Organizational development
Food systems planning
Grant project buildout
Conference and panel moderation
One gift we humans possess is for each of us to believe our way is the best way. In a group setting, a facilitator helps merge each participant’s best way into the group’s best way—the best way forward for the collective good.
Preparing to apply for a grant, starting a collaboration, redirecting focus, and picking your way through the community food systems maze are all familiar subjects. When you’re knee deep in these places, choosing a path and gaining momentum can feel overwhelming.
Ink & Soil’s facilitators work within and between organizations to create connections that help you see through your individual wants and needs to build bridges, understand your shared values and vision, and decide on the best way forward. Essentially, we help you get out of your own way to collectively move communities toward the food system we all deserve.
Nice words from clients:
“Lisa's help was invaluable in setting up the nonprofit. She guided us in putting into words our intentions for the farm and envisioned what our mission looked like. Not an easy task.”
— Betty Beshoar, The Jane Julian Farm, Inc.
“Lisa did a great job helping our group narrow in on our core values and shared vision. I would strongly recommend her as a facilitator for other food-system-related facilitations.”
What facilitation for connections and collaborations looks like:
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With decades in community food systems work, Ink & Soil’s facilitators bring both objectivity and insider knowledge to the challenges and opportunities your group is facing. Using various facilitation frameworks, including the North American Food Systems AgriCluster Resilience and Expansion facilitation program, we work together to establish your group’s history, values and vision and a working plan to help you get there. (Lisa is a NAFSN ACRE Facilitator Course graduate and Certified Trainer.)
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There’s a lot of USDA and private funding available for farming and food-systems projects—yes, even still in today’s volatile funding climate. Get yourself, your farm or your group organized now so you’re ready to get to work when grant applications open.
Several Ink & Soil team members bring robust knowledge of various parts of the grants process, having worked on grant-funded projects, written grants, and acted as a grant reviewer for government and private funders.
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A shared sense of identity among individuals in your group, the values you hold in common and a shared vision for where you’re going are the bedrock for starting, redirecting or shoring up any organization or initiative. We’ll use creative exercises to foster pride, build trust and come out the other side with the clarity needed to move your work forward.
This is an essential first step in working together that too many organizations and communities of practice skip, telling themselves they don’t have the time/money. Strong connection-building at the start leads to strong working relationships as your work together progresses.