Are you in Fargo/Moorhead/West Fargo and want to learn more about the people, places and things within your community? This weekly newsletter is for you!
Meadowlark Informer - Issue 04
|
Happy Memorial Day! It's a beautiful, warm day - perfect for coming together with our friends, family and community to celebrate the lives of those that made the ultimate sacrifice. For all those that have served or are actively serving our country, thank you for your service. To the families that have lost a loved one in service to our country, we appreciate you and your sacrifice more than words could ever express. I hope you all enjoy the highlights in today's issue of Meadowlark Informer. ❤️ Community SpotlightIf I've said it once, I'll say it a thousand times - food is the experience that binds us as a family, as a community, as a society. There is nothing that feels more genuine in care than feeding the people around you or helping them feed themselves. For Jack Wood and his team of over 350 volunteers, including their very own "Bob-the-Builder" that can build just about anything, this is a guiding principle for their efforts. Their story starts in 2005 with one Nola Storm. Nola was the English Language Learner (ELL) social worker for Fargo Public Schools and Adult Learning Center, which exposed her to the stories of many New American families - all of which centered around the hardship of moving from their homes and finding community. Wanting to find a way to help them, she approached her church ministry at Olivet Lutheran Church (boy, they sure are popular around these parts) to ask about starting a community garden. They found this to be a great idea. . . except, who had the prowess to build and sustain a gardening project of that magnitude? Cue Jack! It was 10:30 pm when he received an excited phone call from Nola to rally his support for this new idea. Jack wasn't just on board, he was excited, so, together, he and Nola approached the New American families to gauge their interest in working together on a Community Garden, which was met with equal excitement! In Spring of 2006, armed with Jack's prowess and their endless enthusiasm, he, Nora, a handful of their congregation, and eight New American families started their first garden. The plot was 100 ft x 100 ft, located on the corner of 17th Ave. S. and 25th St. S. in Fargo. They divided it into twenty-five 20 ft x 20 ft plots. The interior eight plots were reserved for their New American friends and the rest were communal. Despite the common gardening challenges, like heavy winds, May rains and endless weeding, they have managed to streamline their process and maximize their yield using techniques like dedicated work groups, succession planting, companion planting, wide-row planting, and many others. This has made it possible for them to expand to include 9 additional locations and a greenhouse where they start their plants for the coming season. Their most recent location opened this year at Concordia College. Each garden has an assigned group of volunteers with a set schedule for garden maintenance. These groups become like a family and often extend past the gardens into real life application, like learning to prep and preserve foods. They also dedicate their time to additional initiatives, such as prepping meals at New Life Center, serving meals at the Salvation Army and assisting with organization at the Emergency Food Pantry. Their programming has expanded to include The Tomato Seed Saver's Club, which has saved 350 varieties of heirloom tomatoes, The Flower & Herb Collective, the Peppers for Pantry, which includes 9 varieties of peppers, two annual Cultural Potlucks that showcase two different cultures at each event, and their Growing Together's Farmers Market hosted in the parking lot of Gethsemane Episcopal Cathedral, which is open in August to October on Tuesdays from 1 pm - 5pm. Today, New American families make up approximately 25% of their gardener volunteers. Across their 10 locations they produce upwards of 65,000 lbs. of produce. Last year, 9,000 lbs. was donated to local food pantries and programs, while the rest was divided between full-time members. Their pantry partners include but are not limited to, FM Emergency Food Pantry, Dorothy Day, Fargo / Cass Public Health, Jasmine Day Care, Valley Senior Services, The Arbors at McCormick, Micah's Mission, Heart-N-Soul Cafe, and Concordia Food Pantry. If you're interested in volunteering, you can find out more Here. For questions or more information you can visit their website https://www.growingtogetherfm.org/ or email Jack at Artist of the WeekThis week's artist is Dani Verhey, tattoo artist and owner of Devil's Workshop Tattoos. To some, the name may feel beyond the pale, but it's actually the second half of an adage, "Idle hands is the Devil's Workshop," meaning those that have nothing productive to occupy their time tend to find themselves engaging in unproductive behaviors. This is exactly where Dani found themself after being laid off from the Forum, where they worked as a page designer, and losing their job at Golden Needle Tattoo Parlor, previously located in Moorhead, when the owner decided to move to Arizona. Having previously filled their days with art and design for a purpose, they found themself with idle hands, which, for an artist, can be a bit itchy. Looking for a new way to spend her days, they took their existing experience as a tattoo artist and decided to start their own shop and pursue a path in illustration. To Dani, art is a method of testing boundaries and pushing the limits of the status quo, which translates in their personal art style. This is especially seen in their children's book, Hamster Mortis, which, through