The Ground We Share: Conversations on Soil, Food and Health

This free evening of activities explores links between soil, food and human health. Guest presenter is Anne Bikle, co-author of the books “What Your Food Ate” and “The Hidden Half of Nature”:

6:30 p.m. — Interactive exhibits

7:30 p.m. — Presentation, “Linking Soil Health to Food Health” with Anne Bikle, dance performance prelude by Luther College Orchesis

8:30 p.m. — Conversation with Bikle and award-winning panelists

Panelists include: 

• 2024 Iowa Aldo Leopold Conservation Award Winner Wendy Johnson, organic/conventional farmer and owner of Joia Food and Fiber Farm, Charles City
• 2024 Excellence in Agriculture Decorah Chamber of Commerce award winner Robby Jewell, sixth generation organic/conventional farmer and co-owner of Jewell Enterprizes
• Carly Zierke, organic farmer and co-owner of Sweet Season Farm, Calmar and board member of Decorah
  Farmers Market and Oneota Co-op
• Jake Larkin, PA-C, lead physician assistant in hospital medicine and clinical preceptor at Emplify Health by Gundersen, La Crosse, Wis. and co-founder of plant partners group, which developed the rooftop garden and hospital farm
• Erin Meyer, MSFS, RD, executive director and founder of Basil’s Harvest and clinical associate/co-founder of culinary medicine program, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, Ill.

This event is sponsored by Luther College Center for Ethics and Public Engagement (CEPE) in collaboration with the Regenerating Soil and Community Project and other Decorah organizations. Collaborators: Davi Design Co., Decorah Bank & Trust Co., Decorah Public Library, Emplify Health by Gundersen, Luther
College CEPE, Northeast Iowa Dairy and Agricultural Foundation, Oneota Community Food Co-op, OVLF, Practical Farmers of Iowa, Seed Savers Exchange, and Winneshiek County SWCD.