ways, as well as tasty local ingredients. Chef Austin Bartold brings his care for community and respect for the food system to every dish he creates. He highlights local ingredients at their peak season in a way that … Continued
Meet Doubting Thomas Farms
Before noon, organic farmer Noreen Thomas meets with a local baker, helps harvest oats, feeds her chickens, checks on the lion’s mane mushrooms she’s growing, assesses her organic rye field, and stops by a field of experimental flaxseed. And within that busy morning, she takes time to talk about her local organic farm, the … Continued
The Core of Local Apples
Apple season in Minnesota is the epitome of local flavor. Across the state and throughout the produce department, local apples abound. But what’s the story behind the crisp, juicy fruits we love so much? Local apple growers give us the in-cider scoop! WHISTLING WELL FARM Hastings, MN Located in the rolling hills of Washington County, … Continued
10 Easy Uses for Zucchini
Running out of ideas for how to use all that zucchini spilling from your garden or staring you down at the farmer’s market? Well, this is for you! Don’t resort to your same old recipes: Here are 10 easy uses for zucchini to try this season. 1. Roast them in wedges Zucchini can function as … Continued
Lakewinds Shoppers Give Back: Small Donations, Big Change
“Would you like to round up today?” You’ve probably heard it when shopping at the co-op, but what effect do your donations of a few cents at a time really have? The truth is those small repeated acts of generosity have added up to more good than you may realize. Over the years, our Community … Continued
Low Cook and No Cook Dinner Ideas
As life returns to normal, many of us have schedules that are filling up, too. When you’re juggling kids’ sports activities, volunteer commitments, or are just working late, it’s helpful to know easy meals that you can throw together fast. Here are quick, easy, low cook and no cook dinner ideas to help make busy … Continued
More Than Ever, Where Our Food Comes From Matters
When the COVID-19 pandemic was in full force last summer, it created unexpected challenges across the economy, but especially for local food growers and makers. They faced reduced markets as a result of restaurants, schools, corporate campuses, and other buyers being closed. That’s why Lakewinds joined other food-minded organizations and created “Local Food is Essential,” … Continued
Sowing a Sustainable Future
A Check-in with the 2020 Lakewinds Organic Field Fund Recipients The Lakewinds Organic Field Fund (LOFF) is our co-op’s grant program designed to help local sustainable and organic farmers achieve their on-farm goals – with over $500,000 awarded since 2011. In 2020 alone, Lakewinds provided more than $109,000 in LOFF grants to 15 … Continued