1000 Friends of Iowa

Benefit Show to continue help for Water Protectors
2016-12-23 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Bogg’s Hull Ave Tavern, 834 Hull Ave, Des Moines, IA, United States
Benefit show at Bogg’s Hull Ave Tavern all proceeds will go to help Mississippi Stand.
Des Moines Live presents:
Agrinex
https://www.facebook.com/Agrinex.Black.Metal/
Primal Breath
https://www.facebook.com/Primal-Breath-118844914853353/
Curseword
https://www.facebook.com/curseworddsm/
Still Shine Railroad
https://www.facebook.com/still.railroad?fref=ts
Ghostbusters
8pm
-$5 suggested donation that goes directly to Mississippi Stand.
-A BATTLE WAS WON BUT THE WAR IS FAR FROM OVER! We won at Standing Rock but still have water protectors with Mississippi Stand who badly NEED OUR HELP and are working RIGHT HERE IN IOWA! Their legal fund is all but diminished and these people are fighting to protect clean drinking water for ALL OF US and ALL OF OUR CHILDREN. There is a link in the posts for more information, and the total amount raised will be announced at the end of the show!
-Also this will be an awesome night full of some of Des Moines best local bands at one of our oldest watering holes..so show up for the music or for the cause or both but show up!

Show your support for Des Moines Sustainability Taskforce at City Council!
2016-12-19 04:30 - 19:30 | Des Moines City Council Chambers, 400 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines, IA, United States
In August, the Des Moines City Council met to set priorities for 2017 for the city’s strategic plan. One of the priorities that the council identified at the workshop meeting was the creation of a sustainability task force.
The taskforce was the idea of a group of Des Moines area organizations, including 1000 Friends of Iowa. the purpose of the task force is to help the City of Des Moines achieve a 5 star rating with Star Communities Network – with a focus on addressing climate change and environmental justice.
Monday, December 19 at 4:30 pm the city council will officially vote on the priorities that they identified., including the task force. Please join us to support the task force!

AARP's The Missing Middle
2016-12-16 08:00 - 10:00 | Des Moines University Olsen Center, 3200 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, United States
Age-Friendly Greater Des Moines
Join AARP and the volunteer and community leaders of the Greater Des Moines Age-Friendly Initiative for the fourth annual report to the community, featuring special guest Daniel Parolek.
A national thought leader in architecture, design, and urban planning, Mr. Parolek will speak on the concept of Missing Middle Housing. He’ll address how these types of developments are helping to meet the growing demand for age-friendly housing and walkable urban living.
Please RSVP at: http://aarp.cvent.com/events/aarp-iowa-age-friendly-greater-des-moines-ia-12-16-16/event-summary-1a2414b2e88a4096b8060a25d11c66a9.aspx

