Feed Iowa First

FEED IOWA FIRSTS MISSION IS ABOUT MAKING SURE ALL RESIDENTS OF LINN COUNTY HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY NUTRITIOUS FOOD. WE PARTNER WITH SCHOOLS, FAITH ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY AGENCIES AND BUSINESSES TO GROW FRESH PRODUCE ON THE OPEN SPACES AROUND THEIR PROPERTIES. SEEDLINGS ARE STARTED, TENDED TO AND HARVESTED BY MANY VOLUNTEERS UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF FEED IOWA FIRST STAFF. PRODUCE IS ALSO DONATED BY NEIGHBORS AND FARMS IN THE AREA. 100% OF ALL THIS PRODUCE IS THEN DISTRIBUTED TO FOOD PANTRIES AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES THAT HELP TO FEED THOSE IN NEED IN LINN COUNTY IOWA.

DON'T WASTE DONATE: 25,289 LBS OF PRODUCE WERE DONATED BY LOCAL FARMS, URBAN GARDENERS, AND GLEANED FROM LOCAL FARMS FOR DISTRIBUTION THROUGH FEED IOWA FIRST. THIS PROGRAM OBJECTIVE IS TO INCREASE FARMER SUPPORT AND PRODUCE DONATIONS.

EQUITABLE LAND ACCESS: PLANNING IN 2020 FOR SPRING 2021 PLANTING. THE ELA PROGRAM CONNECTS LANDLESS INDIVIDUALS WITH A BACKGROUND IN AGRICULTURE, TO FERTILE LAND IN THE AREA WHILE REMOVING BARRIERS OF ENTRY THAT EXIST. THE PROGRAM WORKS BY HAVING THE FARMER DICTATE WHAT TYPE OF SEEDS, IRRIGATION, AND EQUIPMENT IS NEEDED FOR THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND REDUCES THEIR START UP COST TO ZERO. THIS ALLOWS FOR AN EQUITABLE APPROACH BY ALLOWING THE FARMER TO GROW CULTURALLY RELEVANT CROPS THROUGH THE METHODS MOST FAMILIAR TO THEM. THE ELA PROGRAM ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO FARM FOR THEIR FAMILY, LOCAL COMMUNITY, AND FOR PROFIT. A PORTION OF THE HARVESTS WILL BE PUT INTO FEED IOWA FIRST DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM. OBJECTIVES AND A BUDGET WERE CREATED, THREE ACRES WERE SECURED, TWO FARMERS WERE IDENTIFIED AND GRANTS WERE WRITTEN DURING THE PLANNING PROCESS. THE EQUITABLE LAND ACCESS PROGRAMS OBJECTIVE IS TO INCREASE LAND ACCESS AND THE NUMBER OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, AND ESTABLISH LOCAL MARKETS TO SELL ELA PRODUCE.

GROW DON'T MOW: THIS PROGRAM USES OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS URBAN SPACES TO GROW FOOD. THE 26 FARMS WERE AN INCREASE OF 6 FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. FEED IOWA FIRST GROWS PLANT STARTS, TILLS, PROVIDES SOIL REMEDIATION AND PROVIDES GUIDANCE. THE PARTNER ORGANIZATION PROVIDES VOLUNTEERS TO WEED, WATER AND HARVEST. 2020 WAS PARTICULARLY UNIQUE BECAUSE CEDAR RAPIDS EXPERIENCED BOTH COVID-19 WHICH TOOK PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE OFFICE, AND THE DERECHO REDUCED THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS AT MANY ORGANIZATIONS. THE FARMS GREW 23,311 LBS OF PRODUCE. 22 OF THE 26 FIELDS HAD DERECHO DAMAGE, 21 WERE REPLANTED OR REPAIRED FOLLOWING THE STORM. THE PROGRAM OBJECTIVE FOR GROW DON'T MOW IS TO INCREASE GROWTH THROUGH GREATER YIELDS IN CURRENT FIELDS AND BUILDING A FRAMEWORK FOR NEW PARTNER SUCCESS.