read this issue - The Wallace Centers of Iowa

2015
Winter
the
Wa l l a c e C e n t e r s
of
Des Moines • Rural Orient
iowa
BIG AS A BARN NEWS
Enriching Community through Sustainable Food & Civility Initiatives
WCI Staff: Hello and Goodbye
Deborah Boyer is WCI’s new Civility
and Leadership Programs Coordinator,
replacing Deanne Bryce. Deborah will
implement civility programs and handle
receptionist duties Mondays, Tuesdays and
Thursdays. She grew up in rural southwest
Iowa, just down the road from the Country
Life Center and has always had a passion
for nature. Deborah received a BA in
teaching degree from UNI & have used
it to teach children & adults alike. Most
recently she was the Marriage and Parenting
Coordinator at Lutheran Church of Hope
in West Des Moines, and a K-8 substitute
teacher in Iowa City and West Des Moines.
Deborah is excited about expanding the
civility programming started by Deanne
and Carla Hicklin. Her hobbies include
gardening, reading and finding new ways to
embarrass her four children. She currently
leads a group of “amazing” ninth grade girls
in her church’s high school ministry.
New employee Shauna Fessler will cover
reception on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Shauna is an AmeriCorps service worker
most of the week for Eat Greater Des
Moines, which rents office space at the
Wallace House. She just completed a BA
Volume 10, Issue 2–Ann Taylor, editor
Big As A Barn News is published quarterly by
The Wallace Centers of Iowa, 756 16th Street,
Des Moines, IA 50314
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
The Wallace Centers of Iowa, 756 16th Street,
Des Moines, IA 50314.
We welcome your comments, suggestions, and relevant
news. Contact Ann Taylor at the above address or 515243-7063. Submissions may be edited.
in Marketing and Business Administration
at Grand View University, and has a BA in
Music from Iowa State University. Her past
work experience includes a loan servicing
specialist at Wells Fargo and a floral specialist
at Whole Foods Market. Shauna was looking
for additional hours beyond her Americorps
position.
Deborah Boyer, Civility & Leadership Programs Coordinator
Shauna Fessler, Wallace House
Receptionist
Inside
this Issue
You’ll be glad to know that Deanne and her
husband Steve have decided to stay in Des
Moines instead of returning to Springfield,
MN, as originally planned. After traveling
to Costa Rica, Deanne will be substitute
teaching in Des Moines and filling in at WCI
when needed.
Farm Program Assistant Dani Bice left in
November to move back to her homeown
of Cherokee, IA. Dani has been selected to
be part of a learning program through the
Practical Farmers of Iowa. She is looking
forward to continuing her education in
small field gardening. Before leaving WCI,
Dani was adamant that raising fruits and
vegetables will always be a part of her life.
We thank Dani for all of her hard work and
wish her the best.
a
FarmTable Delivery
2
EACF Grant Awarded
4
Farm Apprenticeships
3
Become a 2015 Donor!
5
Valentine’s Day Plan
3
Solar Power at Danamere
6
Page 2
Winter 2015
FarmTable Delivery works for WCI
During the past two years WCI has been working
with FarmTable Delivery to expand produce sales to
restaurants, grocery stores, institutions, and individuals
throughout Iowa and eastern Nebraska. Founded by
Ellen Walsh-Rosmann, FarmTable Delivery is a local food
distribution and delivery company located in Harlan, Iowa.
A farmer herself, Ellen knows the challenges small farms face.
FarmTable Delivery was created to help farms succeed
by helping to market and deliver products from hundreds
of farmers and producers in Iowa and Nebraska. Local food
is delivered wholesale primarily to the Des Moines, Ames,
Omaha, Lincoln, Iowa City and Cedar Rapids food sheds.
In the early morning hours, WCI produce is loaded into the FarmFarmTable Delivery works specifically with small and midTable Delivery truck. The two year old company purchases farmsized producers and farmers who have a commitment to
produced goods for sale to restaurants and other customers.
utilizing high quality standards including certified organic,
practicing organic and chemical-free.