Stand with Iowa December 15, 2016
2016-12-15 08:00 - 17:00 | Polk County Court House, 500 Mulberry St, Des Moines, IA, United States
Stand With Iowa December 15th!
Iowa Needs You!
CALLING ALL WATER PROTECTORS & PIPELINE FIGHTERS FROM ACROSS THE MIDWEST
Stand up for Iowa! Protect our soil, water, health, climate, and future.
Join with pipeline fighters and water protectors from across the Midwest on Thursday, December 15th in Des Moines, Iowa.
We will stand with Bakken Pipeline Resistance Coalition partners Iowa Sierra Club and BOLD Iowa at their day in court. Together, we will stand for the Missouri, Des Moines, South Skunk, and Mississippi Rivers. We will stand with the Iowa landowners contesting abuse of eminent domain. We will stand for the protection of our children, our communities, and our futures.
We need a big crowd, and we need you there! The state needs to see that our numbers are growing!
What: Stand with Iowa Rally! to tell Iowa’s courts they must shut this pipeline down
Where: Polk County Courthouse, 500 Mulberry St. Des Moines, IA
Date: Thursday, December 15th
Time: Gather at 8 AM outside courthouse; hearing from 9 am to 11 am; march to Cowles Common 11: 15 am; Rally at Cowles Common at 11:30 am
More information: Visit our facebook event page or this website for updates
We will meet at the courthouse at 8 am to fill the room with water protectors! Together, we will stand with those testifying on behalf of Iowa’s land and water. Please respect courthouse rules: no signs, no phones inside the courthouse (outside at the rally ok). Pipeline fighter t-shirts are ok. Following the hearing, we will march four blocks to Cowles Common for a rally. Tweet #StandForIowa and #NoDAPL to show your solidarity and support!
We’ve been mad ever since the Iowa Utilities Board, relying on empty promises and misinformation from Dakota Access, threw Iowans under the bus when it approved the Dakota Access’ Bakken pipeline last March. Now, on December 15th, we will finally get our day in court when lawyers representing both landowners and water and soil protectors appear before an appeals judge to show that the IUB, in approving the pipeline, violated legal precedent and ignored the safety of Iowa’s soil, water, and, most importantly, its citizens.
Make no mistake; even if Dakota Access were to complete the pipeline construction, and even if it were to begin transporting its water-threatening, climate-disrupting fracked oil, the court has the authority to shut it down. This historic legal proceeding provides the perfect backdrop for all of us opposed to the pipeline to stand together and demand that the injustice perpetrated by Governor Branstad’s unelected, three-person board be undone.
We need you on the 15th to stand with us to protect Iowa’s rivers, soil, communities, climate, and public health! We are on the right side of history and we won’t back down.
In solidarity,
The Bakken pipeline Resistance Coalition

1000 Friends of Iowa Annual Meeting
2016-12-03 10:00 - 16:00 | Cherry Glen Learning Farm, 3989 NW 94th Ave., Polk City, IA, United States
1000 Friends of Iowa invites you to join us Saturday, Dec. 3, for our 18th annual meeting. The annual meeting will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cherry Glen Learning Farm in Polk City, IA. We’ll start with a tour of the farm, followed by great speakers, including organic farmer and soil fertility scientist Dr. Francis Thicke, plus hands-on workshops and a free screening of the documentary Dirt! The Movie. Click here to register!
For more information, contact kfoi@1000friendsofiowa.org

2016 Iowa Organic Conference
2016-11-13 14:00 - 2016-11-14 17:00 | University of Iowa Memorial Union, 125 North Madison St., Iowa City, IA, 52245, United States
The Iowa State University Organic Agriculture Program invites you to experience the 16th Annual Organic Conference on Sunday evening, Nov. 13 and Monday, Nov. 14 in the Iowa Memorial Union at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. The conference will feature roundtable discussion and an organic luncheon, as well as information from keynote speaker Fred Iutzi, President of the Land Institute. Workshops on a wide variety of organic crop and livestock topics will also take place.
For conference details, schedules, pricing, and more, visit sustainability.uiowa.edu/2016-iowa-organic-conference/

Women Caring for the Land
2016-11-10 09:00 - 15:00 | Stanhope Library, 665 Iowa St., Stanhope, IA, 50246, United States
Women Caring for the Land incorporates a women-only, peer-to-peer informal discussion alongside an afternoon visit to see and discuss conservation practices in action.
As estimates indicate that women now own or co-own nearly half the farmland in the Midwest, many wonder whether they are doing all they can to improve soil and water quality while maintaining high agricultural productivity. Maintaining healthy soil is the key to productivity and environmental health for our farmland. Women landowners who attend this meeting will learn to assess and improve the health of their soils.
The meeting starts at 9 a.m. with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m, continental breakfast and lunch provided. We will finish up with closing discussion and dessert by 3 p.m. This meeting is sponsored by WFAN and Prairie Rivers of Iowa.
For registration information, contact Kayla Hasper at 515-232-0048 or click here for more information.

Water, Prairies, & Climate Change: Iowa’s Environment in Historical Perspective
2016-11-08 16:00 - 17:00 | Old Capitol Museum, Senate Chamber, 21 N Clinton St., Iowa City, IA, 52242, United States
Iowa has been called the most radically transformed environment in the U.S. How has this transformation affected Iowa, the Midwest, and beyond? What will the future bring as climate change influences Iowa? How has Iowa contributed to climate change? Author Connie Mutel and UI School of Urban and Regional Planning Director Chuck Connerly talk about their mutual interest in the history and future of Iowa’s environment and its connections to global climate change.
Click here for more information.

