EVENT DETAILS:
Need a way to store your produce, but walk-in coolers seem impossible because of the cost?
A coolbot cooler is an affordable, alternative cold storage option for many farmers. This Wisconsin Local Food Purchase Assistance (WI LFPA) Program event is an opportunity to learn how to build a trailer coolbot cooler. You'll learn what type of materials and tools needed to build the cooler and will take part in a hands-on building experience!
Lunch and refreshments will be provided to attendees. All WI-LFPA producers in attendance will be eligible for a $75 travel stipend but is limited to one travel stipend per awarded farm.
Any questions or concerns related to the event, please reach out to Chiang Rai Lor at (chiangrai@csacoalition.org) or Yimmuaj Yang (yimmuaj@groundswellconservancy.org).
This is a Hmong/HMoob language event. For any accommodation needs and interpretation for English and Spanish, please reach out to WI LFPA Specialist, Nou Thao (nou.thao@marbleseed.org).
EVENT RECAP:
The event took place at Westport Farm, a community farm, owned by Groundswell Conservancy. Groundwell’s Community Director Yimmuaj Yang, FairShare CSA Coalition’s Aggregation Coordinator Chiang Rai Lor, and Marbleseed LFPA Specialist Nou Thao were present.
Presley Chang, a vegetable farmer and carpenter, with coolbot cooler build experience led the workshop in the HMoob language. Yimmuaj and Nou provided interpretation from HMoob to English for non-HMoob speaking workshop attendees.
The event started with introduction, followed by safety rules and requirements, and a walk through of all the hand and power tools that were being used to build the coolbot cooler. The rest of the day was all hands-on building, where Presley explained the construction process and provided tips and tricks on building.
Workshop attendees were allowed to ask questions throughout the day and answers were provided. By the end of the workshop, 50% of the construction was completed. Farmers were asked if they learned one thing from the workshop and if they would feel comfortable building their own coolbot cooler. They all said yes, but they would still need help because it’s a big project.
“Good hands on.” – Melody Lo
“Food was amazing.” – Ryan McClure
“Hands on was great, did not see to completion.” – Andrew Rave
“It was great!” – Sam Douglass
All attendees gave 4-5 ratings for their overall experience with the workshop (5 is excellent).
Most attendees said their knowledge increased a great deal after the workshop.