A Word with Erin Schneider

Erin Schneider at work.
Photo from www.hilltopcommunityfarm.org

 Erin Schneider will lead UW-MANIAC members to create a soil quilt and learn about how soil plays an integral role in our lives. We caught up with her to get some more information on how she came to do what she loves.

 

 What made you interested in sustainable farming, especially soil?

 Wow, that's a great question and hard to be brief.

I grew up planting trees and tending to my mother's vegetable and flower gardens and from a ripe young age I was schooled in dirt. Later, I studied soil science and biology and have continued to dig holes, play in the dirt, teach others through my work in conservation education. So you could say that the soil got under my skin and when I returned to Wisconsin, I thought, how much more Midwest can you get than feeding people? 

 

So I've always approached farming from a conservation perspective, that you feed, care, and grow soil first and there are inherent social, economic, and ecological benefits built into this baseline practice. Tending the soil also requires us to think for the long-term, which is another tenet of sustainable agriculture, that you are planning and caring for the land and tending crops so that the land will take care of the next 7 generations. I've also been fortunate to travel to other countries supporting farmer to farmer delegations; Regardless of where you sit on the agricultural value chain, farmers everywhere in the world understand the language of compost, of soil. From there, you can launch into sharing sustainable techniques and practices and explore the 'how you do it is what you get' parameters that comes with farming, or any profession really.

 

 So you could say my interest in growing food, working with the soil is a kind of life journey. That life starts and ends with the soil and is the Earth's largest, living, breathing organism and collective geologic slate, yet so much of the lifeforms in the soil itself remains a mystery and unseen. So I think it's a combination of practicality, that the health of the soil directly impacts the health of my farm ecosystem and therefore what I am able to feed and provide for my community, as well as an unending palette of possibilities for learning, unleashing curiosity, creativity and the opportunity to connect so many different disciplines and ways of knowing in the world--all of this being right beneath our feet. I can't help but smile at the irony, that we're standing atop of the answers to life mysteries every day and yet we are so easily blinded to what goes on under the surface of things.

 

Photo by Rhonda Janke, Parideeza Farm Art

 

What makes 2015, the International Year of Soils, so special to you?

 The reasons are many...and people will just have to come and engage in conversation. I will say that the soil is finally getting the universal attention that it deserves.

 

 On a more personal level, as a farmer, scientist and educator, I rely on research, data and technique to help guide me in sustainable land management and stewardship of soil resources. Yet science and technique only get you so far. To grow food sustainably you need a bit of love and commitment, for the Earth, for yourself and your community. For example, science helps inform me of the dangers of UV rays on my skin. Because I love my life and want to take care of my body, I follow through with this information and use sunscreen, wear light clothing tend to my own skin. So if the soil is the 'skin of the Earth' and food comes from the soil, from the Earth, and we are what we eat, don't we want to love that part of ourselves that is life-giving and makes us want to love life?

 

 Part of the soil quilt project entails sharing the stories, artifacts and the quilt itself with farmers in Senegal. With luck I will be traveling there in the late fall/winter again. I have been involved in farmer to farmer training, supporting women vegetable farmers there. So sharing the project with women farmers there is an expression of farmer/community solidarity and mutual support from our respective 'soil sisters' on both sides of the Atlantic. The non-lingual nature of the quilt itself is also a learning tool, and I hope that we can share a mutual understanding and respect for caring for the soil, how it is alive, and how the soil cares for us in return.

 

 

"I hope that we can share a mutual understanding and a respect for caring for the soil, how it is alive, and how the soil cares for us in return."

 

What do you hope people will get out of this event?

 I hope people will gain a (re)newed appreciation for soil and understanding of the 'Earth's Skin' and overall we start to get at the heart and soil in terms of what it means to build resilient food systems and our own connections to food, the land, and each other.

 

 MANIAC has been an invaluable learning community for me over the years and I hope people will leave satisfied that they helped provide insight and feedback regarding future activities with the Soil Quilt project, regardless of making a piece of the quilt. I hope people feel welcome and invited to create the soil quilt and leave the satisfaction in knowing that they helped launch and guide a project that extends from the soil, through our hands and hearts both in Wisconsin and around the world.

