Wittrig family establishes Iowa’s first sustainable food production conservation easement Pioneering arrangement will preserve 130 acres in perpetuity John Wittrig with his daughter Laura and long-time friend Tom Wahl on his 130 acres in Washington County now permanently protected to grow healthy food. 13 November 2017—John Wittrig and his family just made Iowa history. They’ve created the state’s first agricultural conservation easement permanently protecting 130 acres of their farm for sustainable food production, something only the newest land trust in Iowa offers. Wittrig grew up on the family farm in not far from Winfield, the town in which [...]

Paul Johnson, former head of the Natural Resource Conservation Service under President Bill Clinton discussing Lyle Luzum's farm. Former presidential appointee and Iowa legislator Paul Johnson explained at SILT's annual Land Protector Recognition Dinner Nov. 16, that there are three things that make up our soil - clay, silt and sand. Clay and sand are both extremely difficult to grow anything in, he said, but "SILT binds it all together." That's what SILT did that night, bringing together rural and urban, local food lovers, farmers and environmentalists for a celebratory night honoring Lyle Luzum and his family from [...]