The Iowa Grown Market is among the stops on the 2015 Farm Crawl. (photo/Iowa Grown Market)
So many events are happening this weekend, and we’re not talking football.
The Sweetgrass Flute & Nature Fest, Iowa’s first Native American style flute festival, is happening at Prairiewoods in Hiawatha. The festivities kicked off this morning (Friday, Sept. 25) to be followed by three days of live music, mind/body/spirit wellness workshops, nature activities and a Blessing of the Animals.
Sweetgrass runs Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $5 for adults and $1 for children, and everyone gets in free on Sunday.
CzechFest in Czech Village (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Goulash Day (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at St. Wenceslaus Church, both take place in Cedar Rapids on Sunday, Sept. 27.
A new event also will take place on Sunday, with the Johnson County chapter of Women, Land, and Legacy hosting its first Farm Crawl featuring women farmers and landowners.
Three farms and two other stops, Iowa Grown Market and Wilson’s Apple Orchard, will be included on the route. Participants can pick up a map at any of the locations or you can Click Here for a Map of the Farms.
Here is more about the event, from the Johnson County chapter of Women, Land, and Legacy:
Farm Crawl, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015, noon to 4 p.m.
Participants can visit the stops at their own pace and interest and should feel free to start at any of the farms. Farm crawlers are further invited to network at Big Grove Brewery in Solon from 4:30-8:30. Members of the WLL planning team will be in attendance.
This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments may be provided at various stops. Door prizes included.
For more information about this event contact Kate Giannini at the Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation District office, 319-337-2322 x3 or jcswcd@yahoo.com. If you need special accommodations, please contact Kate Giannini at the above contact information.
Sponsors include Johnson Co. Soil and Water Conservation District, National Resource Conservation Service, and the Farm Service Agency. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
Door prizes provided by: New Pioneer Co-op, Wilson’s Apple Orchard, Highland Hideaway Hunting, Johnson Co. Soil and Water Conservation District, and MidWestOne Bank.
About the farmers:
Rose Roelf: Rose is a longtime Johnson County resident, Project Manager at ACT and beginning farmer. She grew up on the farm that she and her husband recently purchased from her mother and will be moving back to the Newport Township farm in 2016. She and her husband are in the first year of an organic transition on their 45 acre farm and the adjoining 120 acre farm owned by a partnership of her siblings. Her interests include raising food for human consumption, learning all she can about sustainable farming, cooking, gathering with friends and spending as much time as possible with her 3 adorable grandsons. Rose will showcase her farm and new large garden.
Lori Hahn: Lori unofficially began rescuing horses at the age of 13 when she refused to “hand down” her outgrown pony to the next extended family member per tradition because she thought the pony deserved to retire. Since then, she has taken in more than 30 horses to offer them a safe retirement home on her farm. There are currently 20 equines living at her farm, ranging from a miniature mule to a pair of Belgian draft horses. Visit the farm during the Farm Crawl and meet some of these happy retired and rescued animals!
Lindsey Boerjan: Lindsey is a 5th generation farmer on her family’s century farm. She farms alongside her aunt, uncle, husband and daughter who run a beef cow & calf operation as well as raising chickens. In 2015 Lindsey started a CSA crop subscription group with nine families who receive produce, eggs and meat over 20 weeks. Feeding the “pet” cows from hand and giving them attention and love throughout their time on the farm enriches her heart for farming. She’s looking forward to expanding her crop share and garden next year. Stop by during the Farm Crawl and paint bird house gourds for a small fee, feed the chickens and cows and check out repurposed raised beds in the garden. There might just be a kolache to have and yummy garden produce.
About Iowa Grown Market/Bethany Fischer: A great love for Iowa, the outdoors, and fresh, local foods brought Iowa Grown Market into establishment in July of 2014. Partners Bethany Fischer and Vince Waters identified an opportunity to provide local food to local consumers in a conventional yet lost practice—through a small farm stand just 10 miles from their gardens. Fischer’s interest in farming and gardening started while growing up in rural Wisconsin where her family of six grew a large garden every season to preserve and provide vegetables and fruit over the winter. A few years ago she moved to Iowa where Water’s family owns and operates a 140-acre farm plot. By remaining true to her mission of providing fresh, organic and sustainable produce, she hopes to advance our local-foods market all while encouraging a healthy and more productive ecosystem. Visit Iowa Grown Market farm stand during the Farm Crawl for a variety of fresh produce, canned goods, crafts, and other treats!
Find more at: https://www.facebook.com/womenlandandlegacyjohnson
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