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1000 Friends of Iowa

Resources
Environmental Working Group Releases "Losing Ground" Report PDF Print E-mail
Wednesday, 13 April 2011

"Losing Ground", a report from the Environmental Working Group (EWG), found that soil erosion in Iowa is much worse than previously reported. Federal officials estimate Iowa loses 5 tons of soil per acre per year, but the report found that following some storms in 2009, areas of Iowa lost as much as 100 tons of soil per acre. There are Iowa farmers, conservation minded, who are doing their best to protect our soil and water by planting grass strips to prevent gullies and plant trees and grass to act as buffers between streams and the crop-fields where they apply pesticides & fertilizer. Most farmers plant fence row to fence row and right up to stream banks to produce as much as they possibly can due to federal subsidies that encourage production over conservation.

Irresponsible farming practices, and the federal subsidies that encourage the practices, are putting soil and water at risk.

Read the full report "Losing Ground" at http://www.ewg.org/losingground/, and watch the "Losing Ground" video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehlUKkw69Dg&feature=player_embedded.

Iowa groups have put together the following talking points on the EWG "Losing Ground" report & video:

Read more...
 
"The Road Where I Grew Up" by Helen Gunderson PDF Print E-mail
Thursday, 22 April 2010
A brief video created & narrated by 1000 Friends member Helen Gunderson shows the dramatic changes to the land where she grew up.
 
Two New Presentations From GRAIN PDF Print E-mail
Friday, 01 January 2010

Land grabbing and the global food crisis - An illustrated overview of the
global land grabbing trend, with tables and figures.

http://www.grain.org/o/?id=90

Small farmers can cool the planet - A way out of the mayhem caused by the industrial food system. Concise data on how industrial agriculture plays a big role in the climatcrisis and how diversified, small-scale farming and local markets can solve
the problem.

http://www.grain.org/o/?id=93
 
Trail Tree Markers PDF Print E-mail
Saturday, 28 November 2009
Dennis Downes is completing a 30-year study of Native American Trail Marker Trees and Marker Trees. If you know of any Trail Marker Trees in Iowa, you're encouraged to share that information with Mr. Downes. Visit his website to learn more about the history of Trail Marker Trees, the work of the Great Lakes Trail Marker Tree Society, and to contact Mr. Downes.
 
Become a Bicycle Friendly Community PDF Print E-mail
Thursday, 21 August 2008

Interested in working toward making your community bike friendly? Below are several resources, from tips on personal safety to getting your community leaders involved. This list will continue to grow, so please check back!

Bicycle Parking Guidelines

Bicycle Parking Guide & Manufacturers

The Iowa Bicycle Coalition has a great video guide on pros and cons of bike rack types, as well as "how to" for installation and use. Of course, there are many other helpful tips and resources on their website. Visit them at www. iowabicyclecoalition.org to learn more.

The League of American Bicyclists has created an "awards program that recognizes municipalities that actively support bicycling" called the Bicycle Friendly Community Campaign. Both sites have a wealth of information concerning bicycle safety and creating bicycle friendly communities.

 
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1000 Friends of Iowa - Citizens United for Responsible Land Use