Trying Out Tools

Trying Out Tools and Talking About Farm Transition

Sunday, July 23 | 2-5 p.m.

Hosts: Denise O’Brien & Larry Harris and Kent Morris

Address: 59624 Chicago Rd. | Atlantic, IA 50022

***This event is at capacity. Please email Rachel Burke at rachel.burke@practicalfarmers.org to be added to the wait list.

Denise O’Brien and Larry Harris of Rolling Acres Farm have spent the last 40 years transitioning Larry’s fifth-generation family farm from corn and soybeans to dairy and vegetable production. In 2020, they launched a greenhouse business selling farm-grown starter plants.

Join us at Rolling Acres Farm to learn about and try out vegetable-specific tools and implements ranging from hand tools to two-wheel and small tractors. Denise and Larry will share their vegetable farming experience and their fellow farmer, Kent Morris, will share his considerable vegetable machinery expertise. Kent, Densie and Larry will try to accommodate specific tool and implement requests from attendees. Requests can be made through the PFI registration form for this event.

Following the event, attendees may take part in a farm transition meetup; tour Denise and Larry’s solar, straw-built house; or hop over to Kent’s farm to see more equipment.

NOTE: For safety and logistics reasons, participation in the hands-on portion of this event is limited to 20 people. Preregistration is required; no walk-ins.

A meal for the community will follow the field day. The meal and after-dinner tour and discussion do not have an attendance limit. Register for the workshop, the meal or both.

Sponsored by:

Iowa Interfaith Power & Light
Iowa Specialty Crop Growers Association
Treffler-Man@Machine
Women, Food and Agriculture Network (WFAN)

See & Discuss:

Recycled and improvised containers for greenhouse plants
Plows, tillers, planters
Small-scale irrigation tools
Small tractor-scale implements: mower, tiller, cultivator, water wheel planter
Two-wheeled walk-behind machinery
Hand-scale tools available
Tool selection, use, maintenance and care
Farm transition (after dinner)
A passive solar, straw-built house (after dinner)