The Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT) launched by 25 of the most respected leaders in sustainable agriculture, planning and development met to save and protect small, diverse, clean farms that feed Iowans. We are dedicated to permanently protecting land to grow healthy food for generations to come.

Our Founders spent a weekend in Perry, IA soaking up research and deciding whether or not to go forward. They were:

  • Les Beck
  • Claire Celsi
  • Paul Durrenberger and Suzan Erem
  • Kamyar Enshayan
  • Cornelia and Jan Flora
  • LaVon Griffeion
  • Jason Grimm
  • Mary Swalla Holmes
  • Fred Kirschenmann
  • Erv Klaas
  • Sheila Knoploh-Odole
  • Steve Lamer and Cindy Reed
  • Kate Mendenhall
  • Mary Ellen Miller
  • Denise O’Brien
  • Bill Stowe
  • Mary Swander
  • Michelle Traver
  • Andrea Vaage
  • Tom Wahl and Kathy Dice
  • Jean Lloyd Jones (scheduled to attend until she fell ill).

Our model takes land speculation and mortgage interest out of the equation for future healthy food farmers. The results of our work include affordable farmland near markets for our food farmers, and therefore a secure, healthy food system for the future, more fresh food in our community, clean water, fresh air and healthy soils.

Contact us today if you’d like to join a board committee or the leadership team.