http://www.iowafoodandfitness.org Our five county region is on the ground floor of a movement to improve the policies, practices, and systems that determine how food arrives on our tables and how NE Iowa communities can grow opportunities for physical activity for all. en-us http://www.iowafoodandfitness.org/news/84.html http://www.iowafoodandfitness.org/news/84.html Wed, 28 July 2010 14:01:59 CST Ann Bushman from Annie's Gardens and Greens reflects on the day in May, where 33 students from CFS Catholic School in Calmar visited her farm to plant a garden. http://www.iowafoodandfitness.org/news/83.html http://www.iowafoodandfitness.org/news/83.html Tue, 27 July 2010 16:02:23 CST A new barn raising is how Adam Montri described the moveable high tunnel building workshop he led recently at Rob and Tammy Faux's farm near Tripoli. Montri, an outreach specialist at Michigan State University and a farmer, conducted the training build for a Practical Farmers of Iowa field day at Genuine Faux Farms. The farm raises vegetables, herbs, chickens and turkeys for a community supported agriculture program and also sell at the farmers market and local stores and institutions. http://www.iowafoodandfitness.org/news/82.html http://www.iowafoodandfitness.org/news/82.html Tue, 27 July 2010 15:54:23 CST Adam Montri, an outreach specialist at Michigan State University and a farmer, has participated in putting up 65 high tunnels in the last four years. "For small- and mid-scale farms, the high tunnel is beginning to be as much a mainstay as the tractor," Montri said during an interview while he was leading a high tunnel building workshop as part of a Practical Farmers of Iowa Field Day at Tammy and Rob Faux's Tripoli farm. http://www.iowafoodandfitness.org/news/81.html http://www.iowafoodandfitness.org/news/81.html Tue, 27 July 2010 15:18:01 CST A group of Clayton Ridge students together with their teacher, Dana Einck, and school nurse Ranae Kraus, RN, have planted potatoes for the annual Homecoming Day Grill-out. http://www.iowafoodandfitness.org/news/80.html http://www.iowafoodandfitness.org/news/80.html Tue, 20 July 2010 14:29:15 CST It took three years for the hard work to pay off in a harvest of grapes at the Prairie View Vineyard, owned and operated by Brian and Kelly Nordschow, south of Decorah. The vineyard was established in 2004 and 3 years later the Nordschows harvested about 7200 pounds of wine grapes. Last year they harvested about 9500 pounds of wine grapes and about 2300 pounds of table grapes. http://www.iowafoodandfitness.org/news/78.html http://www.iowafoodandfitness.org/news/78.html Fri, 09 July 2010 17:10:45 CST Next year, Independence students will benefit from the work with yogurt and granola parfaits featuring the frozen berries, which were all grown on a local farm. About a half dozen volunteers were positioned around two sinks trying to stay ahead of the fruit surge. They cleaned, cut and sent the remaining pieces on to be stored 15 pounds at a time in freezer-safe bags. http://www.iowafoodandfitness.org/news/77.html http://www.iowafoodandfitness.org/news/77.html Wed, 07 July 2010 13:17:31 CST A food revolution is brewing in Northeast Iowa. New ideas continue to sprout as the Northeast Iowa Food and Farm Coalition supports local initiatives in and out of the classroom. The Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative's "Buy Fresh, Buy Local" campaign is connecting consumers directly with local farmers. Recent farm tours provided community members the opportunity to visit with local growers. http://www.iowafoodandfitness.org/news/76.html http://www.iowafoodandfitness.org/news/76.html Wed, 07 July 2010 07:41:52 CST The Winneshiek County Food and Fitness Team, the Decorah Schools, and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program are working together to create a Walking School Bus for children attending St. Benedict's, Middle School, Carrie Lee or West Side, including preschoolers. Families (adults and children) are invited kick off and information meeting on July 7 from 6:30-8:00 pm at the home of Britt and Mark Rhodes, 504 Winneshiek Ave, Decorah. http://www.iowafoodandfitness.org/news/75.html http://www.iowafoodandfitness.org/news/75.html Tue, 22 June 2010 08:02:37 CST Mirroring the growing national movement in regional food production, Iowans have shown increased interest in the availability of locally produced fruits and vegetables. Work in the state to develop regional food systems is providing new farming and community development opportunities, while improving access to healthy foods. http://www.iowafoodandfitness.org/news/74.html http://www.iowafoodandfitness.org/news/74.html Tue, 22 June 2010 07:47:55 CST This year there has been a doubling in the number of beginning farmers that have become members of Practical Farmers of Iowa. Luke Gran, the Next Generation coordinator for Practical Farmers, says the surge can be credited to more young people discovering a niche market where they can make money.