UPDATE, Feb. 4, 2020: Andy Dunham added the following comments regarding the decision by Grinnell Heritage Farm to scale back its operations. “We stopped doing farmers markets last season because, after looking at the numbers, we found that we were not gaining ground by going to markets, even in IC or especially DM. We could […]
Demonstrators brave cold to turn up heat...
CEDAR RAPIDS — Protesters greeted the chairman and CEO of Cargill to Cedar Rapids with signs and chants against the global ag giant for its environmental track record. Hosted by Mighty Earth, a global environmental organization that works to protect tropical forests, oceans and the climate, more than a dozen people demonstrated Wednesday, Jan. 29 […]
Hundreds demand factory farm moratorium ...
Iowans living in rural communities are virtually helpless when a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation, also known as a factory farm, sets its sights on nearby properties. Issues go beyond the stench that neighbors are forced to tolerate, as the sewage produced by these facilities, which pack in animals in small quarters, leads to pollution of […]
Reward offered in search for bald eagle ...
Sad news out of central Iowa. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reported Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, that a bald eagle died after being shot in northeast Ankeny. Related: Iowan kills six trumpeter swans Learn more from the DNR report: On January 3, 2020, the Ankeny Police Department contacted a DNR Conservation Officer and a […]
Nine winter weather tips for your pet
Not much gardening takes place in Iowa in the winter, but it’s still important to get some fresh air. The same holds true for our pets, but care is needed to safeguard their health. The TurfMutt Foundation, which encourages outdoor learning experiences and stewardship of our green spaces, offers these nine tips for keeping our […]
Iowan shot while hunting coyote
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reported that an Iowan was injured while hunting coyote on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020. According to the DNR, the incident happened in a field in Benton County, in Eastern Iowa. Learn more from the DNR: BENTON COUNTY, Iowa — On January 11, 2020, at approximately 12:21 p.m., a man […]
Winter Gardening Fair uproots to new sit...
The 2020 Winter Gardening Fair, hosted by the Linn County ISU Extension Master Gardeners, is transplanting this year to a new location. Long held at the Kirkwood Community College campus in Cedar Rapids, this year’s event will be 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, at the Kirkwood Regional Center, 1770 Boyson Road, […]
Looking back: Top stories of 2019
As the year, and the decade, come to a close, take a look back at some of the Homegrown highlights of 2019. Click on the links to learn what happened behind the headlines: One of the first stories of the year turned out to be one of the most read, after a shot fired at […]
Vandals damage lodge at Palisades-Kepler...
One Grinch or more was at work in Linn County, just before Christmas. Staff of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources discovered the Palisades-Kepler State Park lodge was vandalized sometime in the overnight hours of Sunday, December 23, 2019. Learn more about the incident in rural Mount Vernon from the Iowa DNR: Staff discovered several […]
Cedar Rapids City Council legacy: sacrif...
By Cindy Hadish CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Mayor Brad Hart wished everyone “happy holidays” at the end of a 3-hour City Council meeting. Hart might have an easier time achieving that than the residents of the Rompot/Prairie Park Fishery neighborhood, where the council had just approved rezoning to allow ag giant Cargill to build a […]