Join us for Earth Day with the film Common Ground, sequel to Kiss the Ground at the Varsity Cinema. The film will be followed by a Q&A with Cultivate: Local Food Connections and Urban Ambassadors about actions you can take to improve Iowa’s food system.

Purchase tickets here.

Director: Josh & Rebecca Tickell

Run time: 1h 45m

Starring: Laura Dern, Rosario Dawson, Jason Momoa, Donald Glover, Woody Harrelson, and Ian Somerhalder

By fusing journalistic expose’ with deeply personal stories from those on the front lines of the food movement, Common Ground unveils a dark web of money, power, and politics behind our broken food system. The film reveals how unjust practices forged our current farm system in which farmers of all colors are literally dying to feed us. The film profiles a hopeful and uplifting movement of white, black, and indigenous farmers who are using alternative “regenerative” models of agriculture that could balance the climate, save our health, and stabilize America’s economy – before it’s too late.

Purchase tickets through the Varsity Cinema.

Find all the farms & organizations from the event here!

Seed & Source: Your Year of Local Food

Saturday, March 2, 2024

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden - DuPont East Room

11AM - 3PM

Are you looking to integrate more locally sourced foods and products into your life this year? Seed & Source is the event for you!

At our Seed & Source event you will be able to CONNECT with local producers, LEARN about your options for sourcing goods, GLEAN tips on mapping your home garden, and PLAN your year of eating local before the summer busy-ness sweeps you away!

Register here!

PLEASE NOTE:

*It is absolutely free to come to the Cultivate event however, if you want to also visit the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden standard admission rates still apply.

**If you have a Des Moines Public Library card don’t forget about the Adventure Pass program. Adventure Passes are currently available for checkout for the Blank Park Zoo, the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, the Brenton Skating Plaza, the Science Center of Iowa, and the Des Moines Children's Museum. Space is limited each day for these tickets so reserve them ASAP if you’d like to use one at this event!

Books That Will Change Your Life: A Nonfiction Books Club

In partnership with Des Moines Public Library

Central Branch - 1000 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, 50309

January 10, 6 - 7:30PM

Free event - registration required. Register here.

Join librarians Dennis and Elizabeth for a monthly conversation around a life-changing nonfiction book.  Each month we’ll select a book that will change your perspective, give you new strategies for handling life’s challenges, or deepen your understanding of a topic.

Some of the books have been recommended by local community leaders who told us which books inspired them in their lives and work. Other selections are our favorites or are popular with you, our patrons (based on length of holds lists or number of checkouts), or have otherwise won acclaim.

This month we will be reading "Finding Turtle Farm: My Twenty-Acre Adventure in Community-Supported Agriculture" in which local author and retired farmer Angela Tedesco shares her story of starting and running an organic farm, one of the first Community Supported Agriculture operations in the Upper Midwest. The author, as well as Hilary Burbank from the local organization, Cultivate: Local Food Connections, will join us for the discussion.

Pick up your book starting December 13 at the Central Library Pickup Window.

Free event - registration required.

Register here.

Local Food Harvestfest: An Education in Preservation

Sunday, Oct 8, 2pm - 5pm

Confluence Brewery - 1235 Thomas Beck Rd, DSM, 50315

Free event

Winter is just around the corner but that doesn't mean that the season of enjoying locally grown food is over! Grab a drink, sample some local food and enjoy learning from area producers about preservation, fermentation, season extension and ways to support local growers year round.  

No registration required.

Find resources, recipes and vendor info at cultivatefoodconnections.org/harvestfest.

Join us for an apple themed preschool story time at the Pleasant Hill Library! Becky from Apple Trails Family Orchard will be joining us. We will also have a table with apple samples and information in the main area of the library as well.

Find library story time information here.

FREE Cultivate Lunch & Learn at DMACC Urban Food Forest

Open to the public - everyone welcome to drop in!

