Marbleseed

Marbleseed Farmer-led. Rooted in organic. Growing the organic and sustainable farming movement in the Midwest.
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Building Collaborative Capacity: Farming stronger by working togetherBuilding Collaborative Capacity is an event for far...
09/01/2026

Building Collaborative Capacity: Farming stronger by working together

Building Collaborative Capacity is an event for farmers and farm-adjacent professionals that are interested in collaboration. Hear from multiple projects across SE Wisconsin that are finding ways to collaborate and work together — extending their reach, increasing capacity, and reducing isolation.

We’ll hear from:

• SE Wisconsin Farmers Market Cooperative, a project to combine multiple farms under one booth

• Fondy Farm, a 20-farm incubator farm focused on collaboration

• Prairie Gold Foundation which is working to get food from local ecological farms to Food Banks such as Hunger Task Force

• Hunger Task Force Farm on how they manage large crews such as the volunteers that assist on the farm.

Whether you are a farmer looking to collaborate or an individual interested in supporting local food systems, this event is for you! We hope this is an opportunity to learn from those who are already building networks and to find potential collaborators.

Learn more & register → https://marbleseed.org/events/field-days

Earlier this week, Marbleseed gathered beginning and aspiring farmers at Daisy Garton Community Farm in Bloomington, Ind...
08/27/2026

Earlier this week, Marbleseed gathered beginning and aspiring farmers at Daisy Garton Community Farm in Bloomington, Indiana, for the Sobremesa Farmer Advancement Training.

Participants explored how to assess and manage farm resources, set realistic goals, evaluate market opportunities, and develop farm business plans that aligned with their values and available resources. Through presentations, discussion, and hands-on exercises, attendees learned tools for improving profitability, managing risk, and making informed decisions about land, labor, equipment, and finances.

The training featured Indiana agricultural and business professionals, including:

• Martha Miller of the Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation District
• Grant Sherfick of the Indiana Small Business Development Center
• Nathan Shoaf and Rebecca Koetz of Purdue Extension.

Presenters shared conservation resources, business development guidance, and agricultural expertise to help farmers develop and strengthen their farm enterprises.

Special thanks to Sobremesa Foundation for organizing and hosting the event, and to sponsors and supporters: George Bridge Landscape Design, Midwest Farmers of Color Collective, Raymond James, KOFI (Kentucky Organic Farm and Feed), Purdue University, Sobremesa Farm Organics, and Taste of India. Their support helped make this valuable training opportunity possible for beginning farmers.

This program is supported by the USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (Award No. 2020-49400-32787).



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Farmers were never meant to work in isolation.Building Collaborative Capacity is an event for those interested in workin...
08/27/2026

Farmers were never meant to work in isolation.

Building Collaborative Capacity is an event for those interested in working together to strengthen our food system, build resilient farms, and share resources amongst one another. Hear from multiple projects across SE Wisconsin that are finding ways to collaborate to extend their reach, increase capacity, and reduce isolation.

We’ll hear from:

• SE Wisconsin Farmers Market Cooperative, a project to combine multiple farms under one booth

• Fondy Farm, a 20-farm incubator farm focused on collaboration

• Prairie Gold Foundation which is working to get food from local ecological farms to Food Banks such as Hunger Task Force

• Hunger Task Force Farm on how they manage large crews such as the volunteers that assist on the farm.

Whether you are a farmer looking to collaborate or an individual interested in supporting local food systems, this event is for you! We hope this is an opportunity to learn from those who are already building networks and to find potential collaborators.

Learn more & register → https://marbleseed.org/events/field-days

This week, Wisconsin Farmers Union President Darin Von Ruden issued a statement in response to the Trump administration’...
08/25/2026

This week, Wisconsin Farmers Union President Darin Von Ruden issued a statement in response to the Trump administration’s to allow additional ground beef imports at lower tariffs.

