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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

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

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

Hart Vogt Acreage Donated to SILT

SILT received the deed to a breathtaking acreage just a half hour east of Cedar Rapids in 2022. Donated by Gary Hart and Derith Vogt, the 10 acres includes a lovingly renovated farmhouse and a slew of outbuildings from Derith's long career showing horses. While SILT will make every attempt to keep this farm in sustainable table food production after Gary and Derith give over all rights in the future, they have generously granted SILT permission to sell this amazing property at top value if surrounding uses no longer make such farming possible due to its size. Such flexibility [...]

2023-02-07T11:42:40-06:00December 13th, 2022|News|0 Comments

New Anthology Features SILT Farms

A first-ever poetry anthology of land trust farms across the country features five SILT farms and poets assembled by Iowa Poet Laureate Mary Swander. Writing the Land: Foodways and Social Justice is a sustainable-food-production-and-art-themed anthology that brings together poets and land protection and anti-hunger organizations from across the US. Poems, essays, and Information about the missions of these parters for foodways and social justice are included in this unique book. Peek Inside, Videos and More "There are those who think the only way to hold land is to own it. Give this book to them. There are those [...]

2023-11-07T12:25:15-06:00October 3rd, 2022|News|0 Comments

Red Fern Farm Draws Interested Landowners

Red Fern Farm, a SILT-protected property in Wapello, IA, drew about two dozen guests on one of the hottest September days on record, hovering around 100 degrees all day. The guests came to see the many chestnut and pawpaw trees that Tom Wahl and Kathy Dice have grown over the last 30 years, purchase fruits and nuts they could pick themselves, witness a cooking demonstration of persimmon brownies and learn more about how to protect land like Red Fern Farm. The project was supported by a Small Farm Summers grant SILT won from the Agricultural Marketing Service of the [...]

2022-10-06T18:30:16-05:00September 21st, 2022|News|0 Comments

Lovin’ the Goats at Bee Haven Farm

A tiny house, bee hives, a pond full of hungry fish and some goat cheese spreads were highlights of the SILT's Small Farm Summer at Bee Haven Farm, but the goats stole the show. Blue Collar Goatscaping, an enterprise run by Emery Davis and Adam Ledvina, brought the goats to Bee Haven to illustrate the great work they do clearing brush in a growing woodland. A few young guests even got to ride one! Land protector Brian Fleck hosted the open house as part of a 3-year project supported by the Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA to increase [...]

2022-10-06T18:52:46-05:00August 30th, 2022|News|0 Comments

Welcome Our Newest Farmers!

The SILT Farmer Committee and Board are pleased to announce the newest farmers for Luzum Heritage Farm, SILT's 170-acre span of pasture, prairie, trees and hoop houses located just south of Decorah in Northeast Iowa. Carly McAndrews and Bryant Mann are two best friends who have been farming together for four years. They have a combined 13 seasons of experience working on small-scale, diversified vegetable farms. Carly has worked on farms in Vermont, Connecticut, California, and Iowa. Bryant got his start growing produce for donation under the mentorship of Sonia Kendrick at the non-profit Feed Iowa First in Cedar [...]

2022-08-03T12:37:11-05:00August 3rd, 2022|News|0 Comments

Fairfield SILTFest Draws Big Crowd

SILT hosted its annual Solstice SILTFest at the Sustainable Living Coalition in Fairfield in June. More than 75 people came to hear from speakers John Ikerd, Stuart Valentine and others and enjoy music by Steve McLain and Eric Hurlin. With the support of the Fairfield community, SILT was able to raise $10,000 to continue their mission of permanently protecting Iowa farmland to grow healthy food. SILTFests are free events with live music, food and drinks, and inspirational stories from land protectors and farmers. They are designed for residents interested in actively supporting SILT's efforts of land protection. Fairfield was [...]

2022-07-04T12:47:38-05:00June 29th, 2022|News|0 Comments

Grade A Gardens Small Farm Summer a HIT!

SILT's Small Farm Summer continued in June with the Garlic Festival at Grade A Gardens in Earlham. More than 230 guests arrived before a downpour in the last hour moved a smaller party into the new barn. Bob Winchell, the executor of his wife TC's estate, donated the easement on this 25 acres that made it affordable enough for Jordan and Whitney Clasen to purchase. In a single year, they've been able to build a house and barn, erect a number of hoop houses and get garlic and more into the ground. "This is just an amazing, hardworking couple," [...]

2023-07-21T10:25:12-05:00June 15th, 2022|News|0 Comments
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