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 Rapids. The two connected while working at Echollective Farm in Mechanicsville. Two years later, they started Trowel & Error Farm in Iowa City at the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm through the Land Access Program, where they have been lucky enough to be able to grow their diversified vegetable operation alongside incredible farmer peers and mentors for four years.

The two say they are thrilled to have secured land access through SILT at the Luzum Heritage Farm, where they will expand their vegetable operation. They are especially excited to be able to incorporate the two enormous high tunnels Andy and Betsy Boone built into their planting plans!

“We’re humbled to have the opportunity to become stewards of this land,” Carly said. “We’re bummed to be leaving Iowa City, but equally excited to begin this new adventure in Northeast Iowa.”