Justin

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So far Justin has created 138 blog entries.

Board Spotlight: Sheila’s Journey from SILT’s Founding Table to Today

In our ongoing series highlighting SILT board members, we're excited to share the story of Sheila Knople-Odole, whose path from northeast Iowa farm roots to SILT's founding table exemplifies the expertise that shaped our organization. Sheila's connection to sustainable farming runs deep. Growing up in northeast Iowa in the 1970s, she spent time on her grandparents' diverse dairy farm with rotational corn, bean, and oats crops, plus chickens, pigs, and cows. While attending the University of Iowa, Sheila worked at New Pioneer Co-op. This position ignited her passion for sustainable agriculture. "It was during this job that I discovered [...]

2025-08-06T16:26:18-05:00August 6th, 2025|News|Comments Off on Board Spotlight: Sheila’s Journey from SILT’s Founding Table to Today
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Oneota Co-op

Oneota Co-op is a 51-year old food cooperative located in downtown Decorah. This community-owner grocer champions local, organic, sustainable and natural foods, supplements and gift items. Twenty-six percent of the Co-op’s annual sales are generated by vendors located within 100 miles of Decorah. The Co-op prioritizes supporting these farms and family businesses while simultaneously providing seasonal vegetables, fruits, meats, cheeses, seeds, plants, and shelf-stable grocery items to its shoppers. Sweet Season Farm of Calmar (a SILT farm) is one of the Co-op’s many local vendors. Building vibrant communities and ecosystems is central to the Oneota Co-op mission. The Co-op’s [...]

2025-07-18T11:36:05-05:00July 18th, 2025|News|Comments Off on Oneota Co-op
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From Soil to Stewardship: Mary Ellen Miller’s Journey with SILT

Celebrating our 10th anniversary, we're highlighting the dedicated board members who have shaped SILT's mission. Today, we feature Mary Ellen Miller, whose deep roots in Iowa agriculture and decades of nonprofit leadership continue to guide our organization. Mary Ellen Miller's connection to Iowa soil runs deeper than most—her familial history in the state runs back seven generations.  Modeled by her father’s farming philosophies that were practiced outside Kalona in the 1940s and 50s, early on she learned a principle that still guides her today: we can never own the land; we are temporary stewards. This philosophy took root early. [...]

2025-07-18T11:31:41-05:00July 18th, 2025|News|Comments Off on From Soil to Stewardship: Mary Ellen Miller’s Journey with SILT
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SILT Board Member Les Beck on Personal Responsibility and Getting Involved in Sustainable Food Systems

Les Beck, Past President of the Board of Directors for the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT), has devoted his life to building strong communities. In 2021, he retired from a 38-year career which included roles such as Planning and Zoning Director for Story County, IA and the Planning and Development Director for Linn County, IA. He’s been involved with SILT since 2014, and views responsible land management as key to not only environmental wellbeing, but individual wellbeing too. His early introduction to sustainability came through the Landscape Architecture program at Iowa State, and Ian McHarg’s Design with Nature, a [...]

2025-04-08T19:01:04-05:00April 8th, 2025|News|Comments Off on SILT Board Member Les Beck on Personal Responsibility and Getting Involved in Sustainable Food Systems
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Story County Supports Farmland Preservation Initiative

Story County Supports Farmland Preservation Initiative Story County Board of Supervisors Approves Resolution of Support for Circle Our Cities Initiative West Branch, IA — The Story County Board of Supervisors has approved a resolution in support of the Circle Our Cities initiative from the nonprofit Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT). This initiative will help landowners permanently preserve working farms to provide local access to healthy foods, protect clean water, healthy soils, and wildlife, and increase land access for new and underrepresented farmers. "We are thrilled to see Story County join the Circle Our Cities campaign, demonstrating their commitment to sustainable agriculture [...]

2024-10-28T18:05:55-05:00October 28th, 2024|News|Comments Off on Story County Supports Farmland Preservation Initiative
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Beltran Receives Sustainable Agriculture Grant

(May 6, 2024) - Jennifer Beltran with Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT) in West Branch, IA, was awarded $50,000 for the project, "Insight into Action: A Needs-Based Assessment of Four Sustainable Farms in Iowa." "We will perform a needs-based assessment of four sustainable farms in Iowa, conduct actionable research based on data, and create tailored educational materials and training sessions that address vulnerabilities, challenges, and opportunities for small, sustainable farmers," said Beltran. This grant was awarded as part of NCR-SARE's 2024 Partnership Grant Program. The Partnership Grant Program is intended to foster cooperation between agriculture professionals and small groups [...]

2024-05-08T18:20:18-05:00May 8th, 2024|News|Comments Off on Beltran Receives Sustainable Agriculture Grant
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SILT Seeks First-Time Accreditation

Stakeholder Notification/Public Notice Sustainable Iowa Land Trust Accreditation The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. The Sustainable Iowa Land Trust is pleased to announce it is applying for accreditation. A public comment period is now open. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, conducts an extensive review of each applicant’s policies and programs. The accreditation process assures that the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust is operating at the highest levels of competence in all areas including our finances and [...]

2020-02-04T12:59:53-06:00January 5th, 2020|News|Comments Off on SILT Seeks First-Time Accreditation
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We Invite You to Build a Fairer Iowa

The days are short, the dark is cold, the stars are bright. It’s time for inside work. My inside work today is a story about trust, a story that includes you and that does not end today. In November 2014, twenty-five people came together in Perry IA to decide whether or not to launch the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust. They represented 25 leaps of faith. Bill Stowe, Denise O’Brien, Fred Kirschenmann, Cornelia and Jan Flora - people who had spent their lives creating an Iowa that offered a fair shake for every person. They knew that justice – from [...]

2024-09-25T09:05:40-05:00December 28th, 2019|News|Comments Off on We Invite You to Build a Fairer Iowa
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A New Farming Family in Decorah

Andy and Betsy Boone and their children moved onto SILT's Luzum Heritage Farm in 2018. They are making a new life with their pigs, sheep and chickens. Their children are growing up in a healthy, clean, natural world. It's a way for natural food consumers to be sure they'll always have access to quality food. Support SILT today and become a part of new lives on new farms.

2020-02-04T11:13:29-06:00December 5th, 2019|News|Comments Off on A New Farming Family in Decorah
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SILT Matters – A Word from Our President

SILT is bringing equity, justice and diversity to Iowa's landscape. SILT President Stuart Valentine, a financial adviser from Fairfield, IA, explains how. SILT Makes Sense. Donate today because it's the only way. "[SILT] lowers that barrier of entry for that new regenerative farmer to get on the land. We want to see Iowa become a model of regenerative agriculture rather than what it is today which you might think of as extractive agriculture."

2019-12-05T18:55:37-06:00December 5th, 2019|News|Comments Off on SILT Matters – A Word from Our President
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