Wednesday, Aug 30, 2023

11:30AM -1:30PM

What is a food forest? Drop in and get a tour of the DMACC Urban Food Forest with Sustainability Coordinator and urban farmer April Clark. We will discuss what a food forest is and how it benefits our community. As well as topics on permaculture, food citizenship, annuals vs perennials, and community food access. A light vegetarian lunch will be provided.

CULTIVATE: Local Food Connections will be on site with resources on accessing local food and connecting you with farmers!

No registration required for this free event. Feel free to drop in anytime between 11:30 - 1:30.

We will be located in front of Building 1 on DMACC Urban Campus, ​​1100 7th Street Des Moines,50314. Parking next to Building 1 is open to the public.

REGISTER HERE.

Cultivate Your Plate: Local Food Learning + Community Meal

Monday, August 21 6PM-8PM

Northwest Community Center, 5110 Franklin Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310

The food on our plate is the end product of a much larger system that got it there. Our food system affects people, our environment and our local economies at every step of the process - from seed, to harvest, transport, packaging, processing and retail.

An ecosystem represents interdependency - if one pillar of a system is weaker, then the entire system is at risk. So what does a sustainable local food ecosystem need to entail in order to thrive today and in the future?

Join us as we learn from area producers about what a sustainable local food ecosystem could look like if we work collaboratively to meet societal, economic, environmental and cultural needs without compromising the health and livelihoods of future generations and how individual actions can make change.

We will end the evening sharing a community meal created by local chef, Jarred Clark featuring locally grown food!

REGISTER HERE.

PLEASE NOTE: Space is limited. If your plans change after registering and you can no longer attend, please let us know so that we can open your seat for someone on our waiting list.

This is a free, family friendly event. If you would like to support our work through a donation, click here.

Thank you!

Friday, June 16

7:30 - 9:30 PM

Global Greens Farm

4444 Fuller Rd West Des Moines - behind the Valley Community Center

Farm Scavenger Hunt, Activities, Local Snacks and an outdoor screening of the film Nourish: Food + Community. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair for the outdoor film portion of the evening. Family friendly event! The film screening is from 9-9:30pm so if you have littles who need to leave earlier it’s still worth coming.

Please register here!

This is a free event. If you would like to support our work through a donation, click here. Thank you!

Cultivate Your Plate: Local Food Learning + Community Meal

Northwest Community Center, 5110 Franklin Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310

Register here.

Join us for the second workshop in our Cultivate Your Plate series. We will enjoy an evening of learning, connection and a community meal. This is a family friendly event!

Learn about the elements that play important roles in getting food to our plate including: soil, water, pollinators and ecosystems.

We will also share a community meal together featuring locally sourced ingredients. Please register here so we can plan for how much food to make!

This is a free event. If you would like to support our work through a donation, click here. Thank you!

Cultivate Your Plate: Local Food Learning + Community Meal

Northwest Community Center, 5110 Franklin Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310

Register here.

Join us for the first workshop in our Cultivate Your Plate series. We will enjoy an evening of learning, connection and a community meal. This is a family friendly event!

Connect with local meat and egg producers and learn through hands on activities about:

• Issues surrounding commodity meat, including the costs on human health, animal welfare and to our environment

• Agroforestry and Regenerative Grazing

• Understanding marketing terminology, buzz words & all the various certifications

• Cooking with the Whole Animal (Recipes, Cuts)

• Establishing a connection between our farms and our plates

We will also share a community meal together featuring locally sourced ingredients. Please register here so we can plan for how much food to make!

This is a free event. If you would like to support our work through a donation, click here. Thank you!

This is a FREE workshop for Iowans who grow and produce local food and handmade goods. Please register by Wednesday, March 15 so we can plan for the right amount of people.

Franklin Ave Library, 5000 Franklin Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310

This workshop is the follow up to the Product Photography 101 Zoom lecture, this time in-person!

