EXPLORE UPPER IOWA ORGANICS: COMPOSTING, LANDOWNER/RENTER PARTNERSHIPS, AND HERITAGE BREEDS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 19TH, 2017 • 1:00-3:30 PM • Decorah, Iowa
Many Iowa landowners would like to transition their cropland to organic but don't know how to start. Whether you are trying to transition land out of CRP or you're thinking about making a transition with a tenant farmer, this field day will help answer your questions. Come tour Upper Iowa Organics on Saturday, August 19th at 1:00 PM. Farmowner Marty Grimm transitioned his land out of CRP into organic cropland and utilized EQIP grants to help grow his farm. He works with a tenant to farm 30 acres of organic row crops and helped his tenant become comfortable with organic management. Marty also manages an organic composting business and will share the ins and outs of creating high quality compost in Iowa. Finally, Marty will introduce the rare breeds of livestock that he keeps on his farm and their contribution to the farm ecosystem. This field day will highlight the benefits of having a diversified organic farming operation. Join us!
This field day series is made possible by IOA with help from the USDA’s Risk Management Agency.
SCHEDULE: Field Day Program 1:00–3:30 p.m.
HOSTS: Marty Grimm and Lee Vangsness• Upper Iowa Organics • 2251 Oil Well Road • Decorah, IA 52101
Questions: Email: [email protected]
TOPICS: Transitioning to organic • Landowner/renter partnerships • Heritage livestock • Organic compost production • Diversified organic operations
DIRECTIONS: Upper Iowa Organics is located on Oil Well Road, just east of Decorah off of Highway 9.
From Decorah: Heading east out of Decorah on Highway 9, drive 2.8 miles past the intersection of Montgomery and Highway 9. Oil Well Road will be on your left. Turn left, and stay on the road for 1.1 miles. Upper Iowa Organics will be on your right.
From Waukon and points east: Head west towards Decorah on Highway 9. As you approach town, there will be two entrances to Oil Well Road. The first is just west of Frankville Road. Do not take this route. Continue heading west on Highway 9 until you pass Brynsass Sales and Services on your left. Oil Well Road will be the next road on your right. Turn right, and continue 1.1 miles to Upper Iowa Organics. The farm will be on your right. *Note: if you do turn on the first Oil Well Road, no need to worry. It is a large loop, and you will find Upper Iowa Organics, it is just a much longer route.
