All cloudy days have bright sides, and our current moment is no different. While there is great fear and uncertainty throughout the region, country, and world as the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened, individuals and organizations are working together to address the needs of their communities at the grassroots level. Here in the Upper Midwest, Artisan Grain Collaborative has launched Neighbor Loaves ℠ a program that supports farmers, millers, bakers, and eaters by promoting the sale and community distribution of locally grown and produced bread. And you can participate today from the convenience of your own home!

Here’s what to do:

1. Find and purchase Neighbor Loaves in the online store of one of the participating bakeries: Madison Sourdough and ORIGIN Breads in Madison, WI, Muddy Fork Farm & Bakery in Bloomington, IN, and Hewn in Evanston, IL.

2. Bakers will mix, shape, ferment, and bake the loaves you’ve ordered, using at least 50% flour grown on local sustainable farms for each loaf.

3. In partnership with area food pantries and emergency feeding organizations, bread will be distributed to your neighbors in need.

More than 1,000 loaves have been sold in just one week since the project launched. This effort is important not only because it keeps people in our communities fed and maintains sales opportunities for local farms and mills, but because it also supports bakeries in maintaining their capacity to employ people during this challenging and uncertain time. For example, because of this project, Muddy Fork Farm & Bakery in Bloomington, IN, was able to offer additional hours to their three part-time staff that were recently laid off from other jobs.

More bakeries will be joining the project in the coming weeks. We'll keep you posted and will continually update AGC's Neighbor Loaves webpage as new bakeries join. Buy a loaf today! And if you’re a baker who’d like to participate in the program or a food pantry in need of bread, send AGC a note at info@graincollaborative.com to get things rolling.

And finally: do not fear about a flour shortage. Your local farms and mills have got you! AGC compiled a list of resources last week for where to buy grain, flour, bread, and other Upper Midwest foods and agricultural products during the pandemic and beyond. Though you might not see it in your grocery store, there is plenty of grain and flour to be had within local and regional food systems. This is what food security and resiliency looks like.

AGC recently spoke with Matt Tanaka, Founder & Creative Director of Stout Collective, a marketing and design studio focused on the beer industry, to ask his advice for how breweries should market themselves in a crisis. Stout has generously offered to provide complimentary strategy sessions to breweries to talk about branding, marketing, design, or whatever else might be helpful at this time and recently launched a worldwide industry fundraiser with Other Half Brewing Company that both breweries and consumers can participate in. In addition, the Brewers Association is offering all nonmember breweries a free temporary membership to have access to critical updates and member resources. Email membership@brewersassociation.org for more information.

Also check out the North American Craft Maltsters Guild Coronavirus Resource Center. In the next few weeks, they’ll be publishing a blog post from the perspective of a malthouse owner on their process of applying for a SBA Disaster Assistance Loan. And for beer drinkers, check out Craftbeer.com's Nationwide List of To-Go Beer Options by Brewery to continue supporting your local brewery while in isolation.

Jonny Funk, Katie Funk, and Jeff Hake are founders and partners of Funks Grove Heritage Fruits and Grains, a nine acre farm located in historic Funks Grove, Illinois. Follow them at the links below for gorgeous images of farm life including stunning woodland fungi (upper right), strawberries mingling with last year's sunflower stems (lower right), and spring plants peeking their heads out of the soil in recent weeks. You can currently order their products through the Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup website; their own will be up and running soon!

When we aren’t baking (and remember- there’s no flour shortage!! here’s a list of where to get it shipped right to your doorstep), we could all use an extra dose of positive activities and material these days! Here are a few recommendations that are equal parts educational, relaxing, and lighthearted.