Ericcson resident honored as White House Champion of Change

Steven Clift of E-Democracy.org believes people can make a difference by connecting through local online forums

by Tesha M. Christensen

  Ericsson resident Steven Clift believes that people of all ages, income levels and ethnic groups should be connected.

He’s been working to accomplish that goal for 19 years through e-Democracy.org.

Clift was recently recognized by the White House for his work. He was named one of 15 White House Champion of Change for Transformative Civic Engagement during a special ceremony on June 23, 2013.

“I believe in the power of people to make a difference in their communities,” said Clift. “If we don’t, who will?”

“Steve is an innovator because he understands how to use the technology in a way that serves the community,” said Deliberative Democracy Consortium Executive Director Matt Leighninger of Washington, D.C. “The e-democracy.org approach combines successful face-to-face organizing with an easy-to-use online platform; the result is a public arena that supports a wide array of communication and action about everything from school board decisions to how to clean up the local park.

“With his energy and determination, Steve has helped strengthen democracy from St. Paul to New Zealand.”

WHAT IS E-DEMOCRACY.ORG?

E-Democracy.org began in 1994 as the world’s first election-oriented web site. Only 4% of Minnesotans had internet access then, but as Clift saw how people from across the world were using the site to get information and discuss issues, he got a glimpse into how the internet could bring people together. He saw how it could contribute to democracy.

Today, e-Democracy.org is the equivalent of local town halls for the online world.

“It’s the pulse of the neighborhood,” explained Clift.

Missing a pet? Want to start a community garden? Concerned about recent violence in the neighborhood? Think something needs to be done about the dramatic airport noise increase? Need help baking lasagnas for a friend’s memorial service? Turn to the E-Democracy forum for your neighborhood.

Clift’s own neighborhood forum, the one for Standish-Ericcson, is one of the most active. Twenty-five percent of households there are connected online. In all, E-Democracy’s BeNeighbors.org effort connects well over 15,000 people mostly in the Twin Cities across a network of dozens of online Neighbors Forums.

BENEIGHBORS.ORG EFFORT

“The white, middle class, college-educated get asked all the time to be active,” noted Clift. To make up for the divide, e-Democracy is targeting the less represented groups with a focus on expansion  in St. Paul.

With the help of a grant from the Knight Foundation, E-Democracy is combining old-fashioned methods with technology. Workers are going door-to-door to sign people up as users, and manning booths at community events to get the word out. The outreach team includes recent refugees and immigrants.

While many have a “build it and they will come” mentality, Clift knows you have to actively solicit users in order to have a conversation that involves everyone.

He believes that when people see past differences and have an incentive to work together, things are accomplished.

“Open communication is the cornerstone of getting stuff done,” observed Clift, who has presented in 30 counties on open government and civic technology.

E-Democracy.org is different from other similar sites in that anyone can join. It isn’t closed to the residents in a neighborhood, but welcomes those who also work in it. “I want public spaces that anyone can join and find on Google,” said Clift.

Users are required to use their real names on the site to prevent inconsiderate posts, and to build trust that each user is a community member and not a character created on the Internet.

REDEFINING DEMOCRACY

Participation in public meetings is declining, membership in national voluntary associations with local chapters is as low as Depression-era levels,  and the number of people who claim to have ever contacted an elected official is falling. A significant 76 percent of citizens say they don’t have the time to be involved in their communities as much as they would like, noted Clift.

Being at a certain place at a certain time in order in order to have a say in local affairs prevents many people from being involved.

“With today’s busy work and family schedules, traditional ‘democracy’ isn’t readily accessible,” remarked Clift. “The reality we experience from shopping around the clock to watching television on-demand or downloading music to our iPods is dramatically different and far more accessible than engagement in public life.”

Before televisions and air conditioning, people by the hundreds used to walk down to Lake Hiawatha at night to take a cooling dip, observed Clift. Folks gathered together at the trolley stop and at the butcher shop. That in-person connection doesn’t happen as much anymore. But community members can “bump into” each other online.

“My vision of democracy is based on strong, local communities,” Clift stated.

