As we organize for the March to ReEnergize Iowa, we have encountered a phenomenal number of individuals who care about fighting global warming. From the Green Granny in Ames who bikes everywhere, to the small farm owners who are resisting developers and city expansion, to the local steelworkers who support the developing renewable energy industries, the folks of Iowa have a deep connection to their homes and the spunk to preserve them.
With the March to ReEnergize Iowa commencing in just two and a half weeks, we are trying to make sure we have every logistical concern taken care, trying to do as much outreach and recruitment as possible, all while trying to stay sane. In organizing an event of this scale for the past seven weeks, it would be easy to get caught up in the details of the march and the stress of it all. And yet, most of our work takes us out into the Des Moines area, where we meet with individuals who care about fighting global warming just as much as we do, and are eager to help. Some of these folks are old hats at organizing. Some have never done activism before in their lives and weren’t sure how to make a difference. And some offer a completely new facet as to why we fight global warming.
A couple of days ago, I visited Norine Black up at Black Heritage Farm to discuss stopping at her place along the march. The Black’s have been working this farm for over 100 years, and are making the transition to organics to stay competitive. Now, the agricultural constituency is often forgotten in climate debate, but out here in Iowa, the farming community is the heart of the state. If we want to make change here, we must engage local farmers. As we talked with Norine, she explained that many folks are hesitant to change their practices, preferring to take the tried and true path, even if it often leads to staggering debt. For Norine, farming is all about being creative and adapting to the changing conditions, be they economic or climatic.
Global warming is affecting the crops out here in the Midwest, resulting in more extreme weather events, shifting precipitation patterns and increased summer heat. Norine explains that although we can’t change every small farmer’s business practices, we can do our part to stabilize the climate, so that these farmers at least have a shot at continued productivity. Small-scale farmers face the pressures of subsidized prices, mega-farms and exceedingly expensive equipment. The least we can do is ease the pressure on the crops themselves so that small-scale farmers can continue their family’s farming traditions.