Photo by Rhonda Janke, Parideeza Farm Art

 

Any additional comments or information MANIACs should be aware of?

I've dug a lot of holes in my day, physically mapping soils, planting trees, growing crops, metaphorically helping myself and others 'dig and grow character', and personally to feel connected to something larger than myself. When you start to dig, the engagement between soil and shovel can be further leveraged through your heart and hands. The reason is practice; manual taskwork (especially during group conversation) often enables slower, deeper, more reflective exchanges to take place. You enter the 'zone' and a rhythm takes over. A bit of imagination never hurt as it can be a scary thing to stare into a dark and shapeless hole, when most of the life is unseen in the 'dirt'. Your mind starts to visualize a home for the young seedling, you realize you are not alone, but aided by millions of microbes, hundreds of arthropods, all the elements seen and unseen that make life happen. So in a nutshell, I hope people will have fun playing in the dirt with me and collaborating with the soil along the way.

 

 

Don't forget to register for Stories and Stitches: Weaving the Great Soil Quilt on April 21 at 8:00am. Register Here

View the UW-MANIAC Facebook Page

This Blog has served us well in our early formation, but we have placed increasing energy in our Facebook Page as a resource to our commuity. Readers of this Blog are encouraged to visit the UW-MANIAC Facebook page. In addition, please continue to visit the UW-MANIAC home page and tools pages at our University of Wisconsin-Madison site through the Office of Human Resource Development.

Thank you for your support of our innovative learning comunity -- we hope you continue to participate! If you have any questions, please contact Harry Webne-Behrman at hwebnebehrman@ohr.wisc.edu.

The Power of Failure

In his recent article in The New Yorker, "The Gift of Doubt: Albert O. Hirschman and the Power of Failure," Malcolm Gladwell highlights a very maniacal topic--the benefits of failure.  Many of you may recognize this topic from a breakfast that MANIAC put on in January.  This breakfast, Embracing Failure, taught us how to think of failure in a different way and to explore the benefits and opportunities that it offers us.  Gladwell uses different examples to illustrate this same idea in his article. 

Gladwell starts the article by telling the story of a railway work project from the mid-nineteenth century.  The project consisted of adding an addition to a railway line connecting Boston to the Hudson River.  Engineers estimated that the project would be cheap and relatively easy--they were wrong.  The project was much more expensive and challenging than originally thought, but it was still completed.  Despite the railway project turning into a nightmare, Gladwell talks about how this project ended up being a glowing success in many ways.  If the engineers would've known the challenges that they faced by taking on the railway addition, they never would've done it.  But the addition ended up being crucial to the Massachusetts economy and the expanding West.  This story highlights how important failure is and how it can lead to something wonderful.  It also highlights another theme--people naturally shy away from tasks and projects that they know will be difficult, but sometimes the most challenging ventures end up being the most important!

Gladwell goes on to focus more on Albert Hirschman.  He discusses a biography of Hirschman written by Jeremy Adelman titled, "Worldly Philosopher: The Odyssey of Albert O. Hirschman."  Gladwell writes about Hirschman's beginnings and how he came to be one of the world's most influential economists and philosophical thinkers.  This article is a fantastic read for any MANIACs who want to learn more about the power of failure or who are interested in learning more about the life of Albert Hirschman!

Check out Gladwell's article here: http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2013/06/24/130624crbo_books_gladwell?currentPage=1

ColLABoratory: Join us for our newest workshop!

ColLABoratory: Experiencing Levels of Complexity Through a Laboratory Environment 
Tuesday, February 19, 2013 
8:30am-1:00pm 
Genetics Biotechnology Center, Room 1360
Cost: $20 (includes lunch!) 
Register here! 

What is a “ColLABoratory?”
It’s a creative test kitchen…
A place to work with others to take on challenges and creatively address them, using cutting edge tools, processes, and technologies…
It’s where you can bring the challenges you are facing at work and find solutions by engaging in playful approaches with others…
It’s where you can come and have fun, allowing whatever emerges to benefit you in unforeseen ways.

