Women who own or manage farmland in western Iowa in and around Carroll County are invited to a free "Women Caring for the Land" meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at Whiterock Conservancy near Coon Rapids.

The meeting is open to any women who are farm partners, sole owner-operators, or inheritors of any size farm and who want to improve soil and water conservation practices on their farmland. Coffee and rolls will be offered beginning at 8:45 a.m., with the conversation beginning at 9 a.m. Topics will include practices and programs to help landowners conserve soil and water, and how to work with tenants on conservation including lease language.

Morning discussion leaders will be Laura Krouse, soil commissioner, farmer and landowner from Mt. Vernon, and Margaret Smith, farmer and renter near Hampton.

Lunch will be provided, and Whiterock Conservancy co-founders Rachel and Elizabeth Garst will share their experiences of managing their land for conservation. Afterward an optional tour will be offered to look at some of their efforts on the property.

Here is the agenda:

8:45 a.m.     Coffee and rolls

9 a.m.          Welcome, introductions (would like some general info from the women about their farms and what they want to accomplish on their land)

9:15 a.m.      Laura leads discussion on soil and water conservation practices

10:45 a.m.  Break

11 a.m.      Margaret leads discussion about conservation leasing, gives examples

Noon     Lunch featuring local foods

12:30 p.m.  Liz and Rachel Garst talk about their conservation efforts at the Conservancy

2 p.m. Landscape tour offered of Whiterock Conservancy (optional)

3 p.m. Adjourn  

For more information, contact project coordinator Laura Krouse of Mt. Vernon at 319-895-6924, Leigh Adcock of WFAN at 515 460 2477, or Emily Babin of Whiterock Conservancy at 712 684-2697 X115. This project is sponsored by Women, Food and Agriculture Network in partnership with Whiterock Conservancy and the USDA-NRCS, with funding from the McKnight Foundation and Farm Aid.