News Release
For Immediate Release
June 4, 2009
Contact:
Sally Worley, Practical Farmers of Iowa, (515)232-5661, sally@practicalfarmers.org
Gary Guthrie,
Growing Harmony Farm, (515)382-3117, ghfguthrie@hotmail.com
Seeds, Skystream, and Strawberries: Practical Farmers of Iowa Field Day
Nevada—Do you want to meet the “Carrot King?” Visit Gary and Nancy Guthrie’s Growing Harmony Farm near Nevada on Saturday, June 13 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. for a Practical Farmers of Iowa field day. Tour Gary’s famous carrot, garlic and sweet potato gardens on this small sustainable farm. Homemade ice cream and strawberries fresh from the farm will be served.
This field day will include discussion about on-farm research into the use of natural seed coat treatment for better early emergence of peas. Dr. Mark Gleason will talk about his organic melon research. Gary will talk about his new Southwest Windpower Skystream 70-foot tower home electric system.
Growing Harmony Farm has been operating since 1997. They sell vegetables they grow on 2 ½ acres of their land through a 64 member CSA. Recently, grass fed lambs have been added to the operation.
This field day is free, and everybody is welcome.
Directions: 58444 260th St., Nevada. Head two miles east of I-35 on Highway 30. Turn south on County Road R70 (also called 580th Ave.). Go two miles to 260th St. and turn east; drive to the wind turbine on the south side of the road. Park in the pasture by the three grain bins.
This field day is sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Iowa State University On-Farm Research and Demonstration Program.
Sustaining sponsors for Practical Farmers of Iowa field days are the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State University Extension, American Natural Soy, the Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture, Albert Lea Seed House, Seed Savers Exchange, and the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES). Major sponsors are the Center for Energy and Environmental Education, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, ATTRA National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, Organic Valley and Organic Prairie Family of Farms CROPP Cooperative, Iowa Forage and Grassland Council, and King Corn.
Practical Farmers of Iowa includes a diverse group of farmers and nonfarmers. Corn, soybeans, beef cattle, and hay are the top enterprises for PFI farmers, although many have a variety of other operations, including fruits and vegetables. PFI’s programming stresses farmer-to-farmer networking through research and demonstration, field days, conferences, and more. For more information, call 515-232-5661 or visit www.practicalfarmers.org.
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