“We’re very proud of Steve,” said E-Democracy Board Chair Mary Reid. “Steven understands the importance of inclusive civic engagement in digital spheres, and is fundamentally committed to closing the gap in online civic engagement. Steven and E-Democracy understand that while our world requires global leadership, it’s our local communities that truly host the conversations and build the tools we need to better reach a globalized world.”

Videos from Clift’s presentation in Washington, D.C.:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5mJ-JcZhDs&feature=player_embedded

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meg4NKwvueY&feature=player_embedded

LINK:

http://blog.e-democracy.org/posts/1990

This story was printed in the September edition of the Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger. 

http://www.longfellownokomismessenger.com/ericsson-resident-honored-as-white-house-champion-of-change/

Minneapolis to replace all ash trees

‘Resistance is futile,’ according to Parks Commissioner Scott Vreeland

by Tesha M. Christensen

Wondering why some trees in the neighborhood have been marked with green tape?

They’re ash trees. And within 10 years, the city expects them to die, victims of the tiny, green Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) bug.

In all, Minneapolis expects to lose 20% of its boulevard trees or 38,000. There are an estimated total of 200,000 ash trees in the city. The cost of removal, stump grinding and replanting of these trees may exceed $26 million. This does not include the tens of thousands of ash trees growing in parks and natural areas such as along the Mississippi River corridor.

ASH VS. ELM

The situation now is different than the one facing elms in the 60s, according to Minneapolis Park Commissioner Scott Vreeland. Elms could be saved if they did not come in contact with Dutch Elm Disease, and because of that it was effective to remove the infected trees to save others. Emerald Ash Borer kills all. Plus, the dead trees are brittle and are likely to fall on homes and vehicles.

“Resistance is futile,” Vreeland said. “Basically it will destroy a species.”

While some cities, including St. Paul and Milwaukee, have decided to treat their ash trees with insecticides, Minneapolis has opted to take remove all the ash trees on city-owned property.

DANGER OF LARGE-SCALE CHEMICAL TREATMENT

Why not use chemicals to save the trees? According to Vreeland, the insecticides don’t actually save the tree although it may prolong its life. It does, however, kill every last insect currently living on the tree. No one knows the long-term impact of using these chemicals to treat Emerald Ash Borer. Those answering the safety questions are often the same companies that stand to make millions of dollars in profit if the chemicals are used, Vreeland observed.

 He recalls that in the 1960s, DDT was used because it was “perfectly safe for people and animals.”

It’s one thing to treat the ash tree in your backyard that you use to hang your hammock, but it’s another thing to treat 38,000 trees with insecticide, pointed out Vreeland.

“Basically you have people pouring poisons in their backyards and boulevards, and it is very likely it will go into the stormwater system. It has quite a toxic affect on aquatic life,” said Vreeland. “The city of Minneapolis has encouraged people to not use chemicals.”

However, citizens can opt to pay for insecticide treatments on their own property as well as their boulevard trees, using certified companies. Learn more about the chemicals and get a list of those with permits at the park web site www.minneapolisparks.org/EAB.

$1.2 MILLION LEVY

The city is embarking on an 8-year plan to remove all of its ash trees. It plans to remove no more than 20% of the trees on a block at a time.

The ash trees will be replaced with other varieties, such as oak, honey locust and ginkgo.

“Species diversity is really our best weapon,” said Vreeland.

How will the city pay for these new trees and the cost of tearing down the old ones? The parks department has asked for a $1.2 million tree levy for each of the next 8 years. It would cost each taxpayer about $8 a year. The final decision on this levy, which is supported by Mayor Rybak, will be made in December.

Homeowners can request that their boulevard ash trees be removed by going to the park web site.

-30-

Parks Commissioner Scott Vreeland reminds citizens that trees are dying right now because of the late-summer drought. “We can talk about EAB but if we don’t water our trees they will all die,” he noted. “So water your trees."

POTENTIAL IMPACT OF EAB

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive pest introduced from Asia that attacks ash trees (Fraxinus spp.). This metallic wood boring beetle was first found in Detroit, MI, and Ontario, Canada, in 2002. It is believed to have arrived in shipping crates. Since the initial discovery it has been identified in multiple Eastern and Midwestern states.

The destructive potential of EAB is enormous because there is currently no known cure. It has already killed more than 40 million ash trees nationwide, most of which were in southeast Michigan. Minnesota has the potential to lose 867 million trees because it has one of the highest volumes of forestland ash in the U.S.