poetry and macabre art, explains the 5 stages of decomposition in a child-friendly way. Written for children ages 12 and up, their book was inspired by their experience in going to work with their mother, who's a pathologist, and the lack of material that explains to children the concept of death and the life cycle in a way that's scientific and accurate. Their illustrative style, which can be described as morbid, seems in direct opposition with their preferred tattoo art - color realistic florals and other natural elements. However, a theme can be found across their illustrative and preferred tattoo styles, and that is natural processes and realism. Their joy in tattooing natural elements comes from the similarities in imperfections that you find in those elements and on a person's body. It makes the art feel more authentic and alive. While these are their preferred art styles, they also design personal pieces for clientele based on their preferences and requests. If you're interested in booking with them, you can call or text (701) 340-5639 or email danitats90@gmail.com. You can also find an artistic reading of their book Here. Business SpotlightSome of you may be familiar with the Namaste Chai truck that carries objectively the best Chai in town. If you haven't, you're missing out on an excellent, authentic experience! After losing her job during the COVID era staff cuts, Rani wasn't only looking for something to do - she was looking for the comfort only a fresh Chai could bring - something that was found at tea stalls all over the area she had grown up. That's when inspiration struck (excellent news, for all of us, really). You see, Rani had always wanted to own a cafe, someplace where people gather and relax. However, times being what they were, that wasn't something that was feasible. . . but a food truck was. In an added benefit it more closely resembled the home experience she had been longing for. So, in 2021, she partnered with her father, lovingly referred to as Papa Chai, who had also lost his job during COVID, and started Namaste Chai. It is rare, if not unlikely, that many of us have had the opportunity to try chai as authentic as you find at Namaste Chai, and that's because their recipes come from Rani's grandmother and are made fresh. Each drink also contains a secret ingredient that was imparted to me and that I will share with you now: LOVE! All of her drinks, from the Chai to the Lassi, are made with love and served with a smile and great, personalized conversation. Rani has the gift of connection and she remembers just about every customer along with their regular order, likes, allergies and ailments. Just in the half hour that I stood at her food truck to discuss her business, six customers pulled up and she knew every single one by name and what they wanted. The customer service doesn't stop their either. In a particular instance, a customer that lives with Type 1 Diabetes had pulled up to find that Rani had ordered them new, seasonal flavors of sugar-free syrups that she thought they would like based on what they normally order. This is because the thing Rani enjoys most about running her food trucks is the community connection. If you're looking for that connection over a delicious cup of Chai, you can find it with Rani and Papa Chai at Namaste Chai! You can find their schedule and menu on their Website. Recipe of the WeekThis week's recipe for Taco Dip was submitted by a reader that asked to remain anonymous. Henceforth, it shall be called the Top Secret Taco Dip. I suspect it's because it closely resembles a taco dip from one very popular grocery store chain that may or may not be upsetting a part of their customer base through the closure of a historic store. I hope you enjoy! Ingredients
Directions
Did you know?Dairy Queen's most iconic treat, the Dilly Bar, was created in the Moorhead, MN Dairy Queen historic location?? That's right! The Dilly Bar was founded right here in the F/M/WF area! Sources:
Out on the TownIf you're looking to fly the nest, here are some fun things to do. . .
|
Meadowlark Informer
Are you in Fargo/Moorhead/West Fargo and want to learn more about the people, places and things within your community? This weekly newsletter is for you!
Sorry for the late Issue - I have been a little under the weather. Nevertheless, some interesting tidbits and stories from our community have been compiled for your benefit and reading pleasure. I hope you enjoy! Artist & Community Spotlight This week's artist, Mike Benson, is also our Community Spotlight! Mike Benson next to a wall of his art, including depictions of BernBaum's, Olivet Lutheran Christmas Service, Maplewood State Park Candlelight Trek, and a meetup at Cornfield Cafe in...
Not too long ago, I came across this saying: "If you want to be a part of the village, you have to be a villager." My first thought was, whoever said this hit the nail on the head. My second thought was, but wait - what constitutes a village? Is it your family? Your neighborhood? Your job? The various groups you identify with? Your city? Your STATE????? After some consideration, I came to the conclusion that the answer is, Yes. With that being said, however, I found myself asking, how does...
Today we are covering a vast array of local community members and their endeavors. From supporting our Ukrainian guests fleeing from a warzone, art that gives new life to animals who have passed, and Fargo's newest bakery - all the bases are covered with this one. I hope you enjoy! Community Spotlight Michael Southam Michael Southam retired in Chicago during the pandemic. His life was relatively quiet until his parents began requiring more care in 2022. Since he was retired, it made sense...