By Cindy Hadish Rae Jeanne Kilberger fondly remembers her days attending Stony Point School in Linn County, Iowa. Kilberger attended the one-room school from the time she was 10, when her family moved to a nearby farm, until she graduated from eighth grade in the early 1950s. “There were 23 of us,” she said of […]
Iowa Organic Conference returns to Iowa ...
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The Iowa Organic Conference returns Nov. 20-21, 2022, to Iowa City for its annual event. This year’s theme is “Building Resiliency through Biodiversity and Conservation in Organic Farming,” with keynote speaker, Rattan Lal, World Food Prize Laureate and professor of soil science at Ohio State University, speaking on “Why Soil Quality […]
Iowa farmers markets move indoors for th...
Just as the outdoor farmers market season ends in Iowa, the indoor market season begins. Already, indoor markets have started in West Branch, Waverly, Decorah and elsewhere, while others are slated to start soon. One notable absence this season is the Mount Vernon Farmers Market, which ended both its indoor and outdoor markets this year […]
Prepare to “fall back” as Daylight Savin
Iowans have been able to enjoy pleasant weather, even as the calendar turned to November, but one sure signal of the approaching winter is the end of Daylight Saving Time. Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. Be sure to “fall back” and set your clocks back one hour before you go to […]
Fall foliage colors nearing peak in Iowa
Some trees have just reached their peak for fall color in northern Iowa and others should peak in coming weeks. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources notes that this year’s fall weather has been ideal for generating vibrant colors. Related: Experts recommend these native trees to plant in the Midwest Read more from the DNR’s […]
Report highlights monarch conservation e...
A new report shows progress being made in adding habitat for monarch butterflies in Iowa. Related: See how the city of Cedar Rapids took a step backwards for monarchs and other pollinators. Read more about the new report from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources: AMES, Iowa — Iowa has been steadily adding new habitat […]
How to prepare for an early frost
UPDATE, Oct. 7, 2022: If you’ve escaped the frost so far, take heed tonight, as a freeze warning has been issued in Iowa, with temperatures predicted to dip into the 20s from Friday into Saturday. One week ago, parts of Iowa sustained record heat on Sept. 20, 2022, with temperatures in the upper 90s. Tonight, […]
Czech festival celebrates centennial in ...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The St. Wenceslaus Church Czech Goulash Day marked a milestone of 100 years on Sept. 25, 2022. Brisk winds did not deter from sunny skies and pleasant temperatures, as crowds lined up for food, music, games and more to celebrate the festival’s centennial. See photos from the 2021 Czech Goulash Day […]
Iowa surpasses 10,000 COVID-19 deaths
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services reported Sept. 21, 2022, that the state had recorded 10,051 deaths attributed to COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. That number is up 77 deaths from the 9,994 reported one week ago. Deaths are considered COVID-19 associated when COVID-19 is listed as an underlying cause or […]
Getting buzzed in the garden: hummingbir...
Iowans who get “buzzed” while outdoors at this time of year might have had a close encounter with a whitelined sphinx moth, commonly known as a hummingbird moth. The moths, also known as hawk moths, are often mistaken for hummingbirds, with the rapid pulse of the moth’s wings resembling that of its namesake. Whitelined sphinx […]