|
|
|
|
Farming practices come and go, but there is something enduring about people solving problems, sharing their experiences and questions, and making the wheels go around in their communities. |
It seems as if markets drive everything these days, and there are plenty of people looking for markets that help them farm sustainably and profitably. The repeat comment coming back from the 2000 field days was, “More about the marketing!” There are a growing number of value-added products and more and more options for reaching the consumer. Expect to see marketing co-ops, regional and national businesses, and farm gate approaches. Some people are contracting, some are going it alone, and some are jumping on business opportunities as they arise.
If you want a preview of the practices to be featured at the field days, look at the markets. Veggies are moving into the big time as growers try to meet the demand for local produce – while retaining their quality of life and community roots. Pigs are moving uptown too. The rest of the country (including Washington, D.C.) is getting a taste for the “happy hogs” of Iowa sustainable farms. On-farm research this year will look at hoops, rations, parasites, and compost. Crops? Flaming, fertility paradigms, open-pollinated, nitrogen budgeting worksheets, nut trees, and even prairie.
More people come to PFI field days through a personal invitation than from newspapers, radio or television. And the personal connection is probably what people most remember from their visit. Farming practices come and go, but there is something enduring about people solving problems, sharing their experiences and questions, and making the wheels go around in their communities. With more than 100 cooperators and over 350 events since the first PFI field days, there is still plenty to talk about.
| We see these community days as a hybrid of a traditional field day combined with an open house. |
In addition to these research-based field days, PFI is piloting some community days. (See p. 3.) The producers at these sites may not be doing on-farm research, but they still have innovations to showcase and stories to tell. They’re opening up their farms to the public in support of PFI’s mission: to promote farming systems that are profitable, ecologically sound, and good for families and communities.
We see these community days as a hybrid of a traditional field day combined
with an open house. Or think of them as a picnic with a purpose – in fact,
multiple purposes:
to reach out to new people in each community and better acquaint them with PFI.
Here’s an opportunity to let more people, including non-farming consumers,
learn more about PFI’s mission, culture, and activities. Maybe we can debunk a
few myths and pick up a few new members along the way.
to give PFI members in each district another opportunity to get together. So
many PFI members acclaim the value of knowing others in their district, but it
seems like winter meetings are the only time we get together. Let’s try it in
warmer weather and see what happens.
to network with other like-minded organizations. With so many stakeholders in
sustainable agriculture, there will be at least one other agency or organization
partnering with PFI at each event.
to showcase enthusiastic PFI members and let more folks see the fine work they
are doing. We’re proud of you!
This is the pilot year for the community days. So we’re starting small to work out the kinks. We have five sites identified, one each in Allamakee, Boone, Jefferson, Johnson, and O’Brien County. (See pages 3 and 4.) But we’d like to spread out a bit more geographically. If you live in southwest Iowa and are willing to host such an event, give Nan a call right away at 515-294-8512. But hurry.
As we go to press, the line-up is just about finalized. The dates are coming together, but some details are still fuzzy. Rest assured that if you got this newsletter, you will also get the complete printed guide to the summer field days as fast as we can drop it in the mail. We’ll see you there!
