JAN-FEB 2025 Newsletter

DIRECTORS MESSAGE

A healthier Linn County starts around the dinner table, with your support!

The change in administration in January of 2025, and a flurry of divisive executive orders that significantly impact the nonprofit world, have turned many health and human services institutions on their head. Our organization, too, has felt the pinch from reductions in federal funding sources and programs we participate in. Although the future is ambiguous, as an organization we remain committed to serving the underserved, and exemplifying the values of Health and Nutrition, Equity, Dignity and Balance.

Now more than ever, personal support of organizations like ours and our partners—United We March Forward, Eastern Iowa Health Clinic, The Catherine McCauley Center, SILT, The Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, and United Way—is crucial for key programs to function. Consider spending a few hours a month volunteering or carving out some dispensable income to support these key community organizations. As always, we welcome conversations about volunteerism and invite you to join our work.

We look forward to 2025 with clear eyes and full hearts, ready to support the community regardless of race, religion, political preference, country of origin, gender, age, ability, or any other demographic. An indisputable pillar from our founding will remain: if a person expresses need, we serve them.

For more information, visit the Feed Iowa First website!

Jody Josten
Executive Director

NEWS

Wanatee Farm Updates

A new year brings a new plan! Wanatee will be restructured once again to meet our staff’s needs and grow the most produce we can while protecting our soil. We will implement a crop rotation to minimize soil erosion, improve soil fertility, and reduce pests.

The farm this year will see 28 crop varieties. We will continue using our hoop house (a plastic covered structure to keep our plants warm and protected) with the hope for three planting rotations. The hoop greatly extended the length of our 2024 season, and we expect to get even more use out of it in 2025.

For now, our fields are asleep under a blanket of cover crops and as winter turns to spring, we will be seeding even more cover crops to reduce erosion, return nutrients to our soils, reduce weeds, and grow food for the bees. In the shop, we have started seeding out trays of plants such as onions and peppers—it’s hard to imagine that our season has already begun when it’s below zero degrees just outside our door!

Laura Tirado
Wanatee Farm Manager

Urban Farm Updates

Feed Iowa first is honored to welcome Isabel Schmidt as the Urban Farm Manager, starting February 25th! Isabel graduated from Kirkwood Community College in the fall of 2024, earning her Associate of Applied Sciences degree in Agricultural Science.

During the summer of 2024, Isabel completed an AmeriCorps internship at Feed Iowa First as the Equitable Urban Growing Coordinator, gaining valuable insights into the organization’s growing operations. As a Cedar Rapids native, Isabel has long been aware of food insecurity in her community, but her experience with Feed Iowa First deepened her understanding of this issue.

In her role at Feed Iowa First, Isabel manages our urban garden sites, striving to provide the community with nourishing produce while educating them about the importance of local agriculture. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, photography, gardening, and hanging out with her pets, friends, and family.

Isabel Schmidt
Urban Farm Manager

Equitable Land Access Updates

This year brought another new addition to the team—Alora Kraus, our Equitable Land Access (ELA) Program Director! An Iowa City native, Alora recently earned her Master’s in Sustainable Resource Management from the Technical University of Munich in Germany, specializing in Soil Management (2021–2024). In her role, she leads the ELA Community Agriculture and Business Development programs, working to connect underserved growers with underutilized land and support emerging farmers in expanding their food businesses.

This year, the ELA Business Development program is supporting five farmers at Wanatee, and we are delighted to welcome Elouth Imani as a new participant. Elouth previously farmed in our ELA Community Agriculture program at Buffalo United Methodist Church, growing specialty crops like okra, white eggplant, and amaranth. Now, he’s expanding his farming operation tenfold! As we gear up for the season, we’re actively assisting Wanatee farmers with crop planning, seed ordering, and plant starts to ensure a successful year ahead. Meanwhile, our ELA Community Agriculture program will serve 27 growers at three locations this year—St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Buffalo United Methodist Church, and Cedar Hills Community Church.

