Grass Farming in the Root River Valley.

Wherever I go, the Root River watershed of southeastern Minnesota is "home." Flowing roughly west to east, it meets the Upper Mississippi River Valley National Wildlife and Fish Refuge between the toe of Minnesota and the western belly of Wisconsin. The watershed drains the fertile bottom land and driftless ridgelines of five Minnesota counties and just a sliver of northeastern Iowa, in Winneshiek County.

The Land Stewardship Project is one group working to support a balance of sustainable agriculture and community development in the Root River watershed. By partnering with "some of the watershed’s critical thinkers and doers," the Land Stewardship Project is bringing theory to the table of practice of grass farming. At "the kitchen tables of watershed farmers," Stewardship planners seek to find out what is needed to bring more people into the world of grass farming and help make it happen.

Asking area farmers for "a kitchen table to share" by hosting a gathering of neighbors in order to discuss farming "for the birds, for the stream, for your own improved profitability" is an effort in place-making, grassroots community-building, and better communication among those who care about the land but may disagree about its best uses.