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SILT Founder Named “Person to Watch 2021”

SILT Executive Director Suzan Erem was named as one of 15 "People to Watch in 2021" by the Des Moines Register, the first profile in a series that ran through the 2020 holidays. Erem used the opportunity to announce an ambitious 3-year, $3 million campaign SILT has been developing. "We plan to hire someone from select communities to build food security by circling our cities with community-based food farms," Erem said. "As we garner the financial support, we'll hire organizers who will work in coalition with food and hunger groups, community leaders, planners and developers to make this [...]

2021-05-24T13:00:13-05:00January 23rd, 2021|News|0 Comments

SILT Foodies’ Predictions for 2021

SILT supporters are working hard to save local food. So, for fun, I asked a couple of committed Iowa foodies what kind of food trends can we expect to see in 2021? Chef Matt Steigerwald, Head Chef at the farm-to-table restaurant Rapid Creek Cidery at Wilson’s Orchard, just outside of Iowa City Greener food delivery.  Covid made everyone think about delivery a lot more and conversations about containers and methods that are more sustainable is constant. More of that. Too many small restaurant takeovers. I remember when Katrina hit New Orleans many of those small businesses were bought up [...]

2021-01-12T12:05:29-06:00January 12th, 2021|News|0 Comments

New Report on Power of Community-Based Food Systems

As COVID-19 shut down most of our economy in 2020 and packinghouse workers were forced to choose between their livelihoods and their lives, the fragility of our current food system became evident to most Americans. This new report The Power of Community-Based Food Systems by the Wallace Center spells out case studies in resilient food systems from around the county, including the Midwest. It includes lessons learned as well - such as "Change moves at the speed of trust." It also focuses on issues such as "decentering whiteness." If you believe in a just, accessible, affordable food system, support [...]

2021-01-12T09:54:15-06:00January 12th, 2021|News|0 Comments

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

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

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

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

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

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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