Systemic Perspective

Industrial corn & soybean farms reduce the overall value of Iowa. The plants pull nutrients out of the ground, and are then shipped away all over the world. The nutrients in the plants are molecules and they physically stop being here. The ground here is physically getting lower because phosphorus molecules, nitrogen molecules, and other nutrients are shipped away inside the plants and washed down the Mississippi in erosion. 

This is a picture of a geosciences professor standing in north-central Iowa next to some land that has been farmed unsustainably. He's standing on prairie that hasn't been farmed, and you can see the farmed ground has been physically lowered several feet. I took this image from Smithsonian Magazine, where you can read more about it.

This is a business model that's profitable because the farmers don't have to pay for the soil they are shipping away. But it's not sustainable because they're going to run out of soil. It only makes long-term sense for people who don't live in Iowa to invest in this type of business - when Iowa is out of nutrients, they'll be somewhere else. They're using Iowa like a big strip mine, and when it's empty, they'll just abandon it.

At a systemic level, one economic result of these farms is that the state comprises less value overall.

Supporting this strip-mining sort of farming is a pretty bad long-term strategy for people that actually live here in Iowa. We should be thinking about ways to support local regenerative businesses that can replace them. The Johnson County government is working on this! IRVC&D is also doing pretty amazing work. The Great Plains Action Society is building a center to work towards food sovereignty right here in Iowa City!  I'd love to see politicians put more & more focus on these smarter, regenerative, long-term strategies - I think that's a better way to support farmers than continuing to prop up a fundamentally unsustainable business model.

Use Your Agency This Week

The next time you hear a politician say we need to support farmers, you might ask them what the plan is for when the soil runs out. But here's some opportunities I know about to use your own power without waiting for politicians.

• The Johnson County Food Policy Council was going to hold their annual public meeting this weekend, but they've postponed to Saturday, February 7th. So all you have to do THIS week is mark your calendar! :) More information here.
  
  
• RSFIC's hosting our last coffee & coworking of the year in the Gathering Space all Wednesday morning. Just come and hang out, bring some work to do, or learn more about regenerative agriculture. Bring something to share if you like, we're going for a sort of morning-potluck vibe.
  
  
• Buy some food through Field to Family. They only source food from folks that live here, and they're working to create a more local, healthy and sustainable regional food system. Get your order in before the solstice! 
  
  
• The Wright House is relocalizing power over fashion and solidarity. They host the community fridge and many skill-building gatherings. This week, attend the Wright House documentary screening on Friday, December 19th, 6:30 PM. Free RSVP.
  
  
• Join in free community pilates - this is your last chance in 2025! Free RSVP.
  
  
• Join in some community singing! Tomorrow at 3 PM at the Gathering Space. Subscribe to the IC Community Sing newsletter for any weather-related updates.

Enjoy the Winter

The snow is beautiful! About 40 neighbors gathered outside in a winter block party in the Longfellow neighborhood last weekend.  Sometimes it's harder to enjoy ourselves outside in the winter, but Claire, Jacob, and many of their neighbors (including me!) got together and created an opportunity to make it easier. We can help you do this in your neighborhood too! Just inquire at this form :)

Peace,

Riley