Women, Food & Ag Network Annual Conference
2016-11-04 09:00 - 2016-11-05 16:00 | Lied Lodge and Conference Center,, 2700 Sylvan Rd., Nebraska City, IA, 68410, United States
The Women, Food and Ag Network 2016 annual conference is set for Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4-5, at the Lied Lodge and Conference Center, Nebraska City, Neb. The conference theme is Women, Culture, and Permaculture: Making a Living in Harmony with the Land, featuring keynote speaker Karryn Olson-Ramanujan.
Learn more and register for the conference at the WFAN conference website at http://www.wfan.org/2016-wfan-annual-conference/

Connect Downtown Public Meetings
2016-11-02 12:00 - 19:30 | Downtown Des Moines Public Library, 1000 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA, 50309, United States
The Urban Land Institute Iowa, Greater Des Moines Partnership, and City of Des Moines will host two public meetings on Nov. 2 at noon to 1 pm or 6 to 7:30 pm at the Downtown Public Library. Speakers include walkability consultant/author Jeff Speck and the engineering firm Nelson/Nygaard. Share your ideas and concerns on how the city can improve walkability, transit, driving, and bicycle access in downtown Des Moines.

For more information about the two public meetings, click here.

To learn more about Jeff Speck, visit jeffspeck.com

Lecture: Author Margaret Atwood
2016-11-01 20:00 - 22:00 | ISU Memorial Union, 2229 Lincoln Way , Ames, IA, 50011, United States
Iowa State University presents “Fiction, the Future and Environmental Crisis,” a lecture by Margaret Atwood, revered author, poet and environmental activist whose more than forty books include “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “The Blind Assassin,” and the MaddAddam trilogy featuring “Oryx and Crake.”
The lecture is free and open to the public. Find more information here, http://www.event.iastate.edu/event/38426

Nitrogen: Streams, Society & Statewide Impact
2016-11-01 17:30 - 20:00 | Science Center of Iowa, 401 W Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy., Des Moines, IA, 50309, United States
Join the Science Center of Iowa as they explore the delicate relationship between nitrogen’s necessity and the societal implications of excess nitrogen on ourselves and our landscapes with Dr. Peter Levi.
Dr. Peter Levi is an assistant professor in environmental science and policy at Drake University. His research investigates patterns and processes in freshwater ecosystems, combining physical, chemical, and biological measurements to understand the connections between the components of these dynamic ecosystems. Dr. Levi’s current projects seek to explain the controls on water quality parameters in Iowa streams, rivers, and wetlands. In his previous research, he has assessed restored urban streams in Milwaukee and investigated the effect of annual salmon migrations and watershed timber harvest on streams in Southeast Alaska.
Click here for more information.

Iowa Energy Summit
2016-10-25 12:30 - 2016-10-26 17:00 | Prairie Meadows Conference & Event Center, 1 Prairie Meadows Dr., Altoona, IA, 50009, United States
Join The Iowa Association for Energy Efficiency (IAEE) from 12:30-3:30 p.m. on Oct. 25 for the Emerging Professionals Workshop. The workshop is open to all industry professionals – whether you’re “breaking in” or an “old hat” this added event will have something for you. Learn more about the workshop here.
Dr. Holmes Hummel will kick off the Summit as keynote speaker. Dr. Hummel is the founder of Clean Energy Works which “connects champions of energy efficiency and renewable energy with resources that accelerate investment in clean energy solutions.”
For more information about the two-day event, click here.

Walkability Lecture: Author Jeff Speck in Iowa City
2016-10-24 18:30 - 21:00 | Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St., Iowa City, 52240, United States
Jeff Speck, author of Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time will speak Monday, Oct. 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St., Iowa City. The event is free and open to the public.
Speck is a city planner and urban designer who advocates for more sustainable cities. In his latest book, Walkable City, Speck writes that creating a walkable city is more than constructing sidewalks. Instead, the urban environment must be designed so walking is useful, safe, comfortable, and interesting.
Speck will be available afterwards to sign his book. Prairie Lights will sell copies at the event and will also have them in stock at their shop located at 15 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City.
For more information on Jeff Speck visit, jeffspeck.com
For more information about the lecture visit, click here.

