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Southwest Iowa Food & Farm Initiative
Updates
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Milk & Honey and Golden Hills continue to work together to offer classes teaching preservation skills in the form of a Preserve the Harvest class series.
The Preserve the Harvest Series is fun and informational. The December class is about preserving with yeast and takes place on Sunday, November 19th.
Follow Milk & Honey and Golden Hills on Facebook for details. We will also send out an email when registration is open.
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Southwest Iowa Local Food Summit
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Thank you to all who attended the inaugural Southwest Iowa Local Food Summit in downtown Avoca last Friday. It was an exciting event and a great way to wrap up the 2023 growing season. We look forward to next year's Southwest Iowa Local Food Summit. Special thanks to Cait Caughey, Angelyn Wang and Deborah Solie of the Center for Rural Affairs, and also Amber Mohr of Avoca Main Street, Inc. It was a pleasure working with these ladies to bring this Summit to southwest Iowa. The food prepared by Milk & Honey was delicious too! | |
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Featured Farmer Series
We continue to work on our Featured Farmer Series. The following farms have been featured on the SWIFFI and Golden Hills Facebook pages, Instagram and on our website blog. Check them out:
Paradigm Pastures
Sown Local
Ditmars Orchard & Vineyard
Long Walk Farm
If you would like to be a featured farm/farmer, please email Jamie at jamie.fowler@goldenhillsrcd.org.
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Regenerative Agriculture Opportunity | |
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Golden Hills has received funding to help farmers in western Iowa implement regenerative agriculture practices. This includes conservation practices that protect and build soil health, diversify crop species, and integrate livestock.
We are particularly targeting historically underserved farmers as defined by the USDA. This includes Beginning; Socially Disadvantaged; Veterans; and Limited Resource farmers.
If this interests you and you would like to find out more, email lance@goldenhillsrcd.org
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Shop local for the holidays. From baked goods to squash to herbs and spices and, of course, unique handcrafted items, shop a local market near you. If you are interested in becoming a vendor at any of these markets, please reach out to the individual markets, or to myself, Jamie Fowler at jamie.fowler@goldenhillsrcd.org or
712-246-8237 and I will put you in contact with the necessary person.
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One Farm Market in Logan has extended holiday hours. Visit the One Farm Market Facebook page to stay up to date on all of the great happenings there! | FarmTable Procurement and Delivery, 1806 Industrial Parkway, Harlan has warehouse hours next week. | Other Local Food Happenings in Southwest Iowa | |
LIFE 5b continues to spread the joy of fresh locally grown produce to those in need in the region. Through the Local Food Purchasing Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, LIFE 5b, in partnership with regional growers, has proudly made bi-weekly produce drop offs this fall. To learn more about what they're up to, or to donate to their cause, visit LIFE 5b on Facebook. | |
On Thursday, December 7th, from 6pm-9pm, join Tom O'Brien, owner and founder of Gardens on Glen, as he walks you through the process of small-batch wine making. The cost is currently $50 per seat and space is limited. Visit Gardens on Glen web page to learn more and register. | |
Other Updates, News and Resources | |
Attention apple growers! The Organic Fruit Growers Association will host an Organic Management of Fireblight Webinar on December 14, 2023. The cost is free. Click here to sign up. | |
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Be a Labor for Learning trainer for the
Practical Farmers of Iowa
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The Labor4Learning program helps pair beginning and aspiring farmers looking for paid on farm experience with experienced farmers invested in mentoring the next generation of farmers and looking for an on-farm employee.
We know that training the next generation of farmers means extra work for you. While a Labor4Learning trainee is in your employment, we provide you with compensation of $200 per month, with a maximum of $1,000 per year.
Click here for details.
| Grower Safety Alliance Grower Training Courses | |
The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Safe Produce Program will host four Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training course events starting in November and concluding in April 2024. The training events provide an opportunity for commercial fruit and vegetable growers, home produce gardeners, and other produce enthusiasts to learn and understand produce safety as defined in the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule and Good Agricultural Practices standards.
Click here for details.
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Scholarship for Educational Events | |
The Food Animal Concern Trust (FACT) awards scholarships of up to $400 for livestock and poultry farmers to attend educational events, including virtual events, to learn knowledge, skills and best practices related to humane animal management, business and farm finance, and/or value-added production processes. Have an event in mind? Apply at Conference Scholarships — FACT (foodanimalconcernstrust.org) | |
Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants | |
The Choose Iowa Grants exist to identify, evaluate and financially support programs and services that add value to agricultural products, enable new technologies and support alternative marketing strategies. These cost-share grants leverage additional private investment and were created to assist Iowa farmers, businesses and non-profits with their efforts to increase or diversify their agricultural product offerings, expand markets and shorten the supply chain. | |
Contact: Jamie Fowler | Golden Hills RC&D | jamie.fowler@goldenhillsrcd.org | | | | |