We’ll recap these basic tips and tricks but we’ll take a hands-on look at some basic set-ups to help you boost your product photography using materials you probably already have in your house. We encourage you to bring one of your own products and your camera phone to get real-time feedback on framing, lighting, etc.

Register here.

JOIN US! The CSA + Local Food Fair is happening on February 16th from 10 AM to 1:30 PM and February 17th from 11 AM to 2 PM at the Valley Community Center in West Des Moines.

Meet local producers and enjoy local lunch offerings, kids' activities, and educational activities. Free admission. See you there!

JOIN US! The CSA + Local Food Fair is happening on February 16th from 10 AM to 1:30 PM and February 17th from 11 AM to 2 PM at the Valley Community Center in West Des Moines.

Meet local producers and enjoy local lunch offerings, kids' activities, and educational activities. Free admission. See you there!

Zoom link

Looking for detailed data for your end of year reports and planning?

Join us for a walk through of both existing and new report options for IFC producers through the software system. We will also review new features within the software and go over tips on inventory management.

This sessions will be held online, via Zoom and the presentation will be recorded for on-going reference.

Register here by making a donation.

Join us for a special event in partnership with Brandy Case Haub, owner of Intertwined: Nature + Forest Therapy. Brandy is a Certified Forest Therapy Guide, and will offer a 2-hour forest therapy walk (sometimes referred to as forest bathing!) on Friday, Dec 2 from 1-3PM.

Forest bathing boosts immunity, lowers blood pressure and stress hormones, prevents and relieves stress and anxiety, and increases cognitive functioning. Guided forest bathing walks are appropriate for all ages and abilities: less than a ½ mile is covered on each walk. Guides use techniques to support participants in entering a state of embodied awareness, moving through a series of “invitations” to support participants in tuning into each of their senses, allowing participants to move into a liminal space, and experience resulting wellness benefits.

Suggested donation is $20 but any amount accepted.

This event will be held at Walnut Woods Park, (3155 Walnut Woods Dr, West Des Moines, IA 50265). The exact meeting location for the walk will be sent in a follow up email.

Register here by making a donation.

Register here

Will you help us craft messaging for an upcoming buy local food campaign?

Through the IDALS Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, CULTIVATE is working to create and execute a yearlong, digital marketing campaign focused on educating consumers on the availability of locally grown, specialty crops and highlighting the community benefits of buying local. 

We would love to gather input from local producers, food hubs, community organizations and passionate, local food customers on what messaging is important to you! 

This campaign will be built to be shareable and aims to grow the local food economy as a whole. The posts will be created so that producers and partners can re-post the content and direct their audiences to the best locations to find their specific specialty crops.

Social Media Marketing Workshops: In order to support specialty crop producers in maximizing the campaign’s content and to feel more comfortable using social media as a marketing tool we are also offering two social media trainings (1.0 + 2.0 versions), hosted by a local, digital marketing agency (In2IT Digital). You can find those workshops on our events page!

Register for the Input Session here.

Hosted by In2It Digital Marketing. 

The next level of social media marketing from our 1.0 workshop for more experienced social media users. During this session, we will give you a high-level overview of Canva, a user-friendly design tool you can use to empower your DIY social media efforts. We'll also give you a high-level overview of Meta's Business Suite. We will briefly discuss why you can and cannot schedule content on specific social media channels, ways to work around that, and how to leverage third-party scheduling tools. At the end of our time together, we will have an open discussion regarding questions you may have about what we have shared.

All local, Iowa producers are welcome to this free event!

Zoom link

Social Media 1.0 Zoom link

During this session, learn the basic structure and best practices for creating and managing social media content. We will briefly discuss the value of post diversity, posting cadence, and the value of hashtags. At the end of our time together, we will open it up for some commonly asked questions like...What is posting "first comment" on Instagram, and is that something I should be doing? Hosted by In2It Digital Marketing. 

All local, Iowa producers are welcome to this free event!

