Wings2Water awarded a $10,000 grant to Indian Creek Nature Center (ICNC) to support the Etzel Sugar Grove Farm in Marion, Iowa. The funding provided allowed ICNC to focus their efforts on a 40-acre field that was previously conventionally farmed. ICNC began the process of converting the field to organic by preparing and planting the hay and cover crop. They also planted seeds to create a prairie buffer along the borders of the field. That seed mix included 18 grasses and sedges and 61 flower species. These measure help prevent soil loss, improve soil conditions, and help reduce runoff to improve overall water quality. Soil samples were taken before the project began and will be taken annually to monitor progress. This field’s transition will be a three-year process before it’s fully converted to a certified organic portion of the farm.
Indian Creek Nature Center was incorporated as a nonprofit in 1973, with their first public program held in 1974. The organization’s mission “is to promote a sustainable future by nurturing individuals through environmental education, providing leadership in land protection and restoration and encouraging responsible interaction with nature.” In addition to their efforts in sustainability, Indian Creek Nature Center is known for several events, including Backcountry Film Festival, Maple Syrup Festival, and Indian Creek Cleanup.
Explore more about the Etzel Sugar Grove Farm here.