As bad as these losses would be, they do not address the losses that would be suffered by municipalities. In Minneapolis the impact to the total urban forest canopy would be significant because 21 percent of all trees, both public and private, are ash. This translates into more than 200,000 trees.

On public property, Minneapolis would lose approximately 38,000 ash trees growing on boulevards. The cost of removal, stump grinding and replanting of these trees would exceed $26 million. This does not include the tens of thousands of ash trees growing in parks and natural areas such as along the Mississippi River corridor.

From http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=1220

LEARN MORE

• Minneapolis Parks: http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=1059

• Neighborhood maps of boulevard trees: http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=1220

• Minnesota Department of Agriculture: www.mda.state.mn.us/en/plants/pestmanagement/eab.aspx

• Considerations before selecting a treatment program: http://www.minneapolisparks.org/documents/caring/EAB_Homeowner_Tree_Treatment.pdf

This story was published in the September 2013 edition of the Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger. http://www.longfellownokomismessenger.com/minneapolis-to-replace-its-ash-trees/

Little Free Libraries popping up in the neighborhood

  Four library stewards share their stories

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
Todd Bol believes that everyone does better if kids can read. Because of that, the former Hale resident co-founded the Little Free Library movement in 2010.
Since that first Little Free Library (LFL) was erected in Hudson, Wis. on May 8, 2010, the idea has taken off. And although he no longer lives in Minneapolis, Bol has found a great deal of support for Little Free Libraries.
The Little Free Library World Map lists 11 LFLs in the Longfellow and Nokomis neighborhoods.
Minneapolis Public Schools, Little Free Library and local residents are working to place 100 LFLs in the city. The idea of a Little Free Library is simple. A small structure is erected in an accessible yard and filled with books. The “Take a book, return a book” system means anyone can add to the collection or take from it. Readers include those over age 50, as well as preschool children.
A child with 20 books in his or her home will read up to two grade levels higher than children without, according to Bol.
In September 2011, there were 5 Little Free Libraries in Minnesota. Now there are 900. There is a LFL in all 50 states, and in 50 countries.
Learn more at http://www .littlefreelibrary.org.

5625 23rd Ave. S.
Wenonah Elementary School
Judy Lander, LFL Steward

Lander thought a LFL would be a great service-learning project for her first grade. “It is a wonderful way to share our love of reading with the neighborhood,” said Lander. “I often see families walking to the library to take books and to put books in.”
There is a second LFL in the school entrance that is available for families to take and give books.
The Wenonah school LFL has a large collection of children’s books, with some adult books, dictionaries, etc.
Lander’s class spent last year learning about libraries at school, public libraries and bookstores. “We learned about their similarities and differences,” said Lander. They took the city bus and school buses to visit different libraries and a bookstore, and interviewed librarians. They took a field trip to a hardware store to learn about the tools needed to make a LFL. They worked with Jaci Smolund’s art class at Roosevelt High School to make little clay libraries for each child to take home. A parent built a LFL that was taken to Haiti for their first ever LFL. They even had Little Free Library Co-Founder Todd Bol visit the classroom. “And one of my students convinced his grandparents to put a LFL library in their yard so they added another one to the neighborhood,” said Lander.
After many visits to the LFL website to look at all the libraries, the students worked as a group to design the library. Classroom volunteer, Bob Olsen, built the library and the students painted it.
For their grand opening, students invited the preschool across the street. Lander’s students made the preschoolers little bags with books in for them, sang songs and read with each other.

4243 44th Ave. S.
Michael & Claudia Wondra,
LFL Stewards

“We just love our LFL!! We are having so much fun with it,” remarked the Wondras.
They installed a LFL library because they knew that living across from a park it would get a lot of patrons.
“It gives us an opportunity to meet more neighbors in our community and talk about one of our favorite pastimes: reading!” they said.
They have seen an incredible variety of books visit their LFL. Sci-Fi, mysteries, classics, non-fiction, biographies, self-help, cookbooks, etc.
“Please stop by and visit our LFL,” encourages the Wondras. “If you are lucky, you might even meet one of our pug/librarians!”

