That is super disappointing and your reaction is normal. The larger picture is that the amount for these sorts of grants pales in comparison to the vast amount of subsidies, mostly hidden from the public, flowing disproportionately to the biggest producers, as your book shows.
Here in Salt Lake, our little Slow Food Utah group for years held a fundraiser for our microgrants program for local growers, ranchers, food producers, educators. It was really hard to sit on the other side - on the committee to review grants and chose recipients. These largely came from people we had relationships with. It was never that much $ per grant but we hoped would be enough to make a difference. We tried to keep it as low-bureaucratic and easy as possible to apply and get funded. COVID shut down the event and the program, sadly. It was just hard to see how much need there was and the difficulty of making a go of it.
Best of luck on alternative funding - and let us know if a GoFundMe is in your future :)
Oh Beth I hear you. As you say, there is massive potential in Iowa to grow food to feed Iowans and beyond. We have to continue to work towards changing the hearts and minds of our neighbors that growing only two crops is short sighted and not good for Iowa’s future. I commend you and John for your vision and leadership. Thank you.
That is super disappointing and your reaction is normal. The larger picture is that the amount for these sorts of grants pales in comparison to the vast amount of subsidies, mostly hidden from the public, flowing disproportionately to the biggest producers, as your book shows.
Here in Salt Lake, our little Slow Food Utah group for years held a fundraiser for our microgrants program for local growers, ranchers, food producers, educators. It was really hard to sit on the other side - on the committee to review grants and chose recipients. These largely came from people we had relationships with. It was never that much $ per grant but we hoped would be enough to make a difference. We tried to keep it as low-bureaucratic and easy as possible to apply and get funded. COVID shut down the event and the program, sadly. It was just hard to see how much need there was and the difficulty of making a go of it.
Best of luck on alternative funding - and let us know if a GoFundMe is in your future :)
Oh Beth I hear you. As you say, there is massive potential in Iowa to grow food to feed Iowans and beyond. We have to continue to work towards changing the hearts and minds of our neighbors that growing only two crops is short sighted and not good for Iowa’s future. I commend you and John for your vision and leadership. Thank you.