FEATURED NEWS

For Our Birthday, We Wanted a New Food System, So We Made Our Own!

Introducing the Satanka Food and Community Innovation Hub

Feeding Laramie Valley is growing, and we don’t just mean carrots and kale! For 15 years, we have been innovating ways to address food insecurity and equity in Albany County, from community gardens to the Shares program, Grow-a-Row, Kids Out to Lunch, and the Mobile Market. 

While these programs have gone a long way toward reducing food insecurity for the county with the highest rate in the state, we are now proud to announce the launch of an exciting new program that truly begins to re-envision the food system, restructuring how and where we get our food from the roots up: the Satanka Food and Community Innovation Hub. This launch has been years in the making, most significantly by receiving a $495,000 USDA Local Food Promotion Program grant which provides funding for infrastructure and subsidies, as we bring new suppliers into the hub. 

But what is a food hub? A food hub helps local farmers and ranchers become more competitive in the local and regional economies. It is a structural organization that helps small producers pool their supplies to meet the demands of larger institutional customers. Support is included for infrastructure like refrigerated storage and transportation, USDA-approved packaging, and marketing, all of which smaller entities may struggle to provide on their own.

The launch of the food hub is a revolutionary step forward for Feeding Laramie Valley in helping communities gain control over their own food system, what we call “food sovereignty.” This independence from a corporate global food system means communities have more say in what they eat and how much they pay for it. Eating local has immense benefits, including job creation, environmental impact, and individual health since food can be harvested closer to maturity and requires less chemical intervention to stay fresh.

The Satanka Food and Community Innovation Hub launched this August with a partnership between 9H Ranch and Ivinson Memorial Hospital in Laramie. 9H Ranch is supplying beef to the hospital’s cafeteria. See the Laramie Boomerang article about the partnership launch here! Already, we are hearing reports that the taste and quality is far superior to that of the previous beef supply. An additional partnership is in the works with Laramie's Sheila Bird Farms to bring fresh organic produce to the hospital as well. After an initial 6-month trial period, we will solidify more relationships between suppliers and markets, eventually connecting to a larger web of food hubs throughout the state and across the region. 

This is a huge moment for us as we pivot into a new phase of our mission, making a marked difference at the root of how we do food on a larger scale!

Welcome, Angel!

Get to Know Our Newest Americorps VISTA Member

Where are you from? Right here in Laramie. I lived for 6 years in Southern California but moved back last year.

What brought you to FLV? Awesome people I knew who worked here, mainly Chris Ballard!

What will your role be with FLV? I am a Community-Led Food System Improvement VISTA. I will be working with new FLV programs to increase efficiency, reach and effectiveness in FLV’s mission to increase food security, food sovereignty, and food justice in Albany County. I collect data and conduct assessments, participate in watering, harvesting, prepping and distributing fresh produce, engage with community members and create solutions and systems for our programs, including The Satanka Food Hub, The Mobile Market, SHARES, and more!

What are you excited about in your new position? For one, growing and understanding sustainable food practices is something I’ve never known about, and I was genuinely curious! Two, I have a passion for financial education in rural communities and believe that often for people to step into a place of learning finances, there are other cues that must be addressed first such as food security and sovereignty, job opportunities, healthcare and more.

What do I enjoy doing when you're not at work? I love going on hikes with my boyfriend and two dogs, watching endless tv shows with my family and friends, playing music around town and reading with my cat. He doesn’t read, just me. :)

Welcome, Angel! We look forward to having you on the team!

Parting Thoughts from Your Editor

Guillermo Avalos served as a year-long AmeriCorps VISTA member in service to Feeding Laramie Valley, from August of 2023 - August of 2024. During that time, he assisted with every aspect of the organization, from the Farmers Market to composting to the SHARES program and Mobile Market. He is also responsible for the renaissance of the FLV Newsletter. Following is a reflection on his year of service.

I committed to serving a year with AmeriCorps and Feeding Laramie Valley during a very transitional time in my life. Moving from Colorado was a big change, but it was also a familiar experience with the western culture I knew. Over the past year, I’ve faced hardships and undergone profound personal changes, but in my work with this organization, I found a firm foundation, friendships, and a refreshed outlook.

My time with Feeding Laramie Valley has been incredibly rewarding and has deepened my appreciation for social programs, especially those focused on improving food security—a fundamental need for any community.

When I joined, I already believed that food security and sovereignty are crucial for human health and development. Now, after a year of hands-on experience, I’m even more convinced of their importance. When people’s basic needs, like access to nutritious food, are met—especially through the efforts of their local community—they’re empowered to form stronger local connections and begin to address other unfulfilled needs in their communities.