“Families are frustrated by high grocery prices, and farmers understand that frustration because our costs have gone up, too. But increasing beef imports sidesteps a bigger question: Why is there such a wide gap between what consumers pay for beef and what makes its way back to the farm?” he said.

These crises – caused by climate, war, corporatization, and more – are combining in ways that are difficult or impossible to untangle. Bearing the brunt of them are farmers and consumers.

As Von Ruden said in his statement, “We need solutions that lower costs for families while strengthening American agriculture. That means enforcing antitrust laws, supporting independent and regional processors, improving price transparency, and giving farmers more places to sell their livestock.”

→ Read the full story in our latest blog post:
https://marbleseed.org/news/blog/post/affecting-beef

Make a weekend of it! Come learn, connect, and celebrate with Marbleseed at Gwenyn Hill Farm on September 19 — then join...
08/20/2026

Make a weekend of it! 

Come learn, connect, and celebrate with Marbleseed at Gwenyn Hill Farm on September 19 — then join our friends at FairShare CSA Coalition for Bike the Barns on September 20.

Marbleseed in the Field | September 19
Spend the day immersed in hands-on learning at Gwenyn Hill Farm, with farmer-led workshops focused on orchard management, fruit and vegetable production, managed grazing, on-farm sales, farmer wellbeing, season extension, and more. Stick around afterward for farm tours, food trucks, live music from Beth Kille, and community connection!

Bike the Barns | September 20
A ride celebrating local farms, fresh food, and community! Travel through the scenic southern Wisconsin countryside, stopping at local farms to enjoy fresh food and beverages, live music, and connection with farmers. All proceeds support FairShare’s work to connect low-income households with fresh, locally grown food.

Two days, two great ways to get out on the land and connect with the farms that nourish our communities.

Learn more:

Bike the Barns → csacoalition.org/bike-the-barns

Marbleseed in the Field → marbleseed.org/diversified-organic-showcase

New Organic Broadcaster issue!This edition is all about farm infrastructure: from wash pack shed design and financing in...
08/18/2026

New Organic Broadcaster issue!

This edition is all about farm infrastructure: from wash pack shed design and financing infrastructure projects to a fifth-generation dairy’s ice cream journey, tool libraries, and more. Practical ideas to help your farm thrive.

Read the full issue and subscribe → https://marbleseed.org/news/organic-broadcaster

Supporting Farmland Seekers with Land AccessJoin the Farmland Access Hub for a 2-part webinar series to learn about and ...
08/18/2026

Supporting Farmland Seekers with Land Access

Join the Farmland Access Hub for a 2-part webinar series to learn about and discuss working with land seekers as they prepare to access land. This webinar is for service providers working with beginning farmers who would like to engage more with supporting the land access process. The first session will focus on supporting land seekers in the preparation phase. The second session will focus specifically on supporting land seekers with financial readiness, loan readiness, and available resources.

At each session, there will be a discussion with Farmland Access Navigators and farmers who will share case studies, their own experience, and examples of work with land seekers in the Midwest. Resources and worksheets will be shared for use in supporting farmland seekers to actively prepare for land access and develop their Farmland Access Plan. Key to each session is discussion with the group around the trends and strategies we are all seeing in our work and how we work together to create more land access opportunities for beginning farmers.

Dates, August 20th and 27th from 12:00-1:30

Presenters: Farmland Access Navigators - Laura Cullip and Katie Kubovcik,
joined by additional land access navigators and farmers.


How do we help farmers navigate change when the challenges keep getting more complex?Agriculture is navigating a virtual...
08/13/2026

How do we help farmers navigate change when the challenges keep getting more complex?

Agriculture is navigating a virtual storm of uncertainty — from weather and markets to shifting systems, expectations, and ways of thinking. For all of us to succeed, we need trust between agricultural professionals and farmers.

Join Ryan Erisman of Odyssey Collaborations (a farmer, facilitator, and ag professional) for an interactive workshop exploring what it really takes for people to truly hear one another, get beyond doubt and fear, and find the common ground needed to work together effectively.

