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 Fern Farm once we’re gone.”

The farm, located about a 15-minute drive from both the Mark Twain and Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuges, provides ideal educational opportunities for visitors to Southeast Iowa. Kathy, a career naturalist, wanted to be sure education was part of the farm’s future.

Over the last 30 years or so, the farm has evolved into a haven of shade-making, soil-holding perennials. It contains “wild timber along with 22-plus acres in a planted mosaic of mature and immature chestnut, pawpaw, persimmon, black walnut, heartnut, plum, Asian pear and other food-producing perennial trees,” according to the easement narrative provided by Tom and Kathy. “Intermingled are shrubs of honey berry, currants, Aronia, spice bush and hazel.”

The easement brings the young SILT, which turns 6 in January, to more than 1,000 acres of protected farms across the state. While the couple has no intention of moving any time soon, once they decide to sell the farm, the land and home are expected to cost much less than surrounding land, keeping it affordable for future farmers.

SILT works with Iowa landowners to permanently protect their land for sustainable food farming. Anyone interested in being a part of the SILT solution can visit silt.org or contact us at (319) 800-8108.