Spend a summer morning at the Lehman Family Farm in Polk City, Iowa. Aaron and Nicole Lehman have a 400-acre farm where they raise conventional and organic corn, soybeans, and hay. The Lehmans will talk about the challenges and opportunities of these dual farming systems. Curious about organic transition, organic record keeping, and conservation? We hope to see you there!

Aaron and Nicole Lehman and their family raise corn, soybeans, oats, and hay in both organic and conventional rotations on their family farm. Aaron Lehman the president of the Iowa Farmers Union and is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University. Aaron and Nicole are both graduates of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Nicole Lehman has a Masters of Science in Microbiology and Immunology from Duke University School of Medicine. Until 2016, she was a senior research associate at DuPont Pioneer. Nicole and Aaron have two children, Jordan and Benjamin.

This event is made possible by a generous grant from the USDA's Risk Management Agency. 

On Thursday, July 26th, we'll tour Humble Hands Harvest and learn what machinery they use to get the job done. Hannah will show the inner and outer workings of her small tractor, we'll look at some other small engines and human-powered tools for farm work, and will talk about ergonomics and how to use our bodies hard without breaking them!

Humble Hands Harvest is a 2-acre organic vegetable farm operated by Hannah Breckbill and Emily Fagan. The farm sells to local restaurants, at farmers markets, and through a CSA program. Hannah has been farming since 2009 and started Humble Hands Harvest in 2013; Emily joined the farm in 2017, when Hannah bought bare land to develop into a diversified farm from the ground up. They’re developing a perennial polyculture system, integrating nut and fruit crops and livestock, as well as their cornerstone of organic vegetables.

This event is made possible in part through a generous grant from the USDA's Risk Management Agency. 

The farm is just northeast of Decorah, Iowa. From Canoe Ridge Road, take Hidden Falls Road all the way to the end of that lane. Then you'll see the farm! 

Please RSVP through MOSES by clicking on this link. We'll see you there! 

The Iowa Organic Association is thrilled to invite everyone to Red Earth Gardens in Tama, Iowa for a late-afternoon field day. Red Earth Gardens is a tribally supported agriculture initiative at the Meskwaki Settlement. Come learn from local leaders about the innovative work that is being done at Red Earth Gardens! We will tour the gardens, talk about organic transition, visit a food forest, learn about the role of the gardens in the larger Meskwaki Food Sovereignty Initiative and share an evening meal together.

Red Earth Gardens is the revenue-generating arm of the Meskwaki Food Sovereignty Initiative (MFSI). It’s primary business model is a TSA: Tribally Supported Agriculture. The garden is a venue for workforce development, providing meaningful employment to community members. Red Earth Garden is a sister program to other MFSI initiatives such as the elders garden and farm-to-school garden. Red Earth Gardens will transition to organic in 2018.

This event is made possible in part by the USDA's Risk Management Agency.