GreenClusta

09/13/2026

A local farmer recently asked a really important question: What more can we do to help you buy locally?

That got us thinking—not just about one farm, but about our entire local food system.

We have farmers, homesteaders and growers producing food right here in our communities. And we hear from many people who want to support them.

So what would help you actually buy local more often?

Would it be:

- Knowing where to find local food?
- Different days or longer hours?
- Delivery or convenient pickup locations?
- Preordering online?
- More farmers markets or farm stands?
- One place showing what local farms have available?
- Price or affordability?
- Better access outside the growing season?

Or is it something completely different?

Tell us what would make the biggest difference for YOU.

And if you’re a farmer or food producer, we’d like to hear the other side too:

What makes it difficult for you to reach more local customers?

Farmers + customers—let’s hear from both sides.

The answers could help us understand what is actually needed to build a stronger local food system.

09/11/2026

09/09/2026

According to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service recall data google, manufacturers have recalled more than 37 million pounds of meat, poultry and egg products in first half 2026.

Much of that total came from one massive recall involving nearly 37 million pounds of frozen chicken and other products because of possible glass contamination.

That statistic got us thinking about something closer to home:

How much of our food could we source locally?

We have farmers, homesteaders, gardeners and food producers throughout our communities growing and raising food.

Knowing more of them—and making it easier for people to find and buy what they produce—can strengthen our local food system, support local producers and keep more of our food dollars circulating within our communities.

How much of your food do you currently source locally?

What would make it easier for you to buy more food from local producers?

What do you think?

Let’s keep discovering the people who grow our food and what it would take to build a stronger local food system.

09/07/2026

We want to discover the farmers, homesteaders, gardeners and food growers already around us—and see what becomes possible when we start connecting them.

Are you one of them?

Whether you run a farm, have a homestead, grow for market, raise animals, keep bees, or simply grow food in your backyard—we’d love to hear from you.

Tell us what you grow or raise.

And if you know someone locally who grows food, please tag them!

Let’s see who’s out there. We have to discover our food growers so we can support them and help strengthen our local food system.💚

09/06/2026

One thing we continue to discover through Upcycle CHQ is just how many useful skills already exist within our community.

Sewing, mending, woodworking, welding, gardening, canning, baking, upholstery, furniture repair, knitting, crocheting, carpentry, tool repair, crafting, fixing things—and probably many skills we haven’t discovered yet.

What if we brought all of that together in one place—where people could teach what they know, learn something new, make, repair, reuse and share?

We’re exploring the idea of an Upcycling & Skill Sharing Festival, and we’d love for the community to help shape what it could become.

- What would you TEACH?
- What would you like to LEARN?
- What else would you love to SEE or DO at a festival like this?

A repair area? Hands-on workshops? Maker demonstrations? Material swaps? Upcycling challenges? Local products? Activities for kids? Something completely different?
Comment below.

09/03/2026

A few weeks ago, we asked our community about reusing building materials, and one opportunity came up again and again:

Deconstruction and material salvage.

When an older house, barn or building is renovated or demolished, there can still be tremendous value inside it—old lumber, doors, windows, flooring, bricks, cabinets, fixtures, hardware and more.

Too often, useful materials leave as debris.

But what if more of them could be carefully recovered before demolition and put back into use?

That could mean affordable materials for repairs and renovations, supplies for makers and builders, preservation of unique architectural pieces, less material going to waste—and potentially new local economic opportunities.

But before we talk about what could be built around this idea, we want to find the people.

Have you ever taken apart an old house, barn or building to save materials?

- Have you salvaged old lumber, doors, windows, flooring, bricks, fixtures or architectural pieces?

- Are you a contractor, carpenter, tradesperson, preservationist or someone who has learned how to do this through experience?

- Or are you someone who would genuinely like to learn?

Tell us about your experience or interest in the comments.

We know the buildings and materials are here.

Now we want to discover the people, skills and knowledge that could help us save more of them.