Just a year ago, the business consisted of a refrigerated truck zig-zagging the state from farm to restaurants
and grocery stores delivering everything from produce, dairy products, meats, herbs, and dry goods. This year, due to
increased demand, FarmTable operations added a warehouse with walk-in coolers, several reach-in coolers, and space to
store packaging supplies for producers. More often than not, small producers have to do all of the growing, marketing,
and delivering of their products. Because of FarmTable Delivery, producers can set their own price on their products and
someone else takes care of the marketing and delivery. WCI Farm Programs Manager Mosa Shayan noted, “The beauty
of FarmTable Delivery is that it allows me to focus on what I love most, the actual farming.” a
2015 Media Recap
The end of the year is a good time to reflect on the accomplishments of the past year. It’s fun to look back at feature
stories in newspapers, magazines, and on TV. Here’s a sample of the 2015 print articles that featured WCI:
Group Tour magazine included the
Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center
as a southwest Iowa treasure.
The July 2 “Hot Spot” in the Des Moines
Register’s Datebook praised WCI’s
Thursday night Food for Thought Dinners
at the Wallace House.
Southwestern Community College’s
alumni magazine described how WCI
helped a local family & consumer
sciences teacher gain hands-on
experience for the classroom.
Winter 2015
Looking for farmers
Page 3
Katie has a Baby!
Apprentice Meredith Salguaro works with former Farm Programs
Manager Sara Costa in 2012.
The Wallace Centers of Iowa is now accepting
applications for its Small Field and Business
Apprenticeship program. Individuals interested in
practical experience at a sustainable vegetable and fruit
production farm are encouraged to apply for an eight
week, 12 week or 15 week apprenticeship.
Successful applicants can choose the length of their
session and the timeframe that fits their purpose. They
will learn organic farming practices and various aspects
of produce production from preparing plant beds, to
weed and insect management, growing in high tunnels,
benefits of cover crops and selling at farmers markets.
Additional information can be obtained at www.
wallace.org or by contacting Diane Weiland at 515243-7063. a
Raylan Hal Porter was born on November 4 to Chef Katie
and husband Logan, weighing in at 7 pounds, 3 ounces.
All are doing well.
Please consider supporting The Wallace
Centers of Iowa will a year-end gift.
A mail-in form is available on page 5,
visit our web site
(www.wallace.org/give/donate)
to pay by credit/debit card, or
charge by phone: 515.243.7063
Need a Plan for Valentine’s Day?
Chef Katie Porter is showcasing Iowa-grown ingredients
during four Valentine weekend dinners at WCI’s historic
locations in Des Moines and Orient. All of the four-course
dinners feature sustainably-grown produce from the Henry
A. Wallace Country Life Center and other ingredients
from Iowa family farms. The produce includes fresh greens
harvested from high tunnel hoop houses and overwintered
fruits and vegetables such as apples and winter squash.
Seating for both locations will be at 5:30 pm and 7:30
pm, and live music will add to the romantic settings. The
Country Life Center dinner is Friday, February 12 for $40/
person. The Wallace House will host on Saturday, February
13 for $50/person. A variety of Iowa wines are available for
purchase, or wine can be brought in with a small corkage
fee. Reservations: 641.337.5019 for the Country Life
Center, 515.243.7063 for the Wallace House or visit www.
wallace.org/events. a
Valentine’s Dinners will be at the Country Life Center and Wallace
Page 4
Winter 2015
Big Thanks to WCI Volunteers
WCI is fortunate to have a legion
of volunteers who are ready, willing,
and able to help in a variety of ways.
Many volunteers assist in the day-today operations, such as weeding in the
garden or preparing the newsletter for
mailing. Other volunteers help with
a special event such as the Harvest
Celebration or the Sherman Hill tour
of homes. Board members volunteer
their time to oversee the organization,
set policy, and monitor its financial
health. We couldn’t do without them!
