News

What do Equity and Inclusion Look Like?

This was the (corrected) lead story in SILT's June 2020 Update which can be read in full here. Land ownership has always been the measure and power of the wealthiest people in our country. America was built on land speculation. In 1773, "Two land companies had been created to speculate in the West...the Ohio Company of Associates, which proposed to purchase 500,000 acres beyond the Ohio River; and the Loyal Land Company, organized by Peter Jefferson...which aimed publicly at buying 800,000 acres of Kentucky but privately had ambitions of exploring and acquiring millions more..." George Washington was a surveyor, and [...]

2020-06-08T16:26:13-05:00June 3rd, 2020|News|0 Comments
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Now is Our Time

April 2020 We hope you and yours are staying safe. We thank the healthcare, service and manufacturing workers who go out into this dangerous world every day, risking their lives to keep us home and fed. And we mourn those we've lost to this insidious virus and our overburdened healthcare system. Now is our time to rise above our fear and be the people we aspire to be. For me, that means generous, grateful and motivated to build a better world. Keeping SILT going strong is how I do it, because I know this work is a permanent solution that will [...]

2024-09-25T10:15:16-05:00April 22nd, 2020|News|0 Comments
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Notice to Supporters re: COVID-19

March 17, 2020 Early last week, we began taking precautions at SILT to protect our staff, landowners and supporters from the spread of COVID-19. Staff are working from home. Board and committee meetings are done by video. Events are postponed. We hope everyone will follow the CDC recommendations so we can get through this as quickly and painlessly as possible. But thankfully, our work protecting land can and will continue. Farm Specialist Joe Klingelhutz uses social distancing and clean hands on his land walks. Besides, a walk outside is just what the doctors order! Iowa landowners can contact him anytime to make [...]

2020-03-27T12:21:52-05:00March 17th, 2020|News|0 Comments
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Michael Dugan to Play SILTFest Iowa City!

EVENT CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19 OUTBREAK. Young acoustic artist Michael Dugan to Debut at SILTFest Iowa City! Michael Dugan is a singer/songwriter from Fairfield, Iowa. Known for his melodically intricate music coupled with poetic lyricism focusing on the introspective, Michael’s songwriting highlights the subtle inspiration ever-present in day to day living on the Iowa country side. 5 years since returning to Fairfield, he’s performed with countless bands including Dagmar, Captain Ascender, Cubits, Geodes, and recently launched his solo project. Come hear Michael and catch up on the latest from SILT in Eastern Iowa! Get ready for door prizes and [...]

2020-03-27T12:26:09-05:00March 4th, 2020|News|0 Comments
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What Iowa’s Land Use Says About Our Values

The week before the Iowa Caucuses of 2020, Dave Murphy of Food Democracy Now invited SILT Executive Director Suzan Erem to speak at a summit called Farmers, Soil and Climate in Des Moines. Other speakers included George Naylor, John Whitaker, Francis Thicke and other Iowa greats with the keynote coming from bestselling author Frances Moore Lappe. Every candidate had a spokesperson at the event.

2020-02-16T15:29:19-06:00February 16th, 2020|News|0 Comments
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Report Offers Non-Operator Landowner Insights

Some findings include: A majority of non-operator landowners live an average of 15 miles away from their land. More than half have farmed themselves, and 1/4 have helped their parents farm. They own a median of 171 acres, 150 of which are farmed. 96% report considering soil quality when making management decisions. Less than 1/3 consider it a long-term real estate investment. 84% of them are in year-to-year leases with their operators... But 81% were willing to offer longer leases for the sake of improved conservation. Download Report

2023-07-21T10:48:47-05:00February 15th, 2020|News|0 Comments
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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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