Leopold Notes September 2011

SNEAK PEEK
We’ve been working on a new website for the Leopold Center and you’re invited to a preview. We’re taking advantage of new technologies to connect our many resources, and we hope you’ll be able to find information much faster. Websites are like gardens – they’re never finished and always a work in progress! Please take a look and give us an opinion. Don’t bookmark anything on the new site because the URL will change when we launch it later this month.

CONGRATULATIONS, FRED!
Many things distinguish Fred Kirschenmann from the rest of the crowd, and now he’ll be sharing a national award with First Lady Michelle Obama, Alice Waters and other leaders in healthy and sustainable food. Kirschenmann will receive the inaugural Leadership Award from the James Beard Foundation as the culinary arts organization marks its 25th anniversary. He will be honored October 12 in New York. Ten people are being recognized as “game-changing pioneers who have inspired positive action to improve our country’s food system.”

NITRATES AND WATER QUALITY
A new On the Ground video features a Leopold Center project looking for cropping systems that can keep nitrogen where it belongs – out of the shallow wells used by the City of Sioux Center for drinking water. The project will be highlighted at a September 8 field day at the Sandy Hollow Clubhouse in Sioux Center. Watch the video here

NEW ROLE
Craig Chase, who is leading the Leopold Center’s Marketing and Food Systems Initiative this year, will coordinate the new Local Food and Farm Initiative for Iowa. Funds for the first year of the new program were approved by the Iowa Legislature in the agriculture and nature resources budget. The program seeks to increase profitability for farmers and the number of jobs in local foods, and was recommended in the Iowa Local Food and Farm Plan prepared for the Iowa Legislature by the Leopold Center. Details here

LOVE THE LOCAL
Iowa-grown is the theme for the Taste of Southern Iowa local foods banquet on September 13 at Carpenter’s Hall in Chariton. The South Central Iowa Area Partnership, Lucas County Tourism, ISU Extension and the Leopold Center are working together on this new event. Organizers hope to involve as many growers as possible. More

RFP UPDATE
The Leopold Center's 2011 Request for Pre-proposals (RFP) resulted in 74 submissions: 11 in policy, 24 in marketing, 24 in ecology and 15 in cross-cutting, which will be reviewed by Leopold Center staff and advisory board members. New projects will begin early in 2012.

ENERGY GRANTS
The Iowa Farm Energy Working Group has awarded demonstration grants to two Iowa farmers for demonstrations. Harn Soper of Emmetsburg will design and build a second-generation prototype 500-gallon biogas generator. Rob and Tammy Faux of Tripoli are assessing their 14-acre vegetable and poultry farm for solar power. The group will meet September 27. Details on their website

PUTTING POLICY ON OUR PLATES
The Food Access and Health Work Group will host its fall gathering on September 15 at the Henry A. Wallace Farm and Country Life Center near Orient. Updates on the Farm Bill, a local lunch, garden tour and meeting with the Women, Food and Agriculture Network are planned. Details on our event calendar

ORGANIC FIELD DAY
The Neely-Kinyon Research and Demonstration Farm near Greenfield will host its annual field day Wednesday, Sept. 21 from 4-7 p.m. Growing and marketing organic vegetables is the featured topic. Details on our event calendar

CONSERVATION CHIC
GQ is featuring stylish environmentalists and guess who made the list. More in the August newsletter of the Aldo Leopold Foundation.

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