Willard Olsen
Joe Dwyer
Sam Wangberg
Nancy Mann
Diana Fry
Zander Morales
Shaina Mugan
Nancy Derscheid
Chelsea Hill & daughter
Anita Holub
Camilo Asbrga
Fernando Orozco
Jan Knock
Martha Green
Zachary Engstrom
Pat Barry
Rose King
Cathy Souter
Katie Paulsen
Forrest Determan
Christine Halbrook
Marion and Nancy James
Karen Varley
Jay Howe
Deb Houghtaling
Deb Copeland
Doug Burns
Tom Ahart
Nicholas Devereux
Elizabeth Wijkman Treitler
Jeff Wallace
Brian Zachary
Barb Hendricks
Teri Gruss
Elgene Walton
Betty Kozerski
Lisa Lisk
Phyllis Kaldenberg
Deb Engle
Jolene Sivadge
Joan and Greg Moore
Phyllis Allen
Cath Olesen
Noah Niermann
Lila Ness
Ann LaFontaine
Delores Aswegen
Joyann Benoil
Mary Prell
Paulette Lame
Carla Herling
Grace Wellendorf
Please let us know if we’ve inadvertently
not included you on this list. We want
our list to be accurate.
a
EACF Grant to Provide Equipment
The Empowering Adair County Foundation in
Greenfield, IA recently awarded WCI $10,000 for the
replacement of two critical pieces of equipment and the
addition of a new implement.
The grant proposal explained that since its
founding in 1996, the Henry A. Wallace Country
Life Center has become a destination attraction for
more than 10,000 visitors each year. Using physical,
human and financial resources, the Center increased
sustainable fruit and vegetable garden production from
eight to twelve acres, and developed several distribution
methods including 31 weeks of CSA programming,
farm-to-table delivery, farmers markets, and wholesale
sales. In 2004, the organization constructed the
2,700 square foot Gathering Barn with commercial
kitchen and meeting space. Demand for food service
has increased 45% over the past five years, including
locally-sourced meals; on-site food processing such as
jams, compotes, and apple butter; and both on-site and
off-site public and private catered events.
In order to sustain this remarkable growth,
a new walk-behind commercial tractor will replace
a similar 15 year-old model. The existing tractor has
proven to be reliable and easy to maintain. In addition,
WCI’s existing tiller and sickle mower attachments
will fit this model. Expanding WCI’s equipment with
a new crimper-roller attachment for the walk-behind
tractor will enable vegetable seeds to be planted directly
into cover crops, saving valuable time, labor, and water.
Cover crops not only act as soil nutrient builders but
also mulch.
A substantial amount of down time and expensive
repairs for the existing commercial dishwasher inside the
Gathering Barn is prompting the request for a new undercounter commercial dishwasher. The selected model is the
same as the existing model at the Wallace House in Des
Moines, which was purchased in 2013. It has not required
any repairs since its installation, even though the demand
for both dishwashers is about the same.
WCI is grateful to EACF for its support. a
Winter 2015
Thankful for Donors New & Old
WCI is grateful for all of these donors
who have generously contributed towards
operations and improvements during 2015.
More donors are joining this group every
day; you can join them by filling out the
contribution form below. A complete list of
donors will be included in the annual report,
available late January 2016.