3824 47th Ave. S.
Anne Benning, LFL Steward

“Last summer our block had 12 kids under age 10 for the first time since we moved here 25 years ago. Our family loves to read and liked the idea of sharing books with our smallest neighbors,” explained Benning.
The library began with children’s books, including a shorter box for toddlers and preschoolers, and has grown to include books for all ages. The books change over all the time and neighbors have been very enthusiastic, according to Benning. “A favorite benefit is watching kids come over and choose a new book or leave a book for someone else and talking with new neighbors about what they like to read,” she said.
They designed and built the LFL with help from a visiting family. “Lots of people stopped by and asked about the project as we worked, then came back with books to donate. Our library was made using high tech equipment at a fabrication lab including a laser cutter and shop bot,” said Benning. “The pieces fit together without fasteners.”
“This is a true grass roots community project that anyone can join / promote,” said Benning.

4436 47th Ave. S.
Jerry Casey

Casey read an article about Little Free Libraries in the Star Tribune and thought it sounded like a neat idea for his block.
“The Little Free library is all about building community and passing the joy of reading on to the children in the neighborhood,” said Casey.
There have been a wide variety of books in our library, including classics and best sellers. Children’s books are especially popular.
“The LFL is a place for neighbors to stop and chat,” said Casey.
In the morning, a few kids on the block stop by to see what’s new. In the afternoon, seniors from Becketwood stop by while out for a walk. In the evening adults check out library contents on their walk home from the bus stop.
Casey and his brother Gene built the library from scraps. To get design ideas, they looked at the pictures on the Little Free Library website.


This story was published in the September edition of the Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger. 
http://www.longfellownokomismessenger.com/little-free-libraries-popping-up-in-longfellow-and-nokomis/

Helping the needy get nerdy

Students at Community School of Excellence recycle computers and donate them to families without one

by Tesha M. Christensen

Helping the needy get nerdy.

That’s the motto of the Asian Penguin club at the Community School of Excellence, a charter school at 170 Rose Ave. W. in St. Paul.

When school ended in June, the Asian Penguins had given away seven computers to families that didn’t have one.

About 30% of the families that send children to school at the Community School of Excellence don’t have a computer or internet access at home, noted Asian Penguin faculty adviser Stuart Keroff.

He overseas the program, along with fellow teacher Jeff Carter.

“The club was created to give kids the opportunity to do something fun and different with computers.,” stated Keroff “Right now, Linux is used on only 2% of desktop PCs, so none of the kids in the club had ever used it before.”

KIDS MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Students feel like they’re making a difference in their community. “It’s real nice that I’m helping the community and the world and changing it little by little,” one student told Carter. Another commented, “It is fun to help people.”

Another sees it as a larger mission: “We’re trying to change the world.”

“The kids use words like ‘fun’ and ‘awesome’ to describe what we do,” said Keroff.

The motto he shares with the students to describe their community service effort is a quote from Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple: “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”

The first family to receive a computer had only been out of the refugee camp in Thailand a couple of months.

Computers go to families with children at the School of Excellence who receive free or reduced lunch. The school’s Hmong and Karenni community liaisons help the Asian Penguins find eligible families.

STUDENTS RECYCLE COMPUTERS

The program began in the spring of 2012 with a small group of technology-oriented students that wanted to learn more about the desktop computers Keroff uses in his classroom. 

Keroff needed some desktop PCs for paperless quizzes for history, and was given some through a grant from Free Geek Twin Cities (www.freegeektwincities.org).  They recycle computers and use Ubuntu Linux as the operating system. 

“Once the machines were there, some of the students got very interested in something that was different from Microsoft Windows, so I started to teach them how to use and install the software,” said Keroff, who was already a Linux user.

When the 2012-2013 school year began, Keroff and students started a case study experiment to determine if Ubuntu Linux was a suitable replacement for Microsoft Windows on student laptop computers. 

“From there, we decided to go beyond just using Linux ourselves, but using Linux and open source software to help people in our community,” said Keroff. “We obtained computers to recycle, and then the students installed all of the software and got the computers ready to give away.”

He added, “We’ve been lucky in that the computers we’ve worked with so far have all had working components, just no software.”

When the school year ended, there were about 30 members in the Asian Penguins, spanning grades six to eight.

Teams of two to three students follow a multi-step checklist to get a computer ready.

