Yearly Archives: 2020

Winchell Estate Donates Easement Near Des Moines

T.C. Winchell bought 25 acres just south of the Bear Creek Quaker Meeting in Earlham to maintain the solemnity of the Meeting. In her will, she asked that the land remain in agriculture. This month, her husband and executor of the estate Bob Winchell donated a SILT conservation easement to fulfill her wishes. As new large homes pop up near this property located just 30 miles from Des Moines, future farmers can rest assured that this farm will never compete with them for price. In fact, evidence shows that with this farm protected and owned by a successful, chemical-free [...]

2021-07-21T17:17:43-05:00December 23rd, 2020|News|0 Comments
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SILT Protects Red Fern Farm

For Release December 14, 2020 SILT co-founders Tom Wahl and Kathy Dice, owners of Red Fern Farm in Wapello, donated a conservation easement to the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust in December, permanently protecting their 86 acres for perennial agriculture. The easement is the first one of its kind in Iowa known to SILT, requiring perennial food production in perpetuity. "Time and again I have seen where fruit and nut plantings that took a lifetime of work to build were bulldozed away in a matter of hours," Tom Wahl said. "This easement will ensure this does not happen at Red [...]

2020-12-14T12:32:09-06:00December 14th, 2020|News|0 Comments
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Two Radio Shows Interview New Agroforestry Specialist

This week, KNIA radio out of Southeast Iowa featured SILT's newest addition - Agroforestry Specialist Jonathan Hendricks from Shelby, IA. Jonathan is only 2 months into his job, but bravely went forth and spoke to Bob. Jon did an excellent job representing what SILT does and how agroforestry on Iowa land will improve soil quality while diversifying our ag economy! Listen to the KNIA Interview Here The following week, Jeff Stein at KXEL also interviewed Jon about what agroforestry is and why it is needed in Iowa. Listen to KXEL Interview Here

2020-12-14T07:52:24-06:00December 4th, 2020|News|0 Comments
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SILT Protects 40 More Acres in Johnson County

AVAILABLE FOR AFFORDABLE LONG-TERM LEASE Solon, Iowa – Johnson County farmer Brian Fleck and his spouse Sabra just donated 40 acres they call Bee Haven Farm to the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT), the group announced today. “The Flecks’ generosity has been a true inspiration to everyone at SILT, especially during such a challenging year,” said SILT Executive Director Suzan Erem. Bee Haven Farm is the second farm in Johnson County donated to SILT. SILT, based in West Branch, specializes in the permanent protection of farmland to grow nature-friendly table food. It helps beginning farmers launch their careers [...]

2020-12-11T21:13:48-06:00October 22nd, 2020|News|0 Comments
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Jupiter Ridge Farm Featured in Local Paper

Congratulations Will Lorentzen and Adrian White for their story featured in the Dubuque Telegraph Herald for being the first farmers in Iowa to sign a SILT Ground Lease. Will and Adrian will now pay a low monthly rent on land they and their heirs will always be able to farm while gaining equity in their home and buildings. Special thanks to land donor Steve Beaumont who made these dreams come true! Photo Credit: Dave Kettering, Dubuque Telegraph Herald  Read the Story

2023-07-21T10:51:10-05:00September 27th, 2020|News|0 Comments
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SILT Launches Adopt-an-Acre Campaign

Adopt an Acre: There's a new way to see your SILT support in action. Announced late summer 2020, SILT has posted four farms it is planning to protect by the end of the year. Donors can direct their donation to a particular farm acquisition by "adopting an acre" or more or less as they so choose. The funds raised are being matched by UNFI, the nation's natural food distributor. "We have Iowans ready to donate all or most of the value of their farm to SILT," explained Executive Director Suzan Erem. "All we need to raise is the closing [...]

2020-09-20T13:23:12-05:00September 14th, 2020|News|0 Comments
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White Privilege in Iowa

This recent article by former Drake Ag Law School Director Neil Hamilton and published on Bill Moyer's website. It is what white privilege looks like in Iowa. It starts with land ownership and the policies that landowners, starting with the very first European settlers, were able to get passed on their behalf. Want to change the arc of that history? Join SILT and treat Iowa farmland as a common good, not a commodity. Learn more here. 

2020-09-07T13:48:05-05:00September 7th, 2020|News|0 Comments
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LSP Features Luzum Farm Transfer

The Land Stewardship Project, a SILT ally based in Minnesota, featured SILT and its transfer of the Luzum Heritage Farm to the Boone Family in a recent newsletter. We thank Brian DeVore, LSP Managing Editor and Media Coordinator for his work on this story. DeVore is author of Wildly Successful Farming, published by the University of Wisconsin Press. See the feature story in the LSP newsletter.  Hear or download the podcast.  “There’s just something that doesn’t feel morally right about me being the one that cashes in, when my ancestors worked their butts off to pass it on. [...]

2020-09-20T13:22:12-05:00September 6th, 2020|News|0 Comments
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