November 18, 2021

Happy Thanksgiving!

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.

THANK YOU to Brenda Windmuller & Keerti Patel with Iowa Department of Education, Teresa Wiemerslage with Iowa State University Extension & Outreach, and Ellen Walsh-Rosmann with Farmtable Delivery & Harlan Community Schools for presenting on Farm to School, and to Kurt Rueber & Scott Platt with Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals for discussing food licensing & regulations. Thanks to Farmtable and Shelby County Chamber for hosting, and thank you to everyone who attended! View photos of the event here.

Prairie Seed Processing & Uses of Native Plants

Tuesday, November 30 - 6:30-8:00pm 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.

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.

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.

We are currently planning farmer meetups and field days for fall & winter 2021. If you are interested in hosting or have suggestions for topics or presenters, please complete this form. 

• Practical Farmers of Iowa's Establish Farming Series + Virtual Workshop are taking place from December 2 to February 4. Cost is $20 for PFI Members & $30 for Non-PFI Members. Beginning farmers who have started to farm and are working to build their business plan should attend the Establish Farming series. Self-paced exercises will lead you through the process of using decision-making to build a farm plan. Participants will receive free admission to the beginning farmer retreat in February 2022.
• Iowa Learning Farms, the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach conservation and water quality education program, has partnered with Practical Farmers of Iowa to offer a (free) Cover Crop Boot Camp for farmers looking to expand their understanding of cover crops and learn how to take the next step in adopting the practice on their farms. The event will take place Tuesday, Nov. 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny.
• Iowa Master Gardeners are hosting a Winter Webinar Series focusing on pollinators, landscaping, and propagation.
• The Harrison County November Holiday Welcome Center Farmers Market is TODAY (Nov. 18) from 3:30 to 6:30pm near Missouri Valley. They are also hosting a Holiday Market on December 9.
• Produce in the Park is hosting a Harvest Market on Monday November 22 in Atlantic. They also have a Christmas Market on December 23.

• Red Oak Farmers Market is hosting a Thanksgiving Market on Tuesday, November 23, 10 am - 2 pm, at LOCAL, a pop-up market store on the Southside of Fountain Square Park @ 320 East Coolbaugh Street in Red Oak. They are also hosting a Christmas Market: Thursday-Saturday, December 16-18.

• 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.
• 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

• Iowa State University Extension & Outreach recently had an article about harvesting and storing crop seeds.

Contact: Lance Brisbois | Golden Hills RC&D | lance@goldenhillsrcd.org