Dinner on the Bluff: “Regenerative Farming in the Driftless

Description

Join us for an evening focused on regenerative farming in southeast Minnesota. Dayna Burtness of Nettle Valley Farm will highlight innovative practices that farmers from across the Driftless Region have implemented to improve soil health, resilience, and their bottom lines. This presentation will be especially relevant for those interested in sustainable agriculture, local food and environmental stewardship. You'll also enjoy a delicious meal prepared by Chef Tyler Shipton, executive chef and co-owner of Juniper's Restaurant in Lanesboro.

EVENT AGENDA:

5:00 pm - Reception

6:30 pm - Presentation

7:15 pm - Q&A

ABOUT THE FARM:

Nettle Valley Farm is a 90 acre farm located outside Spring Grove, MN. Dayna Burtness and Nick Nguyen strive to improve the health and resilience of their farm via agroforestry practices, pastured livestock, and trialing new and old farming techniques. Learn more at nettlevalleyfarm.com.

ABOUT THE FARMERS:

Dayna didn't grow up farming but is the 6th generation to live and farm in Houston County. She fell in love with farming twenty years ago during an internship on a vegetable farm and has been trying (and failing plenty!) to balance farm, personal, and financial sustainability ever since. Nick does the underappreciated but crucial farming roles such as bookkeeping, accounting, and working an off farm job for the health insurance and financial stability. Even though his background is in business and technology, he's become an excellent livestock wrangler.

Nettle Valley Farm

www.nettlevalleyfarm.com

County 19, Spring Grove, MN 55974

dayna.burtness@gmail.com

EVENT MENU:

Amuse-Bouche: Wonton Cracker, Glazed Orange Plums, Goat Cheese, Ginger

1st Course: Arugula Salad, Apple Cider Vinaigrette, Sharp Cheddar, Diced Apple, Craisins

Main Course: Pork Osso Bucco, Gigante Beans, Braised Greens, Glazed Carrot, Pork Jus

Dessert: Flourless Chocolate Torte, Chocolate Ganache, Raspberry Sauce

ABOUT THE CHEF:

Tyler Shipton is the Executive Chef and owner of Juniper’s Restaurant. His culinary journey has placed him in some of the country’s most prominent restaurants. In 2012, he decided to embark on his own journey and was one of the opening Chefs and owners of Minneapolis’ Borough. In 2015, he moved to the west coast, with a desire to explore the food scene. After spending several years as an Executive Chef of various top restaurants along the coast in San Diego, the pandemic forced Chef Tyler and fiancé Ame back to the farm he grew up on, and together, the duo founded Juniper’s in Lanesboro, MN.

LODGING OPTIONS:

If you are interested in lodging for the evening of the dinner, our friends at Stone Mill Inn & Suites in Lanesboro have graciously offered a 10% discount for any event attendee who books a night stay with them ahead of time. Check out the confirmation email for details on how to redeem this offer. Please confirm availability with inn ahead of time.

About the talk:
Beavers are pretty smart for a dumb animal. Despite their tiny brains, their activities can have an outsized impact on their environment and ours. This presentation will give you an overview of beaver natural history, including how they move and disperse, how beaver families are structured, how their dam-building and foraging behaviors affect the rest of the ecosystem, and how they interact with their primary predators, the gray wolf.

Dinner Menu (Prepared by Special Guest Chef Tyler Shipton):

• Amuse-bouche: Crostini, Caramelized Onions, Cheese, Pickled Beets, Chives
• 1st course: White Bean Soup, Kale, Mirepoix
• 2nd course: Pasta, Smoked Sausage, Broccolini, Garlic Cream Sauce, Parmesan, Garlic Toast
• Dessert: Chocolate Cake, Orange, Chocolate Chards

OPTIONAL Add-On Wine Pairing:

• Sample different wines offered by the Libation Project of St. Paul, MN. Choose your favorite and receive a glass of that wine to go with your meal! $15 additional cost.

Speaker bio:
Steve Windels is an award-winning wildlife biologist who has worked with moose, wolves, deer, muskrats, eagles, cormorants, loons, and of course, beavers. Originally from a small town in Northwestern Minnesota, Steve has been fortunate to have traveled widely to study and work on wildlife conservation issues in Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. For the last 20 years, he has been a wildlife biologist with the U.S. National Park Service where he continues the longest-running beaver study in North America in Voyageurs National Park. He’s also a stand-up comedian on the side so expect to have fun.

Guest Chef Bio:
Tyler Shipton is the Executive Chef and owner of Juniper’s. His culinary journey has placed him in some of the country’s most prominent restaurants. In 2012, he decided to embark on his own journey and was one of the opening Chefs and owners of Minneapolis’ Borough. In 2015, he moved to the west coast, with a desire to explore the food scene. After spending several years as an Executive Chef of various top restaurants along the coast in San Diego, the pandemic forced Chef Tyler and fiancé Ame back to the farm he grew up on, and together, the duo founded Juniper’s.

Evening itinerary:
5:00 pm – Dining hall doors open
5:30 pm – Dinner in the dining hall
6:15 pm – Presentation begins
7:00 pm – Q&A with presenter

Lodging options:
If you are interested in lodging for the evening of the dinner, our friends at Stone Mill Inn & Suites and Root River Inn and Suites in Lanesboro have graciously offered a 10% discount for any event attendee who books a night stay with them ahead of time. Check out the confirmation email for details on how to redeem this offer. Please confirm availability with inn ahead of time.

About Dinner on the Bluff:
Dinner on the Bluff, now in its 20th year, is designed to give thought-leaders and experts in the environmental field the opportunity to discuss issues with the broader Eagle Bluff community.

About Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center:
Located in the scenic bluff country of Lanesboro, Minnesota, Eagle Bluff is a non-profit, year-round environmental learning center providing education programs & outdoor adventures to over 16,000 children and adults each year. Through transformative hands-on experiences we aim to increase environmental awareness & academic literacy, spark curiosity & appreciation for the natural world, and empower people to care for the earth and each other.