Dogpatch Urban Gardens
Jenny Quiner is showing how a plot of land in her community can be transformed into an Urban Oasis.
Des Moines, IA
Kerns Homegrown
Type: Producer
Produces: Sweet Corn
Location: Oelwein, IA
Miles from Coop: 54
A Homegrown Start
In 1999, at the age of 15, Blake Kerns rented two acres of abandoned crop land, borrowed a planter, and seeded sweet corn. Twenty years later he's still planting, picking, and delivering fresh picked homegrown produce.
“Planting a seed, nurturing it, picking it, delivering it- the process provides a real sense of accomplishment.”
Sustainability
As a GAP-certified Iowa farm operation with over 2,200 acres of crop production including 100+ acres of fruits and vegetables, sustainable agriculture practices are at the core of Kerns Homegrown operations.
The use of rotational cover crops, integrated pest management systems, drip irrigation, and no-till farming are just some of the ways Blake works to improve soil health and reduce erosion for better land stewardship of Iowa farmland.
Other Local Producers
Be sure to check out these others great local producers!
Trowel and Error Farm
Carly Andrews was inspired to start farming after attending The University of Vermont, and learning about the local foods movement. After seeing a panel of all women farmers in her undergrad, she decided to try it out for herself.
Iowa City, IA
Ferndale Market
“We keep [the turkeys] rotating onto fresh pasture. It’s a true free-range program, outdoors from early spring.”
Cannon Falls, MN
Frontier Co-op
Founded in 1976, Iowa based Frontier Co-op is a leader in branded organic and natural herbs, spices, and essential oils. As a co-operative owned by wholesale customers that buy and sell its products, Frontier sources hundreds of different botanicals and oils from over 175 suppliers in 50 countries.
Norway, IA
Maestro Empanadas
When Christian Bejarano and Marta Hamity moved to Iowa from Argentina, they had trouble finding their favorite food: the empanada. They got cooking and quickly earned a cult following.
Coralville, IA
Early Morning Harvest
Earl, Ronda (above), & son Jeff Haffner grow organic grains and stone grind them whole – germ intact (unlike commercial flour). Their organic grains are in many of New Pi’s breads, prepared foods, and on New Pi shelves
Panora, IA
Milton Creamery
The Musser family – Rufus, Jane, and sons Junior and head cheesemaker Galen – make artisanal cheese the old fashioned way, and source their added growth hormone-free milk from less than 30 miles away.
Milton, IA
Crystal Forestry Project
From cleaner to container, May’s focus is on keeping her product line as sustainable as possible.
Iowa City, IA