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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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Sustainable Iowa Land Trust receives $50,000 Grant to Support Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable Iowa Land Trust receives $50,000.00 grant to support sustainable agriculture Funds will be used to perform a needs-based assessment on Iowa’s small sustainable farms West Branch, IA —The Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT) is the recipient of a $50,000.00 grant from the North Central Sustainable Agriculture and Research Education Partnership (SARE). The grant program is intended to foster cooperation between agriculture professionals and small groups of farmers and ranchers to produce on-farm research, demonstration, and education activities related to sustainable agriculture. Funds will be used to perform a needs-based assessment on Iowa’s under-studied small farm to table farms. “The [...]

2024-02-09T10:57:30-06:00February 9th, 2024|News|Comments Off on Sustainable Iowa Land Trust receives $50,000 Grant to Support Sustainable Agriculture
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Sustainable Iowa Land Trust receives $1.8M USDA grant

Sustainable Iowa Land Trust receives $1.8M USDA grant to increase land access for underrepresented farmers Group expands “Circle Our Cities” Campaign to protect farmland in Waterloo and Cedar Rapids West Branch, IA —The Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT) is the recipient of a $1,811,700 grant from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase land access for underrepresented farmers. The organization will also expand its Circle Our Cities Campaign to protect vulnerable farmland. The campaign will circle 10 Iowa cities with 10 permanent, sustainable farms in 10 years and has begun in Dubuque, Des Moines, Fairfield, and Iowa City. [...]

2023-12-13T08:28:27-06:00December 13th, 2023|News|0 Comments
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Celebrating Our First Working Buffers Planting in Dubuque County

SILT's First Working Buffer Planted! We are delighted to announce the successful completion of our inaugural Working Buffers initiative in Dubuque County. The Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT) has achieved a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to sustainable land use and environmental conservation. This transformative project took place along the picturesque banks of Catfish Creek on an 8-acre former crop-field owned by Jeff Reuter. The restoration involved planting 5,800 seedling trees, strategically allocating 25% to food-producing varieties such as northern pecan, walnut, shellbark hickory, hazelnut, elderberry, and wild plum. Jeff Reuter has committed to a 15-year Conservation Reserve Program [...]

2023-11-21T14:13:20-06:00November 21st, 2023|News|0 Comments
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Introducing Sweet Season Farm: Our New Farmers at Luzum Farm

We're thrilled to introduce you to Ethan and Carly Zierke, the newest farmers to join the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT) family. Together, they are the co-owners of Sweet Season Farm, and they bring their passion for organic agriculture and sustainable farming practices to their new farm. They are the newest tenants of Luzum Heritage Farm. Let's get to know Ethan and Carly a little better: Ethan, originally from Iowa City, Iowa, and Carly, hailing from Marquette, Iowa, are on a mission to cultivate 30 different types of certified organic vegetables. They supply their produce through various channels, including [...]

2023-05-24T12:07:11-05:00May 24th, 2023|News|0 Comments
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Protecting Iowa’s Farmland: The Importance of Local Food

In recent years, there has been a growing movement in Iowa and across the country to promote the benefits of local food systems. Local food not only supports the local economy and helps to preserve traditional farming practices, but also offers a range of health and environmental benefits. At Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT), we believe that protecting Iowa's farmland is essential to promoting sustainable and just food systems. By supporting local farmers and encouraging sustainable farming practices, we can help to create a more resilient and equitable food system for all. One of the key benefits of local [...]

2023-05-04T14:03:23-05:00May 4th, 2023|News|0 Comments
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Welcome SILT’s New Executive Director

Iowa’s only land trust dedicated to preserving land to grow table food announced today its transition from founder to first professional executive director, a complicated but promising transition for a young nonprofit. The Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT) has hired Breanna Horsey of Storm Lake as its next leader upon the announcement of Executive Director Suzan Erem’s retirement after nearly a decade launching the statewide organization. A native of Angleton, Texas, Horsey previously served as the executive director of Storm Lake United, where she successfully promoted business, tourism and economic development in the Northwest Iowa town. Horsey’s experience also [...]

2023-05-02T16:16:28-05:00February 21st, 2023|News|0 Comments
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Walker Donates Nut Farm

The Nut Farm in Ottumwa was founded by Kent and Leisa Walker as an opportunity for their son Sam and other clients of a local special needs nonprofit to get their hands in the dirt. The 60-acre farm, located on the outskirts of Ottumwa just 30 minutes from Fairfield, includes an elegant tiny home, a large heated shed with a saloon on the second floor and smaller sheds nearby. Kent and his family, along with caretaker Daryle Kaiser, a local John Deere employee, have planted nearly 5 acres in paw paws and chestnuts and many more acres are in prairie [...]

2022-12-13T09:43:55-06:00December 13th, 2022|News|0 Comments
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