Southwest Iowa Food & Farm Initiative Updates | |
If you have any events or news you'd like included in upcoming SWIFFI updates, please email me. You can also follow the SWIFFI Facebook page for updates. | |
Upcoming Golden Hills/SWIFFI Events | |
Today is Giving Tuesday! As a small nonprofit, Golden Hills relies on donations like your to support our work. To celebrate our 40th birthday, we're looking for $40 donors to support our prairie seed project. Anyone who donates $40 or more today will be entered to win some Loess Hills merchandies valued at over $60. | |
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Prairie Seed Processing & Uses of Native Plants
Today--Tuesday, November 30 - 6:30-8:00pm at Dodge Hall greenhouse, Iowa Western Community College, Council Bluffs.
Celebrate Giving Tuesday by volunteering to help process prairie seed harvested this fall. We'll also discuss some of the practical uses of native plants, such as fibers, dyes, & pollinator nests, and have books & resources about native plants. Free and open to the public. No experience needed. No registration required. Facebook event.
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Golden Hills is partnering with Dan Filius, Field Specialist, Commercial Vegetables and Specialty Crops with Iowa State University Extension & Outreach, on two virtual programs in January. Registration required. $5 fee. Registered participants will receive Zoom information on the day of the event.
Tools for Growing Vegetables on 140 Acres
Monday, January 24
7:00pm-8:30pm
Virtual program
Ever wonder what it would take to grow vegetables on a large scale? Learn about the tools and practices that Dan Fillius used while farming 140 acres of vegetables at Featherstone Farm in Southeastern MN. Tools and techniques covered include harvest conveyors, cultivation techniques, seeders, coolers and people management tools.
Click here to register!
Facebook event.
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Cool-season Crops, and Growing Crops in the Cold
Monday, January 31
7:00pm-8:30pm
Virtual program
From leafy greens to root crops and herbs, growing cool season crops can stretch harvest to well past the first frost. Best practices for growing cool-season crops will be covered. Learn also about the 48-week CSA season that Dan Fillius utilized while at the Michigan State University Organic Farm, which promised members 3 fresh crops every week throughout the winter.
Click here to register!
Facebook event.
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We are currently planning farmer meetups and field days for 2022. If you are interested in hosting or have suggestions for topics or presenters, please complete this form. | |
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Iowa Beef Center is offering four Beef Cow Clinics over two days in early December. The Southwest Iowa one is Dec. 9 at St Patrick’s Parish Center in Audubon from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Contact Audubon County Extension at 712-563-4239 or email Ann at acarter@iastate.edu with questions.
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The final session in Center for Rural Affairs' virtual Back to the Greenhouse: A Growing Series for Instructors is on December 9: Innovative Ways to Fund Greenhouses.
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FACT awards competitive grants of up to $3,000 to working, independent farmers located in the U.S. who raise beef cattle, bison, broiler chickens, dairy cows, ducks, geese, goats, laying hens, pigs, sheep and/or turkeys. Before submitting your online application, please read the complete set of eligibility guidelines below. Applications must be submitted online by 11:59pm CT on January 20, 2022 to be considered for this round of funding. Grants will be awarded in March 2022.
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NRCS released a list of deadlines for funding programs. Iowa's upcoming dates include: CSP, April 1, 2022; CSP Renewals; April 8, 2022; EQIP, April 1, 2022
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Other Updates, News & Resources | |
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Sustainable Iowa Land Trust's Driscoll Farm is for sale! Under 30 minutes from downtown Omaha, this 53-acre organic farm is ideal for vegetables, orchards, pastured livestock and agri-tourism. The farm is protected against development and is intended for sustainable food farming. Join together with farming friends or supportive investors to own your own regenerative farm. Offer educational programming or on-farm festivals for visitors if you like. Farmstead area allows for up to 5 acres for multi-generational housing and farm-related buildings. Contact info@silt.org today to secure this farm.
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For every dollar Americans spend on Thanksgiving meals this year, farmers and ranchers will earn approximately 14.3 cents, according to National Farmers Union. When you buy directly from local farmers, more of your dollar goes to them and stays in the local economy.
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Danelle Myer with One Farm shared this resource on Facebook: "While working my off-farm winter job this week at the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, I learned of this helpful guide for food bank/pantry donations. It's a good reference for those looking to donate healthier options (think dried beans vs. refried beans or unsweetened soy milk instead of flavored soy milk). It's a full report, so JUMP TO PAGE 16 for a quick good-better-best-type reference guide."
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Contact: Lance Brisbois | Golden Hills RC&D | lance@goldenhillsrcd.org | | | | |
