Connection & Community, Back on the Menu

CELEBRATING LOCAL AT HARVEST MOON DINNER

In September on the full moon, you’ll find about 70 diners making their way around Enos Farms, taking in the rolling Driftless scenery and enjoying a meal that is “over-the-top local,” according to co-owner Erin Crooks Lynch. For over 10 years, she and her husband Jeremy have hosted their annual Harvest Moon Dinner at their Spring Green hog farm. The dinners immerse guests in the farm surroundings, so you can expect rough terrain and a few bugs alongside beauty and delicious food. The effort is worth it beyond the five-course meal, which features pork from their rotationally-grazed pigs. One of Erin’s favorite parts is witnessing the bond that forms between strangers and the community built around experiencing something at times challenging but truly magical.

The sold-out dinners are a celebration of the region, from the menu built around what is in season on the farm to the featured beverages and art. By the end of the evening, diners depart feeling a deeper connection to the land, their food and each other. enosfarms.com/harvestmoondinner

MORE THAN PIZZA POPPING UP AT TROY FARM

Changes to the popular pizza nights at Troy Farm were in the works even before their 2020 hiatus. The farm’s new pop-up style dinners not only provide greater access but also an opportunity to highlight local chefs and a wider diversity of food. The goal of these new events is to allow guests to connect with each other and the organic urban farm on Madison’s north side, while increasing event accessibility with more meals available at lower costs. On the first and third Thursdays of the month, August through mid-October, look forward to dishes from local chefs and community partners, and perhaps the occasional pizza night. The menu may be changing at Troy Farm, but their pursuit of sharing knowledge and building community through farming and food remains the same. rootedwi.org/farms/troy-farm