It’s troubling to see food insecurity growing in a country as powerful and prosperous as ours, but working with Feeding Laramie Valley has shown me that change is possible. Throughout my time here, I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to all aspects of our programs and operations, which has deepened my understanding of and commitment to the organization’s mission.

I will remember my time working at this organization with fond memories and remain very thankful for the opportunity that Feeding Laramie Valley and AmeriCorps gave me—not only for professional development but also for the good friendships I made and the deeper appreciation I have gained for these kinds of social programs.

Working in service to the community over the past year has shaped my future plans and career aspirations. Following my service with Feeding Laramie Valley and AmeriCorps, I intend to return to school to finish my undergraduate degree in sociology and potentially pursue a master’s degree in social work to continue serving communities in any way I can.



Through community action, we can create a future where everyone has access to the food they need to thrive. And when we work together, we can achieve anything beyond this.

Thank you, Guillermo, for your year of service and for your friendship! We wish you the best of luck in all your future endeavors!

Field Notes: Cover Cropping With Buckwheat!

2024 brought a year of experimentation! Since we are utilizing a no-till system, we are constantly looking for new ways to build our soil, increase biodiversity, decrease weed pressure, and minimize pests. This year, we trialed a method called cover cropping, which checks all of those boxes! 

The term “cover crop” is all over when you look up buzzwords such as no-till, regenerative agriculture, biodiversity, soil regeneration, soil erosion, and many more related to soil and ecosystem health. But what exactly are cover crops? Cover crops are mainly used for improving soil health and biodiversity. They get planted in fields that would otherwise be bare—in between growing seasons if your season is long enough—for example, to protect the soil from erosion and nutrient loss. Some common types of cover crops are mustard, buckwheat, alfalfa, rye, clovers, peas, radish, vetch, and Sudan grass, just to name a few!

Why use cover crops? Whether you have a small-scale garden or a multi-acre farm, the beauty of cover crops is that they are versatile and can fit into all spaces and can be useful for all growers. Why is that? Because no matter what you are growing, large or small, your flowers or vegetables are pulling nutrients from the soil, and those nutrients need to be replenished for your subsequent harvest to be as bountiful! Most cover crops have the ability to fix nutrients in the soil, like nitrogen, adding to its fertility. They also help smother weeds, attract pollinators, increase water availability, and decrease pests. 

With South-East Wyoming’s altitude, our list of cover crops to choose from is more limited than milder growing zones. Our production team considered a variety of things when choosing a cover crop such as: having a short growing season (maturity within 80 days), being pollinator friendly, being easy to work into the soil for green manure without a tractor or tiller, and being good at suppressing weeds. Short, plump, and prolific, with white flowers, buckwheat makes for a striking field of flowers when in full bloom and satisfied all of our needs in a cover crop.

Short Growing Season: 

With 40–50 days until it begins to flower, buckwheat is one of the quickest growing annual cover crops, making it a great option for high-altitude growers with short summers. Since it is a heat-loving crop, we broadcasted our buckwheat in early July in a freshly tarped and broad forked 40x 40-foot plot at the Farm at Albany County Fairgrounds. By August 2nd, our buckwheat had sprouted healthy 5-inch sprouts in luscious, vibrant green. Buckwheat will also die off come the first signs of frost, making it easy to work into the soil in the fall but can be worked into the soil at any stage for green manure. 

Pollinators and Beneficial Insects 

Buckwheat is an amazing pollinator for bees and other native pollinators and is popular among beekeepers due to its 6-8 week flowering time. Its extended bloom time makes it a great option for attracting pollinators beyond just bees as well, including other beneficial insects that prey on pests. Many people will plant strips of buckwheat in pollinator strips, especially among brassicas, which attracts beneficial insects that prey on aphids. 

Building Soil Structure and Suppressing Weeds 

Buckwheat is a great, non-invasive way to smother summer weeds! Because of its quick growth, a dense patch of buckwheat can out-compete tough weeds while contributing to building soil structure. Our buckwheat smothered around 85% of the weeds and grass growth in our patch this year, which was huge success in terms of time, efficiency, and labor!

While buckwheat doesn’t add nitrogen or many other macro-nutrients to the soil, research shows that buckwheat is uniquely good at making phosphorous more available in the soil; phosphorous is one of the three main soil nutrients that plants need, along with nitrogen and potassium. All soils have some phosphorous in an available form that plant roots can absorb, but the majority of soil phosphorous is in an unavailable form that the plants can’t access. Buckwheat roots release acidic compounds that help convert some phosphorous from the unavailable to the available form. 