Why come to the UW-MANIAC ColLABoratory on February 19th?
• To address a specific work challenge and find realistic and meaningful solutions for it 
• To be inspired by others’ stories and approaches 
• To help others find solutions to their challenges (generously offering your time and brainpower) 
• To just be in a collaborative space

What does it cost? $20… plus a few hours of your valuable time… you get snacks, lunch, and excellent professional development

BONUS! Tour of the Biotech Center at the end of the workshop by Tom Zinnen, UW Biotechnology Center and UW-Extension, zinnen@biotech.wisc

Co-Sponsor: UW-Madison Biotech Center and UWEX Cooperative Extension 
Also take a look at the Campus Science Outreach website

Be There! “MANIAC Keeps Us Sane.”

New Additions!

Hello MANIACS!

We have made some exciting additions to the MANIAC Blog!

First, we put together a slideshow of pictures from the Creative Placemaking Forays MANIAC has hosted throughout the summer. We have visited a wide variety of places in the area, from Sustainable Atwood here in Madison to the Wormfarm Institute in Reedsburg and the Hilltop Community Farm in La Valle.




We had a BLAST at each of the forays and also learned a great deal about the characteristics and conditions needed for creative placemaking. Here is a list of observations and ideas generated from the forays:

• Pay attention to scale of projects
• Build relationships
• Involves communities of people, plants
• Projects take time and are works in progress 
• Be willing to take risks and take the heat
• Allow for spontaneity and enlivening of space, invite people in and stimulate curiosity 
• Exchange of ideas, goods, seeds, products; trade 
• Find the co-beneficial 
• Deep tuning in, deep observations, deep listening 
• Fun 
• Flow 
• Understand how everything is connected and works together, and build from what is already there
• Anchor into "home"

Please contact us with any ideas you may have for future Forays or other MANIAC events, such as MANIAC Breakfasts, Innovation and Learning Cafes, or other workshops! 

Second, we have another slideshow: MANIAC Book Recommendations! These books are a collection of resources that can be used for further developing your innovation and creativity. The slideshow has links to each of the books and their descriptions on Amazon. Thank you to Darin Eich for compiling this great collection! The slideshow, seen below, will be permanently located on the right side of the blog and we will continue to update it with new innovative books. Feel free to comment with any other books you think we should add!

UW-MANIAC Creative Placemaking Summer Forays

So what is creative placemaking?
"In creative placemaking, partners from public, private, non-profit, and community sectors strategically shape the physical and social character of a neighborhood, town, city, or region around arts and cultural activities. Creative placemaking animates public and private spaces, rejuvenates structures and streetscapes, improves local business viability and public safety, and brings diverse people together to celebrate, inspire, and be inspired."
From Creative Placemaking by Ann Markusen and Anne Gadwa
http://www.nea.gov/pub/CreativePlacemaking-Paper.pdf

Come join us to explore some creative placemaking ventures in Madison and beyond:

1) Sustainable Atwood - An urban neighborhood with very interesting sustainability projects

"Sustainable Atwood is a plan to measure, evaluate, expand and create sustainable practices, designs and systems in our neighborhood of 6,000 residents." The historic Atwood neighborhood lies at the eastern end of the Madison’s Isthmus. We will meet with Twink Jan-McMahon, coordinator of Sustainable Atwood, and take a tour of Sustainable Atwood projects—a demonstration garden, a new community solar installation, the Little Urban Forest Library—and learn about their neighborhood garden co-op, urban-wood-reclamation project, as well as other initiatives. If folks are interested, we'll continue the discussion at a local pub with good food, Alchemy Cafe.
When: July 14, 2012, 4:30-6:00 P.M.
Where: 2018 Helena Street, Madison, WI
Register here!

