Late summer and fall of 2009 saw CNN citizen journalist Neal Moore canoeing the length of the Mississippi River documenting positive American stories as he went. During his time in Iowa he visited with sustainable farmers and with Practical Farmers of Iowa members. Below are five videos he produced about PFI members. Visit www.flashriversafari.com for more of Neal's stories and to follow along with his journey.
The first video is a retrospective of his entire trip down the river including some of his time spent in Iowa and with PFI members
For Neal's entery on September 3rd, 2009 he wrote:
"As America sits down around their kitchen tables to find the common denominator between health care, diet, and budget, the Jepsens and Koethers, organic producers and distributors of NE Iowa are doing same. But there's is a different perspective, struggling to find a way to market what just might be the solution.
I sat down for dinner with Ryan and Kristine Jepsen, their mathematically-minded intern, Dirk Marple, and cattle rancher and daughter, Greg and Kayla Koether. The discussion that ensued between the lot, specifically between the producer and the distributor of a small, truly organic business, reflects their triumphs and challenges, as well as the real cost of cheap food."
Neal's September 2nd post about Greg Koether's field day began:
"Imbedded in the older generations of farmers here in Iowa are certain skills that were practiced and understood and shared. This was before the introduction of the post WWII chemical companies that in time would become the seed companies. There was a bona fide love of the land, and with it, a celebration of rural community and of family. A future for the American family farmer that transcended the introduction of commercial agriculture corporations."
August 31, 2009. Neal wrote about the issues surrounding clean water. Talking with Jason Klinge, Teresa Opheim, and Greg Koether, Neal began:
"Traveling along the Mississippi River on an extended canoe expedition, one becomes mindful of the importance of clean water. According to the Department of Natural Resources, you've got point and non-point pollution. It's the non-point that the DNR is concerned about, generally attributed to agriculture - farmers with heavy soil loss."
August 28th, 2009 saw Neal begin his look into sustainable agriculture and Iowa farmers by telling the story of a boyhood farm. Neal wrote: "I found it interesting that the boyhood farm of Norman Borlaug, the father of the "Green Revolution" and "god" of conventional farming as we know it, now inhabits an organic, sustainable-farming strategy. The Natvigs and Borlaugs have been neighbors for as far back as they can remember, and as a result, they just happen to be related. I spoke with Godfrey Natvig, age 89, former Howard County Soil & Water Commissioner and life-long farmer; Mike Natvig, age 44, quite busy on an organic, sustainable revolution of his own; as well as Mary Damm, a soil scientist from Indiana University. The answers given - both from the soil, as well as from a six generation farming family - might surprise you."
And finally a photo album with video of Neal's day with the Koethers.