Anonymous (2)
Christine & John Halbrook
Willard & Susie Olesen
Jay Howe
Nancy & Marion James
Karen & Warren Varley
Brian Zachary & Jean Weishaar
Jeff & Elizabeth Wallace
Jan & Karl Knock
Deb Copeland & Jeremy Phillips
Doug Burns
Bill & Kathy Koenig
Polly Ruth
Neil & Darlene Harl
David Wallace
John & Christine Augustine
Ricci & Sue Frambach
Denny & Kristi Woodruff
James & Elizabeth Stansberry
Cornelia & Jan Flora
David & Deborah Douglas
Tom Smull & Liz Gilman
Arlene Sweet
Liz Garst
Warren & Mary Riedesel
Marlene Schildberg
Tom & Mary Jo Williams
Jo Campney & Sue Terry
Jennifer & Marty Smith
Barb & Jim Kalbach
Hedy & Michael Hustedde
Gordon Smith
Shirley & Delon Weuve
Allison & Jim Fleming
Linda Sidey
Rich & Deb Hall
Jim & Linda Miller
John C. & Wanda Wallace
Mark & Janet Rosenbury
Rob & Susan Fleming
Owen J. & Doris Jean Newlin
Keith & Sharon Mensing
Steven O. Person
Lynn & Garry Miller
Andrew & Betty Corty
Richard & Katleen Kirkendall
Earl & Susan Rogers
Helena Devereux
Chris Boone
Anne Fleming & Bill Wright
Questers, Wallace Chapter
Caroline Levine
Ann Taylor & Mike Gaul
Leon & Judy Schwartz
LaVon & Craig Griffieon
Alvie & Katherine Young
Martha Carr
Robert & Patricia Jester
Eileen Armstrong
Wes & Marilyn Geidel
Douglas & Jenice Wallace
The Cappechi Family
Pat Barry & Bryan Hall
Alvie & Katherine Young
Arthur & Ruth Boyer
Alex & Linnae Treitler
Barbara Graham
Carla Herling
Page 5
Carol Woolsley
Charles & Libby Becker
Connie Lee & Jim Whalen
Dave & Trudy Hurd
Deanne & Steve Bryce
Diane & Bob Weiland
John & Dianne Liepa
Scott & Elizabeth Brennan
James Fox
Jennie LeGates & Fritz Wehrenberg
Carol & Ivan Ashby Bendorf
Jamie Beauchamp
Janna Steed
Allen & Jet Kofoot
Joan Myers
Jordan Dye
Joshua Nelson
Joy Corning
Lois Frederick
Mary Powell
Dr. Matt Liebman
Patty Parish
Claude & Paula Sampson
Diana & Phil Sickles
Scott Smith & Rich Joens
Eileen & Rod Swoboda
Sharon Bennett
Sandra Pearson
Karen & Sumner Worth
Dot Crosby
Sara & William Wallace
Yvonne Schildberg
Rick & Minoo Spellerberg
Ed & Gretchen Johnson
Mary Jensen
Diane & Robert Murphy
Yes, I support The Wallace Centers of Iowa
Name: _________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________
City, State: ______________________________________
Zip: ____________________________________________
Phone: _________________________________________
_____ Grower ($50)
Email: __________________________________________
_____ Another Amount $_________
Please help us reduce mailing costs by providing your email address. WCI does not
rent or sell its mailing list.
_____ Believer ($100)
_____ Thinker ($250)
_____ Innovator ($500)
_____ Dreamer ($1,000+)
The Wallace Centers of Iowa
756 16th St., Des Moines, IA 50314
Credit card donations are also accepted via our web site:
www.wallace.org/give/donate or by phone: 515.243.7063
Page 6
Winter 2015
Solar at Danamere Farm part of Family Vision
Editor’s Note: Danamere Farm in Carlisle, IA is owned by Rob
Fleming, long-time WCI advocate. Rob has allowed WCI to use part
of the 100-acre farm to grow crops such as squash and sweet potatoes.
By Ann Y. Robinson
At Danamere Farms overlooking Carlisle, Rob and
Susan Fleming see the addition of solar power as one part of
their long view for a sustainable future in Iowa.
Bringing renewable energy to Danamere fits well
with the family legacy of innovation and stewardship. Rob,
a retired landscape architect who worked in the eastern
U.S., has always maintained close ties to his home state
and family. The son of Ann Wallace Fleming and Bob
(Robert J.) Fleming, and the great-grandson of Henry C.
