Betty Serves Pie — And A Whole Lot More —from Her St. Paul Garden

On weekend mornings in mid-August, shoppers flock to St. Paul's waterfront for a small farmers market.

The incentive to arrive early is not only to buy fresh groceries, but also to leave with one of my homemade cakes. And no, this is not my homemade "port cake" glory.

Instead, these cakes belong to Betty Lauterman, who hosts street markets and bakes fresh pastries. The muffins and blueberry muffins were the highlight of the day.

"I like the pancakes because they're not too sweet," said Kim Strain, a neighbor who buys the food and has a good business model. "Betty wants to produce organic food that doesn't create waste. She believes that everyone has the right to good food."

For Strawn and others who shop there, Lauterman, nicknamed the Pie Lady, is better known only for her pastries.

Lauterman uses its food processing license to fulfill its mission of providing affordable, delicious and healthy food to its neighbors through a business model you want. Proceeds from the market and other fundraising activities go to local food banks.

"I use it to raise money for Second Harvest Heartland, so it helps feed a lot of people," said Lauterman, whose charitable mission won the 2022-23 Star Tribune Beautiful Garden Award.

Lands

Lauterman grew up with his mother on a farm near Edgerton in southwest Minnesota. Later he started experimenting in the kitchen and using recipes from other cultures and places.

His appreciation for food inspired him to open a restaurant or bakery. But with three kids and a full-time job teaching Spanish in the Mounds View Public Schools, all of that took a backseat.

Then, in 2016, with her children, the recently retired Lauterman launched Betty's Business, the perfect place to nurture her love of gardening and healthy, comfort food.

With the help of his 5-year-old nephew, Thomas, Lauterman grows more than 40 different varieties of food from Laterman's seeds in Lauterman's backyard in St. Anthony Park.

"He has been gardening since he was one year old. He knows how to plant and grow trees," she said.

Minnesota native plum and apple trees are growing, including one grown by Carlson, which Lauterman says is "great for making apple pie."

On Sunday mornings, the arcade market reflects what's ripe in the park. Dozens of muffins and blueberry muffins are packed and ready to ship.

"I baked it this morning," Lauterman said. "Everything is always fresh."

Delicatessen and groceries are also available. Crab apple jelly is paired with herbs like basil, sage, coriander, mint, and thyme, as well as herbs like zucchini, cucumber, tomato, onion, and garlic. Lauterman collects standard salsa combinations to make this week's salsa verde — tomatoes, onions, garlic, cilantro and lime — and provides recipe cards.

"Most of the soup's ingredients come from my garden," she said. "I can't grow lemons in Minnesota even when they do wonders."

as a clock

Lotterman hosts a farmers market six times during the growing season, about every third weekend, and announces the dates through an email and social media list. They also host a seasonal community-supported mini-farm program, providing groceries to elderly families.

In early June, Lotterman sold seeds and plants that raised $1,200 for Second Harvest Heartland last year. At the end of the summer, he presents an annual dinner with artists in the garden, which attracts about 60 people. When a local musician performs at a concert, the patrons eat food that Lauterman buys from his garden.

Like all other endeavors, Diner is built on the "pay what you can" model. The event will also feature the work of a local artist on a newly designed bus stand installed in the campus.

At other times of the year, the bus stop is Lotterman's Landing, which was saved from the corner of Como and Carter streets during road construction.

"While cycling around the construction site, I saw a bus stop on a big loading bucket. I went up to the driver and asked him where the stop was going, and he threw a pillow at the junk yard." An outdoor heat lamps, and cedar flooring, "Laterman said. It was all in good shape with metal, glass and wood beams."

It is a way of life.

Lotterman is committed to making the park as green as possible by reducing the use of fossil fuels. No pesticides or herbicides are used in the garden and the fertilizer comes from the compost that is made on site. Solar energy is used in food processing. Pack the products you sell in reusable containers.

Because he is so friendly with the environment, he carries everything he needs for the garden with a wheelbarrow or a Schwinn trolley.

"I don't have a car... it means I've created an ecosystem where it doesn't add too much and doesn't take too much away," Lauterman said. "I use nature's cycle to grow amazing fruits and vegetables and beautiful flowers. And solar panels give me the energy I need."

The customers — cake or no cake — couldn't be more grateful for Lotterman's efforts.

Her former neighbor, Paige Harker, is now commuting to work from her new home in Maplewood. That afternoon, Harker is too late to buy a cake, but with wax grain and fresh fruit leaves.

"I've been coming here for three years and I'm coming back," said Harker. "It's really an experience and a chance to see people around. It's a great community."