Rhubarb Renaissance

2012 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$355

Project of

Traverse des Sioux Library Cooperative Legacy Grant SFY 2012 - SFY 2013

Fund Source

Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund

Recipient Type

Libraries

Status

Completed

Start Date

May 2012

End Date

May 2012

Activity Type

Education/Outreach/Engagement

Counties Affected

Martin

Project Overview

Kim Ode, baker for the Baking Central section of the Star Tribune’s Taste section and author of Rhubarb Renaissance, spoke about the variety of uses of rhubarb and provided samples of two rhubarb dishes—a rhubarb crepe and a biscuit with rhubarb, cheese, and green onions—as well as pickled rhubarb. She gave a short history of the plant, covered how global warming might affect rhubarb, and described how she came up with the original dishes in this cookbook. She ended the program by signing books.

Project Details

Held on Thursday, May 24th at 7:00 pm at the Martin County Library in Fairmont. Our attendance was 25 adults.

Project Details: 2012 Fiscal Year

Legal Citation / Subdivision

Laws of Minnesota for 2011 Chapter 6, Article 4, Subdivision 4

2012 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$355

Other Funds Leveraged

$75

Direct expenses

$430

Administration costs

Number of full time equivalents funded

Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Participants will learn more about rhubarb and its uses, meet a Minnesota cookbook author and newspaper writer, learn and share new recipes and explore the library’s collection of cookbooks.

Measurable Outcome(s)

An evaluation was conducted following the program, 18 people in attendance completed the evaluations. 18 people stated that they learned more about rhubarb as a result of attending this program. All in attendance met Kim Ode and had an opportunity to interact with her. 15 of the 18 people stated that they were excited to try new recipes as a result of attending this program.6 people in attendance left the library following the program with additional cookbooks in their possession. There were also 3 requests for additional cooking and cookbook type programs at the library.

Source of Additional Funds

Traverse des Sioux Library System, Kim Ode, and Friends of the Martin County Library. Partner Organization(s) Contribution/Role in the Program: Kim Ode shared her knowledge about rhubarb, provided recipe samples and sold and signed her book, Rhubarb Renaissance. Friends of the Library helped set up for the program, and promoted it through their newsletter and word of mouth.