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. . . are full of flavor and nutrients, they support their local economies, they promote a safer food supply, and they benefit the environment by maintaining green and open spaces. For all those reasons, Sustainable Iowa City is pleased to feature two local food initiatives in this month’s issue.
At its June 4 meeting, the Iowa City Council passed a resolution in support of Field to Family’s Food Hub and pledged up to $45,000 to the effort.
The Food Hub manages the aggregation, storage, distribution and marketing of wholesale foods sourced from locally certified sources to institutions such as schools and nursing homes. In this way it helps local farmers provide their products to larger audiences and helps individuals who might not otherwise have access enjoy those products. The Food Hub had a “soft launch” in 2018 and plans to make its first institutional delivery on June 11. With the funds provided by the City, it hopes to purchase a refrigerated truck, obtain more cold storage, and create a digital platform.
Field to Family Director Michelle Kenyon says the Food Hub will help meet the area’s huge demand for local foods.
Field to Family works collaboratively to grow the local food economy and create a community-based food system. Its Food Hub has attracted many community partners, including the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, the Food Policy Council, UI, ICAD, Table to Table and others. For more information, visit Field to Family..
The mission of Grow: Johnson County is to provide access to healthy food by raising organic fruits and vegetables for local hunger relief agencies and by providing hands-on gardening education.
Now that mission is getting a boost. Grow: Johnson County is the 2019 recipient of proceeds from the popular annual Farm to Street Dinner, sponsored by the Downtown District, The City and Johnson County.
“We are very happy to be able to support such a great community partner,” said Betsy Potter, Director of Operations for the District. The Farm to Table Committee selected Grow: Johnson County from a number of local applicants.
Grow is an initiative of Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development, a nonprofit based in Amana. Grow is located on five acres at the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm, just west of Iowa City. With the involvement of community volunteers, Grow produces and distributes organic fruits and vegetables to 13 local agencies, ranging from food pantries to childcare centers. With the $9,000 award from Farm to Table, Grow hopes to install a 30’ x 100’ greenhouse, improving efficiency and adding greenhouse management as a learning option.
The next Farm to Street Dinner is planned for Thursday, August 15, 2019. Tickets will be available beginning July 1 at 7 a.m.
More information about Grow: Johnson County can be found at www.growjohnsoncounty.org
 That is, have you taken the Iowa City Climate Action pledge? You can make the pledge personal by choosing the actions that work best for you and your family, from reducing car trips to focusing on plant-based meals. To take the pledge, visit: Iowa City's climate action web page.
You’ve probably borrowed books and CDs from the Iowa City Public Library. But did you know you can also borrow children’s toys and learning kits? Puzzles, puppets, blocks, board games and more are available for kids of all ages. Checking out a new toy is a budget-friendly and eco-friendly way to entertain your family this summer—and all year round. Visit
the Iowa City Public Library website.
Denice Connell, Communications Assistant, City of Iowa City Sustainability Program
What does sustainability mean to you?
To me sustainability means respecting our whole environment and keeping a humble perspective about our place in it.
What actions have you taken to promote sustainability?
My actions have been mostly at the household level. My husband and I don’t use herbicides or pesticides in our yard, we use a City-provided water barrel and a compost bin for kitchen waste, and we use the compost on our flower beds. Once I got in the grocery-store-tote-bag habit, I started using smaller reusable bags for produce. I’m trying to further reduce our plastic use—and it’s tough!
What other efforts should we consider to advance sustainability?
I believe that working with legislators is an area where our individual efforts can be multiplied. It seems to me that in Iowa our environment should be front and center in the minds of our elected officials.
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