So far, we are thrilled by the results! Bees—native and non-native—from hives that are located on the farm are dancing throughout our 40-foot patch. As promised, the time to bloom was about 45 days, which was a pleasing result, as sometimes we have found things take much longer to flower than advertised on seed packets. The flowers have been in bloom for over three weeks and have just started to turn brown due to cold nights beginning in September. 

If you are looking to add fertility to your garden, increase biodiversity, and decrease weed pressure, buckwheat may be a great option for your high-altitude garden. Consider planting in between your crop rows or alternating your crop rows with buckwheat strips! 

Check out the buckwheat we used: https://www.johnnyseeds.com/organic/organic-farm-seed/buckwheat-common-organic-cover-crop-seed-966G.html?cgid=organic-farm-seed&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=BL%20%7C%20Search%20%7C%20DSA%20%7C%20PRP&utm_keyword=&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_WiV1yOvql9uCH8Xw7pV5sE-YxI&gclid=CjwKCAjwreW2BhBhEiwAavLwfOhvsatBCHxc5SLyUQLGFaC-8nriE4bhgLKpAyQyQ1v4ibzQiEOYfhoCAZAQAvD_BwE

Field Notes seeks to be a regular educational component of our newsletter and we are very excited to bring this feature to the community. In the future, topics range from specific information about high-altitude varieties that work well in our climate, the benefits of reducing the use of pesticides, to techniques on weed deterrents and season extension. If you have feedback, are interested in a topic, or have suggestions please feel free to contact us at janna@actionresources.ngo

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EVENTS

Food and Fun in the Park(s) was a Success!

What a party! It was a hot day for Wyoming, but hundreds of Laramites came out to sample the best of Albany County. We went big this year for our 15th anniversary, with free food and fun at three of our main locations across Laramie, which made for challenging logistics for our small group of staff and volunteers, but lots of fun for those who came out to celebrate our birthday with us! 

This is the first time we have publicly shown off our production farm, so it was great to see the enthusiastic crowds and be able to answer questions about how we manage to grow so much produce at this altitude! The ice cream may have turned to soup pretty quickly in the heat, but the gorgeous and stalwart Jenny and Jill of Ugly Tractor Ranch braved the heat to give wagon rides to help folks find our hidden corner at Albany County Fairgrounds.

We weren’t completely sure how much traffic we’d get holding the event simultaneously in three different locations, but the crowds sure turned up for the delicious meal our Kids Out to Lunch team put together at Kiwanis Park in West Laramie. Using beef from the local 9H Ranch, our chefs fired up the grill for a fresh, hearty lunch of summer kabobs, served together with salad greens from Sheila Bird Farms, watermelon, and corn. 

Attendees were still raving about the food by the time they hit the dessert tables across town at LaBonte Park, where volunteers served up samples of 18 different prize-winning pies from our Home-baked Community Pie Contest. A highlight this year was our new Junior category, where entries included everything from empanadas to fresh cherry pie!

From llamas to gymnastics to fairy magic, this year’s Food and Fun in the Park(s) had all it all! Thank you to our community for your untiring support these past 15 years, and thank you to this year’s event sponsors Ridley’s Family Markets (who donated the delicious cakes!), Cowboy Glass, Elway Powersports, 9H Ranch, Warren’s Repair and Towing, Sweet Melissa Cafe, Windy City Pet Store, Snowy Range Flea Market, Wyoming Legend Laser Engraving, Poppy’s, Elevation Dog Daycare and Pet Resort, Big Dipper Ice Cream, Night Heron Books and Coffeehouse, Second Story Bookstore, Sweet Pickles, and Sugar Mouse Cupcake House!

PROGRAM UPDATES

Now Recruiting Foster Grandparents!

Foster Grandparents of the Wyoming Rockies is looking for people 55+ who want to make a difference in the life of a child. You can find fellowship with your peers and have some fun, all while making a difference in your community. For a minimum 15-20 hour per week commitment, you'll earn a tax-exempt stipend, mileage reimbursement, paid days off, and paid holidays. The Foster Grandparent Program provides volunteer opportunities for low-income seniors from all economic, educational, and social backgrounds to support children in schools and child care centers. We support 7 counties in Wyoming. Call us or stop in today to see if you qualify! 

crystal@actionresources.ngo

307-223-1051

968 N. 9^th St 

Laramie WY 82072