On our way from Dream Acres to our friends' wedding in Omaha we made a quick stop in northwest Iowa where we had the opportunity to talk with Dordt College Agriculture Professor Chris Goedhart. While much of the work that Dordt is currently undertaking involves enhancing both conventional and organic large scale agricultural operations (corn, soybean, oats), Chris is also well versed in the smaller scale food production operations that we have been visiting. Conversations included the massive number of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the three county area surrounding Souix Center, creative ways of feeding on larger scale pig farms (think ice cream and candy bars), and the recurring question of the best way to feed the world. Chris shared a lot of helpful information, explaining that even after decades of deliberation, he still feels conflicted when considering farming methods. It was sort of comforting, sort of frustrating to hear of Chris's conflicted feeling. Will we ever really know what the best way to nurture a backyard garden or feed the world's hungry might be? How different/similar with those systems look? We left our short afternoon with Chris with a much longer reading list and as usual, many more questions than answers about the best way to create sustainable food systems.
After our chat with Chris we decided to check out for a bit and went to see Thor in 3D. Good entertainment.
Then wrapped up the night with a bike ride on the local trail and a night of van camping at the city campground.
Chris was nice enough to put us in touch with a man in the area who has an organic beef and poultry operation. Carroll DeNooy took time out of his busy schedule to show us around his farm. Originally motivated by health concerns for him and his family, he has been committed to strict organic practices for years and shares this clean healthy food with the community by selling to several local retailers, at farmers markets, and directly off the farm to friends and family. We even picked out some brats and steaks for a wedding gift.
We made a quick stop final stop on the way out of town where our friend Brianna grew up. Very neat home/ barn/ gallery/ farm!
Oh, that makes me (a little) homesick. I don't miss the smell, however. (The natives will tell you that's something of a new development due to the changing farming practices in the last couple of decades).
ReplyDeleteSounds like you've left town already, but I also have a relative there who has been doing (larger scale) organic farming for some time. Let me know if you want to be put in contact with him.
Joel