Leopold Center's Kirschenmann reads from new book May 2

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 AMES, Iowa -- Fred Kirschenmann is a third-generation farmer, theologian, sought-after public speaker, national leader in sustainable agriculture and Distinguished Fellow at the Leopold for Sustainable Agriculture. With the publication of a new book of essays, Kirschenmann adds “author” to his list of accomplishments.

Kirschenmann will read from his new book, Cultivating an Ecological Conscience: Essays from a Farmer Philosopher, on Sunday, May 2, at 2 p.m. at the Ames Public Library auditorium. The book was edited by Connie Falk, agricultural economist at New Mexico State University, and published by University Press of Kentucky.

The book is a collection of Kirschenmann’s writings on farming, philosophy and sustainability over the past 30 years. However, his interest in caring for the land began much earlier, growing up on his family’s farm in North Dakota. He writes in a 1991 essay, “A Transcendent Vision”:

I always enjoyed the solitude of getting on a tractor and being close to the earth. The richness of the soil, especially when worked in the spring, had a profound influence on me. My dad’s near obsession to prevent our land from blowing away was ingrained into me as a child. As I grew older, he passed on to me his sense of wonder for the miracle of the soil’s productivity, as well as a profound sense of responsibility to care for it.

The essays lead readers through many changes in agriculture as well as Kirschenmann’s career. He now splits his time among Iowa, his family’s North Dakota organic farm and New York, where he is President of the board of the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture.

The event is sponsored by the Leopold Center and Ames Public Library. Co-sponsors include AgArts, MFA Creative Writing and the Environment Program at Iowa State University, the ISU Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture Student Association, Story County Soil and Water Conservation District, ISU Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Squaw Creek Watershed Coalition, Thousand Friends of Iowa, Practical Farmers of Iowa, Women, Food and Agriculture Network, Iowa Water Center and the Iowa Wildlife Center.

Refreshments will be provided by Wheatsfield Cooperative Grocery of Ames.

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The Leopold Center was established by the 1987 Iowa Groundwater Protection Act as a research and education center at Iowa State University to develop sustainable agricultural practices that are both profitable and conserve natural resources. Iowa State does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Vietnam Era Veteran. Any persons having inquiries concerning this may contact the Director of Affirmative Action, 3210 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.

This page was found at http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/04-13-2010/leopold-centers-kirschenmann-reads-new-book-may-2 on 01/21/2013