Women Farmland Owners Event June 3, 2015 Burlington, IN
Women who o
wn or manage Indiana farmland are invited to participate in a free conservation discussion and field tour on June 3 at the Burlington Community Center (425 East 5th Street, Burlington, IN 46915).
“With women now owning or co-owning nearly half of the farmland in the Midwest,” said Jennifer Filipak, natural resources conservationist for the American Farmland Trust, “our goal is to connect these women with the conservation resources they need to make sound management decisions.”
Women Caring for the LandSM meetings bring together women landowners in an informal, discussion-based learning format for a women-only morning discussion followed by a more in-depth look at two or three topics of high interest. Female conservation professionals are on hand to answer questions and share resources. “We had a great meeting on soil health in Russiaville last year,” remarked Leah Harden with the Clinton County Soil and Water Conservation District, “This year we’ll include a discussion on creative leasing arrangements and how to begin the conversation with your tenant farmer about conservation practices.”
Following lunch, local conservationists will lead a bus tour to view conservation practices on the ground. Topics for discussion range from soil health and water quality, wildlife management and government cost-share programs, to how to talk with tenants about management practices. The meeting is presented in partnership with the Women Food and Agriculture Network, who pioneered the program in Iowa. “We continually hear from women how grateful they are for a women-only learning environment,” commented Bridget Holcomb, executive director of the Women Food and Agriculture Network, “and they tell us that they are able to discuss issues that they wouldn’t feel comfortable bringing up in any other setting.”
On June 3, coffee and registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the meeting will begin at 9. A free lunch is provided. The program will end with refreshments at 3 p.m.
RSVP by 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 29, to the Clinton County Soil and Water Conservation District by emailing Leah Harden at Leah.Harden@in.nacdnet.net, or by calling (765) 659 1223, ext. 3. If you need accommodations, please notify Leah when you RSVP.
This session of Women Caring for the LandSM is sponsored by American Farmland Trust in partnership with the Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Carroll, Howard, Clinton and Tipton Counties. We are grateful for funding support from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Foundation.
More information can be found at http://womencaringfortheland.org/indiana/
May 22, 2015 11:04 am | News
