Happy Friday! Megan here.
Weather check: A cooler weekend
This week, I've got a look at some ideas for how you can use those extra cucumbers in your garden. Plus, meet a boutique med spa helping Sioux Fallsians feel confident and healthy, and catch some Super Simplified Stories to take you into the weekend.
And now, news:
COMMUNITY
How gleaning prevents food waste and builds community
Simplified: It's the time of year when both farmers and local gardeners have excess produce, and there are a few local efforts modeling ways to use that excess and share it around to prevent waste. Here's what to know about gleaning.
Why it matters
- Gleaning is a term that dates back to the bible and to agrarian societies. It describes the idea of taking the excess from farms, gardens, etc. to make sure nothing goes to waste and everyone who needs food has access to it.
- Between 30 and 40% of all food produced for human consumption goes to waste, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). That ranges from produce that goes to rot in the field to restaurant meals that went unsold or uneaten.
- Meanwhile, data from a 2022 Augustana Research study shows that 17% (or about 1 in 6) kids in Sioux Falls face food insecurity, meaning they don't have consistent access to enough food for a healthy, active life, per the USDA definition.
- In addition to preventing food waste, gleaning is also a way to build community. Dr. Beth Jensen, who runs a family farm when she isn't working as a family physician, said in her work in the medical field, she sees lots of people who are feeling lonely or depressed and lacking human connection. She combats this loneliness by inviting people to her farm for Glean for Good events, in which they make a meal and get to know one another.
"I’m hoping that over the course of just chopping vegetables, sitting over the grill and maybe cutting flowers there are some connections made that break down some of these barriers, and that we can kind of come together," Jensen said. "I don't think it has to be more complicated than that."
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SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS
This boutique med spa will have you feeling confident and healthy
This is a paid piece from Liv Med Spa.
Simplified: Liv Med Spa has a wide range of aesthetic and elective healthcare services to help you feel like your best self. Here's what you need to know about this local business and the Sioux Falls woman behind it.
Why it matters
- Before she founded Liv Med Spa, Kasandra Wheeler worked as an oncology nurse for five years. She started doing some medical spa offerings as a side hustle and then decided to go full-time with her business in 2023.
- Liv Med Spa offers medical treatments in a spa-like setting with flexible hours to accommodate busy schedules. Wheeler emphasizes the importance of accessibility for her clients, including transparent pricing and an intake process that fits each client's budget and goals.
- At the end of the day, Wheeler wants her clients to feel confident and healthy. It's not about vanity, she said. It's about taking care of yourself.
"Self care is huge – especially when you're a mom," Wheeler said. "If you take the time and invest in yourself, you'll feel better."
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TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- You CAN sit with us.* Atelier Salon & Co is a luxury yet approachable salon in Sioux Falls, offering hair and lash services in a welcoming, inclusive space where everyone truly belongs. In an industry that has often been seen as competitive and intimidating, they're working to change that narrative. Their motto, You Can Sit With Us, reflects our mission to create a supportive, kind, and uplifting environment; not just for our clients, but for professionals in the beauty industry as well. Celebrate this new business with a ribbon cutting and open house on Sept. 11, and learn more about Atelier Salon & Co here.
- There's still time to 'Shape Sioux Falls.' The Shape Sioux Falls 2050 long-range development plan is nearing its final form, but there's still time to give your feedback on how our city approaches growth, zoning, development, etc. over the next 25 years. There will be two upcoming events to give you a chance to look at the plan and provide feedback, including during Downtown Riverfest on Sept. 20 and again from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 6 at the downtown library. Learn more about the plan here.
- Meet the teens helping the mayor. Mayor Paul TenHaken has officially kicked off his 2025-26 Mayor's Youth Council with 12 high school juniors and seniors. Those include:
- Sahilu Assefa, Jefferson High School; Eva Adams, Naomi Jespersen, Tammy Tran, and Amare Williams, Lincoln High School; Grant Roth, O’Gorman High School; Neliea Daws and Siya Patel, Roosevelt High School; Grace Henkel, Benjamin Johnson, and Abigail Ondricek, Sioux Falls Christian; and Owen Reed, Washington High School.
- United Way launches 2025 campaign. Sioux Empire United Way this week kicked off Thursday with a goal to raise nearly $9.3 million to support area nonprofits. Their theme for the campaign is "United is the Way," and you can learn more about how to support their fundraising efforts here.
*Denotes a paid partnership.
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
More Simplified Stories
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
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