Through the IDALS Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, CULTIVATE is working to create and execute a yearlong, digital marketing campaign focused on educating consumers on the availability of locally grown, specialty crops and highlighting the community benefits of buying local. This campaign will be built to be shareable and aims to grow the local food economy as a whole. The posts will be created so that producers and partners can re-post the content and direct their audiences to the best locations to find their specific specialty crops.

In order to support specialty crop producers in maximizing the campaign’s content and to feel more comfortable using social media as a marketing tool we are also offering two social media trainings (1.0 + 2.0 versions), hosted by a local, digital marketing agency (In2IT Digital). These will cover best practices with social media, how to engage with the content being provided through this project and how to best utilize your own social media pages to sell your products. 

We would love to gather input from local producers, food hubs, community organizations and passionate, local food customers on what messaging is important to you! Join us for one of our input sessions as well! Find all the dates + info on our Events page.

Social Media 1.0 Zoom link

Register here

Will you help us craft messaging for an upcoming buy local food campaign?

Through the IDALS Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, CULTIVATE is working to create and execute a yearlong, digital marketing campaign focused on educating consumers on the availability of locally grown, specialty crops and highlighting the community benefits of buying local. 

We would love to gather input from local producers, food hubs, community organizations and passionate, local food customers on what messaging is important to you! 

This campaign will be built to be shareable and aims to grow the local food economy as a whole. The posts will be created so that producers and partners can re-post the content and direct their audiences to the best locations to find their specific specialty crops.

Social Media Marketing Workshops: In order to support specialty crop producers in maximizing the campaign’s content and to feel more comfortable using social media as a marketing tool we are also offering two social media trainings (1.0 + 2.0 versions), hosted by a local, digital marketing agency (In2IT Digital). You can find those workshops on our events page!

Register for the Input Session here.

Register here

Will you help us craft messaging for an upcoming buy local food campaign?

Through the IDALS Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, CULTIVATE is working to create and execute a yearlong, digital marketing campaign focused on educating consumers on the availability of locally grown, specialty crops and highlighting the community benefits of buying local. 

We would love to gather input from local producers, food hubs, community organizations and passionate, local food customers on what messaging is important to you! 

This campaign will be built to be shareable and aims to grow the local food economy as a whole. The posts will be created so that producers and partners can re-post the content and direct their audiences to the best locations to find their specific specialty crops.

Social Media Marketing Workshops: In order to support specialty crop producers in maximizing the campaign’s content and to feel more comfortable using social media as a marketing tool we are also offering two social media trainings (1.0 + 2.0 versions), hosted by a local, digital marketing agency (In2IT Digital). You can find those workshops on our events page!

Register for the Input Session here.

Take a moment to hear useful updates, learn something new and meet other IFC producers! No registration required - drop into one or come to them all!

Each session will consist of IFC general updates, any changes that have been made to the IFC shopping cart, a learning topic presentation to help support your business and a time for producers to get to know and support each other. 

All sessions will be held online, via Zoom and presentations will be recorded for on-going reference.

Product Photography: Zoom Link

Learn tips from experienced IFC producers about how to harvest, pack and delivery fresh, quality produce. We will also share ideas and resources for greener packaging options.

No registration required - drop into one or come to them all!

Each session will consist of IFC general updates, any changes that have been made to the IFC shopping cart, a learning topic presentation to help support your business and a time for producers to get to know and support each other. 

All sessions will be held online, via Zoom and presentations will be recorded for on-going reference.

Product Quality & Greener Packaging: Zoom link

Register via Zoom. When you register you’ll gain access to a pdf of book’s Introduction!

Join us for a conversation with Iowa based farmer and author, Angela Tedesco.

The story of starting and running an organic farm—told by the woman who owned one of the first Community-Supported Agriculture operations in the Upper Midwest.