This workshop is for agriculture and conservation professionals who work in government agencies at any level, academic researchers, and staff from nonprofits and ag businesses, as well as farmer leaders who provide technical assistance and other expertise to their farmer peers. During interactive sessions, you'll learn concepts and practices to improve your boots-on-the-ground effectiveness helping others.

Together, we’ll explore:
→ Behavioral drivers and what can resist change
→ Principles for managing uncertainty
→ The pitfalls of active listening and earning trust
→ The often-overlooked power of middle adopters
→ How to manage our own energy in this work
→ And the ever-persistent question: “How do we get farmers to do _______.”

Designed for agricultural and conservation professionals, researchers, nonprofit and ag business staff, government agency staff, and farmer leaders, this workshop offers practical concepts and plenty of opportunity to practice.

Because this work takes practice — and even if you’ve been to a workshop like this before, missing this one is like skipping the gym because you went last quarter. 😉

→ Learn more & register: https://marbleseed.salsalabs.org/workinghardground/index.html

A New Home for the Marbleseed Organic Farming ConferenceWe’re excited to announce that Marbleseed’s 38th Annual Organic ...
08/13/2026

A New Home for the Marbleseed Organic Farming Conference

We’re excited to announce that Marbleseed’s 38th Annual Organic Farming Conference is moving to a new home!

Join us February 25–27, 2027, at Lake Lawn Resort ( ) in Delavan, Wisconsin for Seeding Our Collective Future.

For nearly four decades, the Organic Farming Conference has brought farmers, educators, advocates, and allies together to learn, connect, share wisdom, and imagine what’s possible for the future of organic agriculture. In 2027, we’re creating a more intimate gathering designed to make room for deeper conversations, stronger connections, and the kind of collective thinking our movement needs right now.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our partners in La Crosse, Wisconsin, who have graciously hosted and supported this gathering over the years. Your partnership has been foundational to the growth of this community.

Our new home at Lake Lawn Resort offers a beautiful, wooded setting on the shores of Lake Delavan. This intimate venue offers plenty of natural light, wood beams, and fireplaces. It's ideal for making connections and continuing conversations that started an hour ago or a decade ago! It becomes the eighth location of the conference, which has previously been held in seven other spaces since its inception in 1990.

With its strong sustainability program that includes real serving ware for meals (no plastic or paper!), a commitment to low- or no-paper events, and a willingness to work with us on composting, Lake Lawn is aligned with our goal of reducing our environmental footprint. Also, their executive chef is excited to work with us on using locally sourced and organic ingredients!

We’re looking forward to gathering in this new space and continuing to grow this movement together.

38th Annual Marbleseed Organic Farming Conference
Seeding Our Collective Future
February 25–27, 2027
Lake Lawn Resort | Delavan, WI

Pre-conference, partner-led meetings will take place February 25.

→ Stay tuned for updates at conference.marbleseed.org

Thank you LaCrosse partners!


Radisson Hotel LaCrosse


Now accepting conference content proposals!What wisdom do you have to share?What conversations do you hope to spark?What...
07/27/2026

Now accepting conference content proposals!

What wisdom do you have to share?
What conversations do you hope to spark?
What ideas, skills, or stories will help seed our collective future?

We're now accepting session proposals for the 38th Annual Marbleseed Organic Farming Conference (February 25-27, 2027).

Every year, this conference is shaped by the knowledge, experience, and generosity of our community. Whether it's a hands-on workshop, panel discussion, or a fresh way of bringing people together to learn, we'd love to hear your ideas.

Share your full content proposal here → https://marbleseed.salsalabs.org/ofc-content-proposal/index.html

P.S. Is there something new you'd like to see at the Marbleseed conference next year? Drop your ideas in the comments!

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PO Box 339
Spring Valley, WI
54767

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Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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