The Iowa Chapter of Sierra Club Annual Dinner
2016-10-15 14:00 - 21:00 | Collegiate Presbyterian Church, 159 Sheldon Ave., Ames, IA, 50014, United States
Please join the Iowa Chapter of Sierra Club for a day of food, conversation, interesting ideas, and celebration for the Iowa Chapter’s Annual Dinner. The dinner will be local and sustainably produced foods prepared by the extraordinary chef, Donna Prizgintas. Donna was the personal chef to many well-known Hollywood stars including Warren Beatty, Annette Bennng and Norman Lear.
Two engaging speakers include Alison Hawthorne Deming, a compelling essayist and poet. You may have read her work in Sierra. She will be speaking after dinner. In the afternoon, there will be a Conservation Conversation and hike at Ledges led by Mark Edwards, Sierra Club member and former DNR employee.
Please RSVP by Oct. 13. $40 per person. Find more information and register by visiting, sierraclub.org/iowa/2016AnnualDinnerRes
Details: Saturday, October 15th
2:00 PM Afternoon Hike at Ledges with Mark Edwards; Meet at the Oak Woods Shelter, south of Boone, Iowa.
4:30 PM Wine and cheese reception with the featured speaker at the home of Carolyn Raffensperger in Ames.
5:30 PM Dinner will be held at Collegiate Presbyterian Church, 159 Sheldon Ave, Ames, IA 50014
7:00 PM Alison Hawthorne Deming

Rural Creative Placemaking Summit
2016-10-12 - 2016-10-14 | University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
You’re invited to the University of Iowa to join this cross-sector collaboration aimed to elevate intercultural perspectives and build policy presence for deeper consideration of rural creative placemaking.
Held October 12-14, 2016 at the University of Iowa, this gathering will share reflections from Regional Network members, connect lessons across geographies, and present a sustained argument for the centrality of rural creative placemaking – as a field, and as a strategy for development and community sustainability.
For the schedule of events visit, https://ruralgeneration.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Summit-Schedule-of-Events.pdf
To register, go to https://form.jotform.com/61895753017160

BRAP- Bike Ride Against Pipelines
2016-10-08 10:00 - 19:00 | Bondurant Trail Head, 2 Main St NE, Bondurant, IA, 50035, United States
This bike ride is a fun way to get more involved with the Pipeline Resistance Movement, that is not only happening in Standing Rock, but also all throughout Iowa. This bike ride will raise funds and awareness for the No Bakken Legal Defense Fund.
Enjoy music by Steve and Michaela McLain, food, and bikes. Children are welcome!
The bike ride will be on the Chichaqua Valley Trail. Meeting in Bondurant around 10 a.m. then heading towards Mingo to arrive there by 1 p.m. for days events, that will include music, food, and testimony. The event is free but donations are welcome and appreciated.
Find more information visit, http://www.bikeiowa.com/EventPop/11189/brap-bike-ride-against-pipelines

Des Moines Planning and Zoning Special Meeting
2016-10-06 16:00 - 17:30 | Richard A. Clark Municipal Service Center 2nd Floor Council Chambers, 1551 East MLK Jr. Pkwy , Des Moines, IA, 50309, United States
Over the next year, the City of Des Moines will be updating their very old and outdated zoning code. This is a great opportunity for 1000 Friends of Iowa to encourage the city to codify smart growth and sustainability! Today in a special P&Z meeting we will hear an update from consultants the city hired to help with the new plan.
Click here for today’s agenda.