On a twenty-acre farm in Iowa in 1995, Angela Tedesco planted the seeds (quite literally) of a quiet revolution. While American agriculture had strayed so far afield, her farm would raise food that served the earth and the community as well as the palate. In Finding Turtle Farm, Tedesco recounts this adventure in all its down-and-dirty work and wonder, from plan and plot to harvest, with nods along the way to the vagaries of weather, pests, and human nature.

Introducing Community-Supported Agriculture to Iowa, Tedesco’s Turtle Farm educated its customers along with providing seasonal boxes of produce—an undertaking that continues here, as Tedesco describes what it takes to establish and run an organic operation, bringing to bear all her experience growing up on a family farm, studying chemistry and horticulture, and shepherding a religious education program. From ordering seeds and tending greenhouses to surviving floods and a personal health crisis, Tedesco tells a story of transforming a piece of land and the life within it. She includes practical information about harvesting and preserving food, the discoveries of research conducted on the farm and bonds established between farmers, and even recipes to make delicious use of the produce in your CSA box.

Register via Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting and a pdf of the book’s Introduction section!

The Iowa Food Foundation is offering a dynamic online event exploring art, landscape and agriculture as we host artist, Jean Graham.

Register below for the Zoom link for this free event.
https://us02web.zoom.us/.../tZ0udOitqzgtHtNHUjEiJrOKkI4LO...

Jean Graham, an artist from Austin, TX, completed an Iowa AgArts farm-to-artist residency, finding her inspiration at the Anna and Dave Geyer farm in southeast Iowa. Graham writes, “As I drove through the wildflowers and gorgeous green oceans of corn and soybeans, I wondered why people call this flyover country. Monocrop still reigns, but the Geyers brilliantly diversify in order to farm, nurture the land, and cultivate community.” Her residency culminated in the creation of a 119-page Zine entitled, “Farm, Sweet (Diversified) Farm: an AgArts Residency”.

Graham’s work is called a Zine or a digital booklet, with unique photo-artwork and is available on the AgArts website. (The $15 purchase will be a donation to AgArts.)

Learn more about the project and purchase the zine here: https://www.agarts.org/residency-projects/.

Jean will also be joined by Mary Swander, creator of AgArts and Anna Geyer, farm host and Land Alliance Folk School and Retreat Center director.

You won’t want to miss this unique presentation and discussion!

Who: Anyone interested in getting started off right this spring, or just curious to learn about honey bees & beekeeping.

What: Beekeeping Basics - Everything to get you started and thru your 1st year successfully. 4 sessions, 2 hours each evening.

When: 4 consecutive Thursday evenings, 6:00 to 8:00pm - March 24, 31, April 7, April 14.

Where: Franklin Jr High. 4801 Franklin Ave. Des Moines

Cost: $40 - Includes the course, lots of handouts, a small guidebook, and a 1st year membership to both, the Central Iowa Beekeepers Association and the Iowa Honey Producers Association!

Contact Andrew Joseph for more details, or to get signed up!

Andrew Joseph 515-218-4817

MeadowBlazingStarHoney@gmail.com

be., a community meeting space in the Des Moines metro for youth and beyond, will be hosting their first ever environmental club meeting. The first event will be focused on bees and other pollinators! Did you know? Honey bees and native pollinators are essential to our food supply and help to provide one in every three bites of food we eat! However, these important insects are declining at an alarming rate and an overwhelming number of scientific studies link these population declines to pesticide use and large scale conventional agriculture.

Join us for an afternoon of film, conversation and activities. Our feature film is aptly named Keep The Hives Alive. Save the bees, save the world! For this event, we will have a speaker coming from The Iowa Food Foundation to discuss the importance of bees and other pollinators to our food system and how we can help make a difference. After the film we will be making seed-bombs and other items to support our local pollinator population.

Families are welcome at this event. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for kids 5-12, and kids 5 and under are free! No pre-registration needed.

beyoudsm.com

be. is located in the lower level at The Shops at Roosevelt, 859L 42nd Street, DSM