Wallace, Rob and his wife have long supported a variety
of Iowa conservation efforts – including serving on Iowa
State University’s Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture
Advisory Committee and working with The Wallace Centers
of Iowa (WCI).
The Flemings were considering solar as an option
when a WCI staff member suggested they consult with Tim
Kruse of Green Light Renewable Services. Kruse visited to
view the property’s solar potential and discuss the couple’s
energy needs. The Flemings’ first steps were to electrify their
barns and add energy-efficient lighting.
Then, they decided to move ahead with a 10.83 kilowatt gridtied photovoltaic system net metered through their utility,
MidAmerican Energy.
To actually
see the solar
panels on the
roof of one of the
barns, you have
to look closely.
There, an array
of 38 panels
unobtrusively
generates
electricity for the
house and outbuildings. Any
excess provides
The new solar panels at Danamere Farms barely
energy credits
show up on the roof of one of the barns. The
“white” Solar World panels, made in Oregon, that offset usage
are less visible than traditional dark panels, yet at night and on
produce energy just as efficiently.
cloudy days.
The
Flemings can track their system’s output online through a
web portal, which is also regularly monitored by the installer.
Green Light Renewable Services warranties its installation
for five years, and the American-made solar panels and
electrical inverter are guaranteed for 25 years. To assure
success beyond
even their
likely tenure
on the farm,
the Flemings
chose to work
with an installer
accredited
through the
solar industry’s
Rob and Susan Fleming study the credits
NABCEP
from their solar array with installer Tim Kruse
certification
of Green Light Renewable Services. The
program, who
Enphase Enlighten web portal monitors the
also had long
array’s output and can show any problems.
experience as an
electrician and builder.
“Overall, it seemed like the right thing to do and the
right time,” says Rob Fleming. “The cost of solar panels
has been coming down. The up-front investment is
still pretty high, but with the current incentives of a 30
percent federal tax credit and an 18 percent state tax
credit, we expect
our payback at
five to six years,
depending on
our energy use.”
As the
Flemings talk
about their solar
addition, the
conversation
A sky view of the solar installation at
quickly
Danamere Farms shows the 38 Americanexpands to
made photovoltaic panels that comprise the
encompass their 10.83 kilowatt system.
grandchildren,
their community and the farm. They are excited about
the area’s new bike trail that runs through their property,
the natural regeneration of oaks in the savanna, and
the prairie restoration that helps feed a neighboring
farmer’s grass-fed beef cattle. Rob proudly details the
unique patch-burn grazing system he has been helping
implement.
“Human beings are part of nature,” he says.
“Our efforts at conservation are to try to set an example
for how landowners can make a living, but still care for
our land in ways that support life into the future. We
see renewable energy as part of that vision.” a
Winter 2015
Artist Spotlight: Judy Gile
Page 7
of Directors
storage at the Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center within six hours on October 10. Eight Board
college
students from Iowa State
Marion
Chair and Related
University gave up their Saturday to volunteer at the farm through Minorities in Agriculture, NaturalJames,
Resources
James Law Office
Sciences.
Vice Chair
Farm Manager Mosa Shayan very much appreciated the help and stated, “It was a big morale Christine
booster Halbrook,
for the garden
staff to
Bradshaw Law Firm
Editor's note: The first in an occasional
Williard Olesen, Secretary
article about some of the artists whose have
Olesen Law Firm, PLC
work can be found in the gift shop at the
Brian Zachary, Treasurer
Country Life Center.
Preservationist & Farmers Mkt. Mgr.
Judy Gile of Creston, IA, is a
porcelain painter. She wrote this artist
statement:
“I have always enjoyed drawing,
painting and crafting. Growing up
in Kansas City, Missouri, I enjoyed
visiting the Nelson Art Gallery. In school, art was a favorite class of mine. However,
when I got to college, I did not feel I was “good enough” to major in art. So I majored
in speech, drama and English as I was confident in these subjects.