Alora Kraus
Equitable Land Access Director

SPOTLIGHT

This is fresh lettuce, grown from Hilltop Greens in Dyersville, Iowa

Hilltop Greens

Through the months of January and February, Feed Iowa First received approximately 2,400 lbs. of fresh lettuce from an upcoming grower in Dyersville, IA—Hilltop Greens! This innovative farm grows lettuce year-round using hydroponic methods, ensuring fresh, high-quality produce in every season. In addition to lettuce, Hilltop Greens cultivates a variety of specialty crops, including strawberries, kale, and basil—all grown indoors without the use of herbicides or insecticides.

Thanks to their generous donations, we’ve been able to provide fresh lettuce to over 20 local pantries, food banks, and community kitchens. We’re thrilled to partner with Hilltop Greens and continue bringing fresh, sustainable produce to those in need!

For more information about their produce check out their website:
https://hilltop-greens.square.site/#3

Go Green!

Melanie Fetter
Food Access Coordinator

FOR YOU

Picture of Winter Greens and Sausage Soup from https://ellenogden.com/winter-greens-sausage-soup/

Check out this amazing recipe from Ellen Ecker Ogden. Perfect for a cozy night in, try Winter Greens and Sausage Soup.

Ingredients

¼ cup olive oil, divided
3 hot Italian sausages, cut into ½-inch pieces
3 sweet Italian sausages, cut into ½-inch pieces
1 onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
4 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
Salt and fresh ground pepper
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 pounds (about 6–8) Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled, cut into ¾-inch pieces
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups water
1 pound collard greens, stacked and sliced into fine strips, yielding about 6 cups.

Preparation

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in an 8-quart stock pot over medium high heat until shimmering. Add sausages and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

Reduce heat to medium and add onion, garlic, and the pepper flakes. Season with generous sprinkling of salt and pepper, to taste. Cook, stirring frequently, until onion is translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add potatoes, broth, and water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, until potatoes are just tender.

With a measuring cup or soup ladle, transfer 1 cup of vegetable solids and 1 cup broth to a blender. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons oil to the soup in the blender and process until very smooth and well-blended, about 1 minute. Set it aside.
Add collard greens to soup pot and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the sausages and corn, and continue to simmer until greens are tender, 8 to 10 minutes longer. Stir the pureed soup mixture back into the pot, bring back to a simmer, and serve hot.

For more recipes on those cold winter nights, check out Ellen Ecker Ogden.

Natalie Jasso
Marketing and Outreach Coordinator

VOLUNTEER

Join Feed Iowa First for incredible volunteer opportunities! Whether you’re volunteering alone or with a group, you can lend a hand at our urban farms, join our Monday Volunteer Nights, or help with Veggie Bus Distribution—your support makes a real impact!

We’d love to have you on board this season! Click the link below to sign up/express interest, and stay tuned for more details coming soon.

Together, we can nourish our community!

https://forms.office.com/r/P1gbFdhHEX

SUPPORT US

Your donation will not only provide employment opportunities within our community but also enhance our ability to serve more individuals and families in need of locally grown, nourishing food. Your contribution, no matter the amount, will make a significant impact on our mission. Please consider donating today to help us build a healthier, more food-secure future for all.

Considerations for donation:

Donation from your IRA.
Double your Donation: Check to see if your company matches. Collins Aerospace matches 100% and we are also on the match list for ADM, Alliant and many other companies.
Facebook Fundraiser.
Check or online donation.
Corporate Matching: If you work for a company that offers donation matching, your contribution to Feed Iowa First may be matched by your employer. Check with your HR department for details.
Legacy Gifts: Include Feed Iowa First in your estate planning by leaving a bequest in your will or making them a beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement account or by donation to the Feed Iowa First Endowment.
Volunteer Your Time: While not a monetary donation, donating your time and skills as a volunteer can be invaluable to organizations like Feed Iowa First. You can help with planting, harvesting, sorting, and distributing food to those in need.
Fundraising Events: Participate in or organize fundraising events on behalf of Feed Iowa First. These can include charity runs, bake sales, auctions, or any other creative fundraising ideas.
Donate Equipment or Supplies: If you have gardening or farming equipment, seeds, or other supplies that could be useful for Feed Iowa First’s operations, consider donating them.

DONATE: https://www.feediowa1st.com/donate/

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