“We start by checking for proper operation of all parts of the computer, we then do a thorough clean-up of the computer both inside and out.  We then install the Unbuntu operating system and selected applications  (Office Suite, Web Browser, Typing and Math tutor programs, Karenni and Hmong to English dictionaries), test all aspects of system for proper operation, assign a local serial number and finally set up user accounts on the computer,” said Carter.

The last touch is when the kids put the “Asian Penguins” sticker on the outside, certifying that the computer was prepared by the Penguins.  The whole process can 90 minutes or more and takes one to two days. Students work before, during and after school.

During Asian Club meetings, which are student-run, members discuss “upcoming ‘missions’ (what the kids call taking a computer to a family) and have a debriefing about past missions,” noted Carter. They also learn something new about the software, if time permits.

BIG PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

Next year, the Asian Penguins intend to donate at least 15 computers.

They plan to partner with the Linux Professional Institute to start offering students a Linux Essentials certification, an entry-level professional certification.

“As demand for Linux in industry grows, it feels good to know our students will leave 8th grade with a certificate that can open employment doors for them,” remarked Keroff.

They will also be starting tech support clinics for community members who are having computer problems.

 REWARDING WORK

“In all of my years of teaching, this is the most rewarding thing I have ever done,” stated Keroff.

Carter agreed. “This is one of the more satisfying things I have participated in as a teacher. The students are so engaged in helping their community and learning new things.”

[sidebar] Charter school under investigation

by Tesha M. Christensen

The Community School of Excellence (CSE) in St. Paul is being investigated by its authorizer Concordia University.

In mid-July, the Department of Education directed Concordia to investigate allegations that the school has misused federal funds, mishandled board elections, and improperly handled maltreatment complaints.

The complaint about how CSE uses free- and reduced-price lunch funds, including having students punch in for meals they do not consume, is not a new one. CSE was recently required to repay over $200,000 of misused food and nutrition (FNS) funds for similar issues.

Numerous complainants allege a persistent pattern of poor employment practices by the director of the school, wrote Lisa Needham of the Department of Education in a three-page letter to Concordia. Allegations include that the director threatens staff for disagreeing with her, reported a teacher to the Board of Teaching after the teacher resigned her position with CSE, and failed to provide teachers with paid time off and QComp funds that they had already earned.

The Department of Education is also concerned that school personnel are discouraged from reporting maltreatment and are that the investigations are being interfered with by the director.

Mo Chang, a longtime education who served as a charter school liaison for the St. Paul Public Schools, founded and directs the Community School of Excellence. The K-8 Hmong Language & Culture and IB World School is housed in the former home of St. Bernard’s Catholic school.

CSE opened in 2007 with 176 students, and since has seen its population grow to more than 830 students, according to its website.

These complaints raise a number of serious issues that CSE must address immediately, wrote Needham.

The Department of Education directed  Concordia to provide training on proper fiscal reporting as regards federal funds and investigate whether the school’s staff is continuing to require students to request reimbursement for meals they do not eat

Concordia must provide training on maltreatment reporting duties to staff, teachers, and the administration of the school.

Concordia must also provide training on how elections are to be conducted moving forward, as well as on the Open Meeting law.

Concordia was also directed to address the numerous employment-related concerns raised by staff, and to undertake a general investigation into the school’s finances to ensure that funds are not being mis-spent.

The university was given until Aug. 9 to address the issues.

This story was printed in the August edition of the St. Paul Monitor.
http://www.monitorsaintpaul.com/helping-the-needy-get-nerdy/

NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES | Storytime in the Southside Star Community Garden on Saturday

By Tesha Christensen, Neighborhood Notes

August 09, 2013

Attend story time in the Southside Star Community Garden on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013 at 5 p.m.
It is part of several activities in honor of Community Garden Day. There will be tours, food and drink and activities for kids from 4 to 8 p.m. Master gardeners will be on hand to answer questions.