Fast forward to 1997 and I saw the work of Onalee Crocker here in Creston,
Iowa. She painted using porcelain as her canvas; her portraits were truly remarkable
and I felt compelled to find out how to paint on porcelain. Onalee, a nationally
known artist, lived in Creston and I had the good fortune of taking lessons from her
for about three years. Then she moved! [Since then,] I am pretty much self-taught.
Porcelain painting is called over-glaze painting. It requires firing in a kiln at
a low fire temperatures of 1165˚F to 1549˚F. During the firing, the mineral paint
goes into the glaze on the piece and becomes a permanent part of it. It will not fade.
Pieces found from China, painted a thousand years ago, are as colorful and bright as
when they were first created. How many times a piece is painted and fired depends
on when I think it is finished and how complicated the subject. For me, a portrait is
complicated and is fired many times. My first love is portraits of people or animals.
My painting ideas come from pictures, my imagination and frequently just develop
and change as I paint the piece. I am not a traditional porcelain painter as I rarely do
flowers or fruit in traditional style.
I’ve been married 47 years and lived in the Creston area since 1972. We have
two children and two grand-children. Since I retired [from social work], I paint
almost every day to feed my addiction! I belong to Iowa World Organization of China
Painters, International Porcelain Artists and Teachers, and Creston Area Porcelain
Artists. I want my art pieces to tell a story about the subject to the viewer. Most of the
time, my hope is to make the viewer smile.”a
“Like” us on Facebook! Go to
facebook.com and search for
The Wallace Centers of Iowa.
Tom Ahart
Des Moines Public Schools
Doug Burns
Herald Publishing Company
Deb Copeland
Copeland Creative Talent
Nicholas Devereux
U.S. Senate
Jay Howe
Olesen Law Firm, PLC (retired)
Jan Knock
Iowa State Savings Bank (retired)
Elizabeth Wijkman Treitler
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Karen Varley
DuPont Pioneer
Jeff Wallace
South Coast Literacy Council
Staff
Diane Weiland
CEO & Program Developer
dianeweiland@wallace.org
Deborah Boyer
Civility & Leadership Programs Coordinator
deborahboyer@wallace.org
Shauna Fessler
Wallace House Receptionist
Lissa Kleven
Volunteer Coordinator
lissakleven@wallace.org
Katie Porter
Chef/Food Programs Manager
katieporter@wallace.org
Mosa Shayan
Farm Programs Manager
mosashayan@wallace.org
Amy Sivadge, Sous Chef
amysivadge@wallace.org
Lisa Swanson
Program Assistant/Gift Shop Mgr.
lisaswanson@wallace.org
The Wallace Centers of Iowa: www.wallace.org
Ann Taylor
Wallace House : 756 16th Street, Des Moines, IA 50314 • Ph. 515-243-7063 VP Marketing & Development
anntaylor@wallace.org
Country Life Center: 2773 290th Street, Orient, IA 50858 • Ph. 641-337-5019
The Wallace Centers of Iowa
756 Sixteenth Street
Des Moines, IA 50314
Phone: 515-243-7063
E-mail: info@wallace.org
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2016 Calendar of Events
Watch this space for 2016 program & event dates For
The Gathering Table Restaurant @ the Country Life Center
Fridays at the Farm through October 30
Lunch 11 am - 1pm, Dinner 5:30 pm - 8 pm with live music
Chef Katie @ the Wallace House
Thursday evenings “Food for Thought” Dinners: 5:30 - 8 pm by reservation
Community Supported Agriculture: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter Shares
Hearts & Homes Historic Teas • Garden Workshops • Real Food summer camp
Culinary Classes • Farm to Table Dinners • Leadership & Civility Lunches
Farm Tours • Harvest Celebration • Holiday Boutique
and more fun and unique happenings!
CLC: Country Life Center, 2773 190th St., Orient 641-337-5019
WH: Wallace House, 756 16th Street, Des Moines 515-243-7063