Guide helps reach out to women landowners

AMES ? Women, Food and Agriculture Network has created a new curriculum manual designed to help conservation agencies, non-profits and community groups bring women landowners together in ?learning circles? meetings, to discuss goals and challenge related to soil and water conservation on their farmland.

The manual ?Improving Conservation Outreach to Female Non-Operator Landowners? was created by a team of conservation professionals, women landowners and WFAN staff and is available as a free PDF download at www.wfan.org. Hard copies are available for purchase.

The manual contains an overview of the background and methodology of the learning circles meeting format, instructions on how to plan and facilitate a meeting, and nine field-tested activities designed to serve as conversation starters and teaching tools for facilitators.

Since 2009, WFAN has held Women Caring for the Land meetings throughout Iowa and neighboring states. Women who attend meetings share information and encouragement with one another, and half or more take at least one subsequent conservation action according to WFAN follow-up surveys. These actions can include installing or repairing grassed waterways and terraces, completing a whole-farm plan with the help of the Natural Resources Conservation Service or creating a conservation-focused lease with their tenants, among others.

WFAN works with conservation partners, such as the NRCS, Iowa Department of Natural Resources and local soil and water conservation districts to host the meetings.

To learn more about the Women Caring for the Land program, visit the WFAN website or call Leigh Adcock, WFAN executive director, at 515-460-2477.