ACTIVITIES:
• 4:30 p.m. — Compost tea demonstration by Southside Star Gardener Bob Weber (a part of the Southside Hub Mini-tour)   
• 5 p.m. — STORYTIME IN THE GARDEN for all ages with Roosevelt Librarian Ginger Gomes   
• 6 p.m. — Fruit-tree guilds and other concepts of permaculture with Standish-Ericsson resident Heather Ilse
Southside Star Community Garden is located at the 4100 block of 32nd Ave.
The first crops were planted at Southside Star in 2010. Each gardener pays $50 a year, and performs 10 hour of community service such as mowing, weeding, moving mulch, digging weeds out of the sidewalk, working on the shelter and filling water barrels. Prior to work days, a scheduled walk-through is done to create a task list for the work-day leader. People also do community work on their own time and drop a note with their hours into the mailbox in the shed.
There is a waiting list for garden plots. Contact Laura Hansen at <bigelle71@yahoo.com> for more information or call 612-968-4777.
OTHER LOCAL GARDENS HOSTING EVENTS:
• Fresh Food On 4th 4000 4th Ave S.
Collard Green Cook-Off and tasting, a gardening skill share, and many more gardening activities for adults and youth. 12:00pm-2:00pm. More info: 612-280-7072
• Jardin Paraiso/Paradise Garden 3405 Chicago Ave.
Demos and recipes for purslane, or verdolagas, the edible plant considered a “weed” here.
10am-noon. More info: silvia@corcoranneighborhood.org
• Windom Community Garden 62nd St & Nicollet Ave
Potluck picnic, lemonade & cookies provided. Face painting, scavenger hunt, crafts, & musical jam—bring your instruments! 4:30-6:30pm. More info: 612-423-7554

See original post @
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2013/08/09/storytime-southside-star-community-garden-saturday

NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES | Talent show part of Lake Hiawatha festival Wednesday

By Tesha Christensen, Neighborhood Notes

August 05, 2013

See the talents of your neighbors during the Wednesday, Aug. 7 talent show at Lake Hiawatha Park.
The talent show will be held during the Lake Hiawatha Festival that runs from 5 to 8 p.m. at the park. The talent show will begin at 6:15 p.m.
There are cash prizes: 1st place $50, 2nd $30 and 3rd $20. Preregistration required. Email lhfest@yahoo.com and include your talent.

ACTIVITIES
• Minnesota Lynx - The Minnesota Lynx WNBA team will have a booth at the festival. They will be bringing their inflatable basketball pop-a-shot, have giveaways for kids, and entries to win free tickets, and other fun prizes.  
• Water Feature  — The wading pool will be open during the festival. There will be an inflatable water slide.
• Canoe Rides – enjoy a canoe ride on Lake Hiawatha from 5:00-8:00 p.m. FREE
• Miniature Golf – enjoy 9 holes of mini golf provided by Party Putt LLC from 5:00-8:00 p.m.
• Caricaturist - Get a humerous drawing of yourself from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
• Family Fitness Challenge - compete with other families. If you want to participate in the family fitness challenge, please preregister. Email  lhfest@yahoo.com and in the body of the email list what fitness challenge your family will be participating in. Trophies will be awarded to the top three winners in the challenge.
  
• Pony Rides - for children 10 years old and younger. The location of the pony rides will be in the playing area near 28th Avenue.
• Other fun includes kids games, face painting, hair painting, fitness expo and the sports 5-in-1 moonwalk. Tickets cost 25¢ each.
•  For every $5 of tickets purchased receive one entry into the raffle. Raffle drawing at 7 p.m.
This event is sponsored and supported by the Lake Hiawatha Recreation Council, Standish-Ericsson Neighborhood Association and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. The festival first started in August 1996.
DETOUR
28th Avenue is currently undergoing construction starting at 40th St. Due to the construction do not use 28th Ave. to get to the festival. Instead, take Nokomis Ave. south to 44nd St. Turn west and follow 44th St. to the park.
More at http://www.lhrc.freeservers.com/festival.htm

SEE ORIGINAL POST @
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2013/08/05/talent-show-part-festival-wednesday

Two Minneapolis women launch Tango Chimichurri

‘A sauce for everyone,’ it is sold at the Minneapolis Farmers Market

by Tesha M. Christensen

Every Friday night, you can find Standish-Ericsson residents Mariana Leimontas and Suzie Holzinger at the GIA Kitchen in St. Paul chopping, dicing and mixing.

They are making the Tango Chimichurri sauce they’ll be selling fresh for the next two days at the Minneapolis Farmers Market on E. Lyndale Ave.