2) Wormfarm Institute - A nationally recognized regional food, ecology, and cultural endeavor

"Dedicated to integrating culture and agriculture, the Wormfarm Institute is an evolving laboratory of the arts and ecology and fertile ground for creative work." "The Wormfarm expands the concept of the CSA, which helps reconnect consumers with the source of their food, by connecting urban and rural, people and land, culture and agriculture. It also expands the idea of ‘sustainability’ to include not just nourishment to live, but a vibrant creative community in which to thrive." "Wormfarm Institute is selected as a national leader through ArtPlace initiative. ArtPlace (artplaceamerica.org) is a collaboration of top national foundations, the National Endowment for the Arts and various federal agencies to accelerate creative placemaking across the U.S."
We will travel 50 miles north of Madison to take a tour of the Wormfarm Institute with founder Donna Neuwirth and learn about their Artist Residency program, Roadside Culture Stands, Fermentation Fest, Farm Art/Dtour, and other projects. Bring a snack to share after the tour.
When: Thursday, July 26, 2012, 4:15-6:00 p.m. (please note: you will need to leave Madison by 3:00 p.m. in order to be at the farm by 4:15)
Where: E7904 Briar Bluff Road, Reedsburg, WI (see http://wormfarminstitute.org/directions/)
Register here!

3) Hilltop Community Farm - A rural community-supported agriculture enterprise with experimental fruits and international links

"We are small-scale diversified farmers, dedicated to growing food sustainably and building community." "We offer both monthly and seasonal organically grown flower shares and provide custom flower service for special events. We also cultivate grapes, red raspberries, apples, pears, hardy kiwi, ginseng, and hops, and are expanding our orchards and brambles, using agroforestry practices, to include currants and plums as well as lesser-known fruits such as aronia, saskatoons, elderberries, quince, and hineyberry."
We will take a tour of the farm (located about 65 miles northwest of Madison) and its interesting fruits with MANIACer and Hilltop co-owner Erin Schneider, and check out her MANIAC-inspired Innovation Garden, hear stories gleaned and lessons learned in growing fruit and building community, and possibly even play with flower art. Please bring a dish to share for a potluck dinner.
When: Friday, August 3, 2012, 4:30-6:30 p.m. for tour (please note: you will need to leave Madison by 3:00 p.m. in order to be at the farm by 4:30)
Where: S850 Heidrich Rd., La Valle, WI (please check Google Maps for directions)
Register here!

In the Hands of Alchemy: The Art and Life of Jerry Wennstrom, Artist and Visionary Extraordinaire

Artist Jerry Wennstrom tells his inspiring story through his art and now presents all around the US. After producing a large body of work, at age 29 he set out to discover the rock-bottom truth of his life and questioned the limits of his creative life as a painter. After destroying all of his art and giving away everything he owned, Jerry began a life of unconditional trust, allowing life to provide all that was needed. He lived this way for 15 years, then eventually produced a large new body of art with a completely different mindset. Read more about his story and see some of his work at www.handsofalchemy.com.

Jerry will be presenting in Madison from June 14-17. See below the schedule of events:

Lecture and Museum Tour at the Chazen Museum of Art
Thursday, June 14, 5:30 p.m., Chazen Museum of Art, 750 University Avenue, Auditorium
A lecture with images of Jerry’s visionary multi-layered, interactive sculptural figures, gleaned and transformed from found objects, followed by a discussion of artworks in the Chazen permanent collection that make similar use of found/recycled/reclaimed objects. FREE

Hands-on workshop at the Children’s Museum
Friday, June 15, 1:00-3:00 p.m., Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street Join Jerry in a fun and fascinating process of creating an art piece from recycled and repurposed materials. You can bring some of your own objects to add to the museums rich supply. Children and adults are invited. FREE

Presentation and Dialog: Jerry’s Journey-Life on the Threshold
Saturday, June 16, 2:00-4:00 p.m. UW Arboretum McKay Visitor Center Auditorium, 1207 Seminole Highway
Jerry is an artist who found the courage to base his life on following the truth of his creative spirit. Through a cycle of death and rebirth of his creative vision, Jerry has been initiated into a place of mystery that is reflected in his artwork and his life, touching the vast complexities of the collective unconscious. His stories and insights deeply move and inform.
A donation of $10-$25 is requested.

Events sponsored by Art at the Threshold (www.artatthethreshold.org), UW-Madison Office of Human Resource Development (www.ohrd.wisc.edu) and UW-MANIAC (Madison Area Network for Innovation and Collaboration).

If you have any questions, email Harry Webne-Behrman at hwebnebehrman@ohr.wisc.edu.