2016 Iowa Environmental Council Annual Conference
2016-10-06 08:00 - 16:45 | DMACC Ankeny Campus — FFA Enrichment Center, 1055 SW Prairie Trail Parkway, Ankeny, IA, 50023, United States
Join the Iowa Environmental Council on Thursday, October 6, 2016 for their 2016 Annual Conference, ECOnomics: Dollars, sense & sustainability.
This year’s conference will explore the bond between the environment, communities and economy and will delve into how to seize opportunities to advance policies, programs and practices that offer ecological, economic and societal benefits.
Early bird registrations ends Sept. 2, 2016.
For more information and to register, go to http://www.iaenvironment.org/get-involved/council-events/annual-conference/

Kennedy Farm Tour
2016-09-25 14:00 - 17:00 | IA
The farm tour will include a 6 acre prairie reconstruction/restoration that began in the 70s with an initial CRP installation. Then the tour will visit 10 acres of woodland where 12 goats owned by the Kennedy’s are reducing invasive species. A Goats on the Go representative will be present to discuss owning, leasing, and managing goats for restoration/management purposes.
Parking is available on driveway edges if not muddy. Come dressed for the weather, bring travel mugs/bottles, and have lots of questions.
The Kennedy Farm is located at 2623 Cumming Rd., approximately 5 miles east of Hwy 169.

Brownfield Redevelopment Resources For Your Region
2016-09-21 09:00 - 16:45 | Octagon Center for the Arts, 427 Douglas Ave, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
This workshop presented by the Iowa League of Cities will focus on identifying State, Federal, and other financial and technical resources to address environmental and redevelopment issues for communities. Often vibrant community spaces such as housing, parks, trails, and job-creating businesses can be developed on previously used sites, including brownfields. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources Brownfield Program and the Technical Assistance to Brownfields Program (TAB) at Kansas State University present this free workshop to help communities learn about brownfield properties and how to fund successful redevelopments through different available resources.
For more information, contact mailbox@iowaleague.org

City of Windsor Heights Sidewalk Ordinance Hearing
2016-09-19 18:00 - 22:00 | Windsor Heights City Council Chambers, 1133 66th St. , Windsor Heights, IA, 50324, United States
Windsor Heights residents who support sidewalks and walkability efforts in the city are invited to submit comments via email and/or attend the final two readings of the revised sidewalks ordinance language at regularly scheduled council meetings on Monday, Sept. 5 and Monday, Sept. 19.
To contact the Windsor Heights Mayor and City Council and voice your support for sidewalks in Windsor Heights, visit http://www.windsorheights.org/city-government/mayor-city-council.aspx
For updates on meeting and events go to http://www.windsorheights.org/whats-new/city-calendar.aspx

Iowa River Cleanup 2016
2016-09-17 06:30 - 15:30 | Sturgis Ferry Boat Ramp, Iowa City, IA, United States
You’re invited to participate in an important river cleanup Saturday, Sept. 17 in Iowa City. Volunteers will meet at the Sturgis Ferry Boat Ramp and will canoe to the Hills Access collecting garbage and recyclables along the way. Canoes will launch by 8 a.m. and will be off the water by 3:30 p.m.
Registrations begins at 7 a.m. and volunteers must check in.
Water will be provided, but you are responsible for lunch and any other food items you require. It is advisable to bring a personal cooler for your lunch/snacks and a reusable water bottle.
For the day’s schedule and to register go to http://www.iarvcp.org/

Clean Water Happy Hour
2016-09-14 17:00 - 19:00 | Confluence Brewing Company, 1235 Thomas Beck Rd., Des Moines, IA, 50315, United States
Join the Iowa Environmental Council and the Iowa River Revival at Confluence Brewery to learn more about how you can help protect Iowa’s water, land, and natural resources as part of the Service Squad. Network with other local environment enthusiasts and enjoy locally crafted beer.
Contact Jamie Burch at burch@iaenvironment.org for more information.