“We’re just so excited to share Mariana’s authentic recipe with everyone here in the city,” said Holzinger.

During their first attempt, it took about six or seven hours to make 60 jars. After five weeks, and they had cut the time down to around four hours for 70 jars.

“Chimichurri is a sauce that Argentines have used for nearly 200 years on all of their grilled meats,” said Holzinger. “It is also their traditional table sauce.”

Chimichurri originated in Argentina, but has found its way north through South and Central America. “There are several varieties using different herbs, but Mariana’s recipe is the authentic recipe,” pointed out Holzinger. Liemontas brought it with her from Argentina 10 years ago, and still imports her spices direct from Argentina.

“Tango Chimichurri is the closest you will come to what the gauchos used nearly 200 years ago,” noted Holzinger. “It has an Italian flavor that is quite unexpected. This has made it a versatile sauce that works great for more than just BBQ. It is amazing in vegetable stir fry, as a sandwich spread, in bruschetta, dips and much more. The great thing about Tango Chimi, is that it is naturally vegan, gluten free and sugar free.

“It’s a sauce for everyone.”

THE BIRTH OF A BUSINESS

Tango Chimichurri was born overnight.

Leimontas has been making her family’s special recipe for years (with spices from Argentina) and her friends and family have loved it considering a special treat at parties.

“We started our business the day after going out for my birthday with friends this past March,” recalled Holzinger. We were chatting about summer plans when my good friend, Marnna, demanded that we sell Mariana’s famous chimichurri at the Minneapolis Farmers Market. We all looked at one another and said, ‘You know what? Why not???’”

Leimontas had the name picked out and a logo started before the sun came up.

“If we knew what we were getting ourselves into, we may have brushed it off as just another night joking about start ups with friends,” admitted Holzinger.

“It has been a whirlwind these last three months and it hasn’t quite slowed down,” she said.

They have learned the most from talking to other entrepreneurs and people at the farmers market.

“For those who are interested in starting a food business, my best advice would be to check with the permits department in the city you are planning to sell and also check with the Department of Agriculture for laws surrounding your product and the way it should be manufactured,” recommended Holzinger. “We would have saved a lot of time if we had checked there first.”

When starting a business, “You have to be flexible, keep your eye on your goal, and understand that it can be expensive and time consuming,” said Holzinger.

At first their business plan involved canning the chimichurri sauce. They consulted food experts, did a ton of research, and spent the majority of April experimenting with different processes to can it. “We ordered jars of processed chimichurri online from across the country to taste it, in the end we found that it was horrible and nothing like the traditional sauce,” said Holzinger. “We decided in a few short weeks that we were going to make our product fresh, weekly for the market using no preservatives in the traditional style so that everyone could enjoy Chimichurri the way it is meant to be enjoyed, just like they would have it in Argentina.”

AUTHENTIC TASTE

What is the secret to making a great, authentic sauce? According to Holzinger, the secret is keeping it simple and using fresh ingredients. They buy local when they can, and have just started using sunflower oil from a local producer. “We never compromise and always stay true to the product,” said Holzinger.

“We put a lot of love into each jar, as we make each jar one at a time,” she added. “We measure each ingredient and add them to each jar separately -- just as Argentines would make it for their family.”

Confirmation that they’re on the right track has come when “their most discerning customers”, those from Argentina as well as Brazil and Uruguay, try it. “They have all admitted that it is the real deal,” said Holzinger.

“Many people are surprised by its flavor,” observed Holzinger. “It has a boldness, a zesty, tangy bite as we use premium red wine vinegar, and a sweetness from our authentic spices.”

The two have included recipes for how to use Tango Chimichurri on their web site, http://www.tangochimi.com/.

Tango Chimichurri is currently available at the Minneapolis Farmers Market on E. Lyndale Ave N. Holzinger and Leimontas have received a permit from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture which allows them to sell retail, and they hope to introduce it at a few local co-ops soon. Each 9-ounce jar is $8 or purchase two for $15.

They are also working on a “spicy” version that will be for sale by the end of the summer.

“It has been a lot of fun to see people try it for the first time,” said Holzinger. “From really small children to their grandparents, we have gotten a great response.”

This story was published in the August edition of the Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger.