Women who own or manage farmland in three southeast Iowa counties – Van Buren, Jefferson and Keokuk – are invited to participate in a FREE conservation education program beginning Feb. 23 and 24. The program is called Women Caring for the Land.

NOTE: THIS IS A DATE CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS SCHEDULING--THE MEETING SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, FEB. 22, IN KEOSAUQUA HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24 FROM 1 - 3 P.M. DUE TO THE FORECAST BAD WEATHER. THE TUESDAY MEETINGS REMAIN THE SAME.

Three introductory meetings will take place, one in each county:

Tuesday, Feb. 23, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m., Fairfield Public Library, 104 W Adams Ave., Fairfield

Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2 – 4 p.m., Sigourney Public Library, 720 E Jackson St., Sigourney

Wednesday, Feb. 24, 1 - 3 p.m., Village Cup and Cakes, 202 Main St., Keosauqua

Women landowners are invited to come to the meeting closest to their home; if they are unable to attend that meeting, they are welcome to come to another one, or contact facilitator Laura Krouse about attending the subsequent field days and final meeting, which will include landowners from all three counties.

Women landowners who participate in the Women Caring for the Land project will:

•Meet your district conservationist and learn about programs and people available to help you with your conservation concerns

•See sustainable soil conservation and water quality practices in the field

•Hear from a good tenant about what kinds of conservation concerns he shares with you

•Practice ways to discuss your conservation concerns with your tenant

•Share ideas with other women landowners about solutions to conservation and sustainability challenges you may face on your farmland

Meetings are informal, and women will be encouraged to share their own experiences and challenges related to farmland conservation. Facilitator Laura Krouse is a landowner, farmer and soil commissioner from Mt. Vernon.

 

For more information, contact Leigh Adcock of Women, Food and Agriculture Network at 515-460-2477, or Detra Dettman of Pathfinders Resource Conservation and Development at 641-471-6177. This project is sponsored by Women, Food and Agriculture Network in partnership with Pathfinders RC&D and the USDA-NRCS, with funding from Farm Aid and Ben & Jerry's Foundation.