Our mission at Golden Hills RC&D is to collaboratively develop and lead community, conservation, and cultural initiatives to improve our quality of life in rural western Iowa. Our "official" territory from our original organizational bylaws is an eight-county region in the southwestern portion of Iowa (Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby). In 2023, we added four more counties (Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, and Monona). Several projects extend beyond these 12 counties into more than 20 counties (learn more about where we work). Our goals are to develop industries in local communities that utilize local resources; ensure healthy natural resources that meet the needs of agriculture, industry, private use, and recreational facilities; promote and enhance art, culture and historic resources in rural communities; collaborate with local governments and organizations on projects that benefit the environment; and work on projects that fill gaps in community services to benefit people of southwest Iowa. We accomplish these goals by focusing our work in five program areas: outdoor recreation and tourism, land stewardship, water resources, local foods, and arts and culture. Today's Mission Monday focus is Local Foods. The Southwest Iowa Food and Farm Initiative (SWIFFI) is a network for food producers and consumers working to develop a healthy local food system. SWIFFI works to build a sustainable regional food system that links production, processing, distribution, and consumption, for better health, food security, stronger communities and economic development. SWIFFI is a multi-county coalition of individuals and organizations working together with Golden Hills Resource Conservation and Development. We are a part of the Regional Food System Working Group network at the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. SWIFFI works in Harrison, Shelby, Pottawattamie, Cass, Mills, Montgomery, Fremont, and Page counties. This 2010 report provides great information about the economic potential of local food in Southwest Iowa: The Economic Impact of Fruit and Vegetable Production in Southwest Iowa Considering Local and Nearby Metropolitan Markets. Golden Hills sends (about) monthly email newsletters about local food and sustainable agriculture events & programs, funding opportunities, and other news & resources. Email [email protected] to get added to the SWIFFI email list. Click the links below to learn more:
We are currently planning farmer meetups and field days. If you are interested in hosting or have suggestions, please complete this form.
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Address712 South Highway Street
P.O. Box 189 Oakland, IA 51560 |
ContactPhone: 712-482-3029
General inquiries: [email protected] Visit our Staff Page for email addresses and office hours. |