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 outlive every crisis we face now and in the future.
 
Imagine natural food farms surrounding every Iowa community. Farmers feeding us fresh, naturally-grown fruits, vegetables and meat. Our waters clean and soils healthy. Farms helping to rebuild our small towns and bring young people back to Iowa’s countryside. As meatpacking workers sicken , commodity prices crash and climate change piles on, let’s raise up a vision of a more resilient Iowa. Introduce your friends, neighbors and policymakers to the SILT solution. @sustainableiowa
 
And here’s some good news!
  • SILT just received our Paycheck Protection Loan! It will convert to a grant and help SILT keep everyone working for another two months. That along with monthly sustaining members are helping us weather this storm.
  • This TV interview aired on WOI-TV in Des Moines and KCRG in Cedar Rapids highlighting the need for food farms in Iowa. Nice footage of WabiSabi farm!
  • This Guest Editorial ran in the Waterloo Courier and Carroll Times-Herald.
  • We continue our Facebook Friday Live Chats (recorded and posted here afterwards). You’re invited! Tomorrow at 11 am Farm Specialist Joe Klingelhutz will describe his process of consulting with landowners.
A special thanks to our team , including our supportive board of directors, dedicated staff and everyone who has donated this year to keep the lights on. We’ll get through this, and when we do, thanks to you, SILT will be here stronger than ever.
 
Suzan
Executive Director, SILT

Artwork credit: Kristin Eggen @kristin.eggen.visuals Inspired by our Friday Live Chat with Farm Specialist Joe Klingelhutz