Many Women Land and Legacy chapters celebrated a year in which things felt a little more normal in 2022. Several adventurous chapters moved forward by conducting Learning Sessions and were pleased that they took this brave step! Additionally, 5 new counties decided to become active with WLL by forming new chapters (2 chapters) and several more counties are gearing up to become active in early 2023! Check out a recap of activity in fiscal year 2022 in the latest WLL newsletter. October 2022

Women Land and Legacy (WLL) chapters are becoming more active as populations become more comfortable with in-person gatherings even in light of increasing COVID cases recently. There were nine Learning Sessions from April 1 through June 30, 2022 which involved seven chapters equaling 16 counties. There was also one new WLL chapter added, WLL of Southern Iowa (Adams, Ringgold, Taylor and Union counties), which held its Listening Sessions on June 1.

Events that took place:

Hydroponics – SW Iowa WLL Chapter (Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie), 27 participants

Succulents Potting Workshop – Buchanan Chapter, 13 participants

Women Managing Woodlands – Cedar, Johnson, Muscatine, Scott Chapter, 26 participants

Pollinators – Cedar, Johnson, Muscatine, Scott Chapter, 7 participants

Gardening – Buena Vista, Pocahontas Chapter, 3 participants

Beekeeping – Tama Chapter, 23 participants

Estate and Land Transitioning – Winneshiek Chapter, 44 participants

FSA and NRCS Updates – Cedar, Johnson, Muscatine, Scott Chapter, 8 participants

Regeneration of the Family Farm – Mahaska and Marion Chapter, 15 participants

More events took place in July with even more planned for August and September. Watch for events on the WLL Events Calendar and on Facebook!

Women Land and Legacy (WLL) chapters were very busy across Iowa in the first quarter of calendar year 2022. More events are taking place due to lower COVID cases, which is good news and tremendous benefit to the women in Iowa with connections and concerns about the land and agriculture. There were seven Learning Sessions from January 1 – March 31 in 5 WLL Chapters which represents 14 counties! There were also two Listening Sessions in the newest WLL county.

Events that took place:

Buena Vista/Pocahontas Chapter (with ISU Extension) – Women Managing Farmland with 26 participants

Cedar/Johnson/Muscatine/Scott Chapter – 3 Lunch & Learns in different counties with 36 participants

Louisa/Des Moines Chapter – Land Transition session with 27 participants

SW Iowa Chapter (Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Pottawattamie, Page) – Women Gaining Ground conference with 90 participants

Tama Chapter – Farm Finances and Financial Software session with 19 participants

Winneshiek Chapter – Two Listening Sessions with 61 participants

More WLL events area planned and being planned for April and future months. Watch for those events on the WLL Events Calendar and on Facebook!

It has been quite a few years since Women Land and Legacy (WLL) has seen new chapters form. This is changing in 2022 with two new chapters already by February!

The Winneshiek WLL Chapter will hold two Listening Sessions in March, one at Wildberry Winery in Decorah on March 22 and the second at the Spillville Public Library on March 31. The WLL of Southern Iowa (Adams, Ringgold, Taylor, and Union counties) will hold two Listening Sessions on June 1 at different times to accommodate schedules. They will both take place at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Lenox, IA.

Pre-COVID, the Cedar, Johnson, Muscatine and Scott WLL Chapter held monthly Lunch & Learns the first Friday of each month. Of course, those hadn’t been happening until the activity return on December 3, 2021. That day, the WLL Chapter held their first in-person Lunch & Learn in over 18 months at Baxa’s Sutliff Store & Tavern in Johnson County. Women were able to enjoy lunch, networking and learning about the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). On January 7, 2022, the Lunch & Learn took place at Boonies on the Avenue in Muscatine, IA. Women learned about soil fertility and input costs.

The next Lunch & Learn takes place at River Valley Cooperative in Davenport, IA on February 14 (not a Friday). Attendees will gain insights about agriculture and receive updates from USDA-NRCS and FSA. For more information about future Lunch & Learns and other WLL events, go to the Cedar/Muscatine/Johnson/Scott Women Land and Legacy Facebook page.

The Cedar, Johnson, Muscatine and Scott WLL Chapter held an educational and fun event on November 30, 2021 for women that wanted to utilize local spruce tips and boughs to make holiday porch pots! The event took place at the Cedar County Extension office with 17 in attendance.

On November 18, 2021, the Buchanan County WLL Chapter hosted a Learning Session to assist 42 women and men with stress management, especially as it relates to agriculture. Jeff Ditzenberger, Wisconsin farmer and developer of the T.U.G.S. (Talking, Understanding, Growing, Supporting) program for mental health, shared his moving personal story as well as strategies we all can use to make a difference in others’ lives, sometimes at just the right moment.

On November 16, 2021, twenty-eight women and men attended the 40th Learning Session hosted by Tama County WLL since their efforts began in 2007. The event, which included a celebratory cake, provided tremendous information on organic gardening. Dan Fillius with ISU Extension and Outreach provided the garden enthusiasts with tips and strategies, while Roz Lehman, Director of the Iowa Organic Association, shared about the value of her organization.

Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page and Pottawattamie counties make up the SW Iowa WLL Chapter. On October 27, 2021, they held an event attended by 39 women that learned about “Native Wildflowers – Iowa’s Hidden Treasure” from Shirley Miller with ISU Extension and Outreach.

The Tama County Women Land and Legacy will hold a Learning Session on November 16 with dessert and registration at 6:30pm and a program beginning at 7pm. The topic will be “Organic Farming for the Home Gardener” and will feature Dan Fillius with ISU Extension as a presenter. The event will be held at the Kupka Cultural Center in the Traer Public Library located at 531 Second St. in Traer, IA. Registration is required by November 15 by calling 641-484-2701 X3 or by emailing melody.bro@ia.nacdnet.net.