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Materials for the
Classroom |
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Many of these tools and
resources were developed as part of a Leopold Center
research project, but they also are being used
educators in the classroom.
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A Geography of
Taste
This 45-page report explores Iowa's unique food
history that has been heavily influenced by the
state's geography, history, and the culture and
traditions of its inhabitants. Information about
place-based foods, such as the Delicious apple,
Muscatine melon, Maytag blue cheese are included, as
well as numerous maps showing historical crops and
production in various regions of Iowa.
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I-FARM
The Leopold Center is a member of the Iowa State
University team that developed this farm modeling
program. I-FARM can show a farm's energy and labor
requirements, soil loss through erosion, what's
produced in terms of crops, livestock, manure to be
used as fertilizer, and residue that could be
harvested for its biomass. Worksheets can be saved
for later use and the web site can host up to 20
users simultaneously. This farm planning tool has
information for Iowa and 18 other states.
Read more about this tool.
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Crops of Ancient Iowa: Native
plant use and farming systems
This fact sheet is designed for a classroom
discussion of prehistoric plant life in Iowa.
Information is from a 1989 Leopold Center-funded
archeological study that found seven primary plants
used as crops in ancient Iowa. The goal was to
identify prehistoric crops in order to better
understand past agricultural practices and develop
alternative cropping systems. Only one of the plants
is still grown as a crop today; the rest are
considered weeds. Copies of this four-page fact
sheet available from the Leopold Center.
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Direct Marketing for Grass-based
Products
A Leopold Center grant allowed Practical Farmers of
Iowa to work with Food Alliance Midwest to help
farmers from grass-fed operations better market
their products. This learning module is uses
information from consumer focus groups condcuted in
Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa, plus three case
studies. Students also evaluate marketing materials
that were produced as part of the project.
More about this research project.
Teacher presentation (Microsoft Powerpoint file)
Lamb brochure (for class activity) [PDF]
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Iowa
Produce Market Potential Calculator
How many carrots do Iowans eat every year? How much
is grown in Iowa? The Leopold Center and the Center
for Transportation Research and Education at ISU
created this on-line tool for producers and others
to explore potential markets for fresh fruit and
vegetables in Iowa. It's also a fun way to see how
many pounds, tons or truckloads of 37 produce crops
are grown (or eaten) in the state.
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Biological Control/Sustainable
Horticulture Curriculum
The Leopold Center funded development of this
vocational agriculture curriculum for use in Iowa
high schools and community colleges. Lessons look at
biological control of insects and weeds, also
riparian buffers, local food systems, and
alternative horticultural practices to control weeds
and improve soil quality. Lesson plans, handouts and
background information are lat:
www.ag.iastate.edu/centers/sustain/home.html
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The Water Cycle
This educational tool was developed during the 1997
Year of Water, which marked the 10th anniversary of
the Iowa Groundwater Protection Act that established
the Leopold Center. The Water Cycle is an animated
program that explains each stage of the water cycle
process. The
free
software can be downloaded from the Leopold
Center web site. |
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