Iowa League Of Cities Annual Conference
2016-09-14 11:00 - 2016-09-16 12:00 | Iowa Events Center — Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center, 730 3rd Street, Des Moines, IA, 50309, United States
The League’s Annual Conference & Exhibit is largest event in the state geared specifically toward the needs of Iowa’s elected and appointed municipal officials. Held in September of each year, the conference includes workshops, an exhibit hall and unique networking opportunities.
For information, including schedule of events, go to https://www.iowaleague.org/Conference2016/Pages/2016Conference.aspx

No Bakken Pipeline Petition Delivery and Rally
2016-09-14 10:00 - 17:00 | Simon Estes Amphitheater, 75 Locust St., Des Moines, IA, 50309, United States
Please join us at Simon Estes Amphitheater to call on Obama to take a stand and stop the pipeline Wednesday, September 14 at 10 a.m.
Click here to add your name to the petition now!
Members of the Bakken Pipeline Coalition will join forces to deliver more than 30,000 petition signatures calling on President Obama to revoke the existing Army Corp of Engineer permits, deny the pending permits, honor the treaties with the tribes, and stop the Bakken Pipeline for good.
The Standing Rock Sioux have been on the frontline of the fight to stop the pipeline, which crosses over 200 river crossings (65 in Iowa), including the main drinking water source for the tribe, and crosses ancestral lands with sacred burial grounds — land that had belonged to the tribe through a treaty.
The tribes were fighting the pipeline in court to protect their water and ancestral lands because the Army Corp of Engineers failed to properly consult with the tribes, as is required by law.
With this decision, we need President Obama to take a stand now more than ever!

"Time To Choose" Screening
2016-09-13 19:30 - 22:00 | Fleur Cinema & Cafe, 4545 Fleur Dr, Des Moines, IA, United States
Join USGBC Iowa for a screening of Charles Ferguson’s (No End In Sight, Inside Job) new film, “Time to Choose.”
Reviewers and critics note the film as the rare documentary that focuses not just on the crisis aspects of climate change, but the actual achievable solutions available to us. These solutions include energy-efficient, sustainable buildings that help promote innovative green communities.
The viewing is an exciting opportunity for us to help inspire action on climate change and increase awareness of the great sustainability work happening in Iowa.
Note: A screen will be selected once 50 seats are reserved. If 50 seats are not reserved by Friday, Sept. 2, the viewing will be canceled.
To RSVP, go to http://gathr.us/screening/16877

City of Windsor Heights Sidewalk Ordinance Hearing
2016-09-06 18:00 - 22:00 | Windsor Heights City Council Chambers, 1133 66th St. , Windsor Heights, IA, 50324, United States
Windsor Heights residents who support sidewalks and walkability efforts in the city are invited to submit comments via email and/or attend the final two readings of the revised sidewalks ordinance language at regularly scheduled council meetings on Tuesday, Sept. 6 and Monday, Sept. 19.
To contact the Windsor Heights Mayor and City Council and voice your support for sidewalks in Windsor Heights, visit http://www.windsorheights.org/city-government/mayor-city-council.aspx
For updates on meeting and events, go to http://www.windsorheights.org/whats-new/city-calendar.aspx

FAIRfest: Roots Music Festival & Food Symposium
2016-09-02 - 2016-09-04 | Downtown Fairfield, Farfield, IA, United States
Come together Labor Day Weekend, September 2-4, 2016 in this open-source, open-hearted festival and community for unforgettable music, friends, and transformation. For three days you’ll experience the best in music, art, and community. Special guests include Buddy Guy, Donovan, Marty Stuart, and many more!
Plus enjoy a Food Symposium featuring Raj Patel, who will discuss food rights, sustainable living, production and equitable distribution, organic food, and more.
For the festival’s full lineup and more information, go to http://fairfestiowa.com/

Best Development Awards Call for Nominations
2016-09-01 - 2016-11-15 | IA
Nominations are open now through Nov. 15! Celebrating 15 years of recognizing smart growth and sustainable practices, the Best Development Awards program puts a spotlight on Iowans doing great work and inspires others to go green. Nominate yourself or nominate a project you think should be recognized. There are 12 categories, including Renewable Energy, Storm Water Management, Renovated Residential, Mixed Use, and more. An awards ceremony will held be at the Iowa State Capitol on Jan. 19, 2017. Please join us!
Applying is easy — click here!
To learn more about the awards program and see past winners, visit https://1000friendsofiowa.org/our-programs/best-development-awards/
