Rural Lifestyle on Highway 6

Larry Cleverley & The Iowa DOT

A couple of weeks ago my friend Larry Cleverley received a notice that the Iowa Department of Transportation had decided to re-construct an intersection near Mingo, Iowa.  The change, says the DOT, is necessary to fix a dangerous intersection which is among the top two deadly in the state.  

The DOT will spend millions on the construction and the project will destroy the home and take much of the land which has been in the Cleverely Family for over 80 years.  The action will shut down the organic, fresh, buy local farm.

Cleverley has suggested the Iowa DOT simply install a stoplight at the intersection.  However Scott Dockstader, an engineer with the department has said a stoplight is not practical given the high rate of vehicle speed. He was quoted in the Des Moines Register, "We feel that a stoplight out in a rural area on a 65-mph road would not be safe.  Not as safe as the interchange option we are proposing."

So, the question:  Why wouldn't the DOT gradually reduce the speed limit and install a stoplight?  Seems to work in other parts of the state.  For example I've posted two images of where this seems to work.  Above is a rural stoplight located on Hwy. 175 near Harcourt and below another on Hwy. 69 near Gilbert.  Or...will the Iowa DOT remove those as well and take some-body's farm land?

Update:  Moments ago I had the opportunity to visit with Mr. Dockstader of the DOT.  We had a long discussion regarding "stoplights", "flashing lights", "interchanges" and best ideas.  "The department has been looking at this issue for years", said Dockstader.  "Whatever we do is going to impact someone.  I can tell you that this is the most dangerous intersection in the state and something needs to be done."  He told me that reducing the speed limit would not work (currently 60 mph) because of a lack of enforcement.   And that setting out a stoplight would be contrary to the system the DOT follows.  Here is that link.

I wonder if Jasper County might consider...traffic cameras to better enforce and monitor the area with regard to speed.

There is no projected timeline and Mr. Dockstader tells me it could be several years "at the earliest".

For those of you who would like to get involved here is a petition started by Larry hosted by Change.org.

Please feel free to share.

Spring Garlicpalooza - Cleverley Farms

What can be more tempting than spending a day with friends celebrating the wonderful gift of...garlic?  My friend Larry Cleverley (left singing Cash) of Mingo, Iowa is an organic grower of all things yummy and this Sunday (May 26th) he rolls out  Garlicpalooza an annual event that pays homage to the "great bulb of goodness".

"It started out small with a couple of friends enjoying spring," says Cleverley.  "Then more folks wanted to come so we added things like blue grass music, beer, hay-rides and it's gotten to be a pretty big deal."

Here's some info from the Facebook Event Page:

Our annual farm party. Pot luck, live music, beer from Raccoon River Brewing Co., hayrides, farm & timber walks, general fun & frivolity. Children welcome. Pets are not. See where your food is grown.

Mingo is about 32 minutes northeast of Des Moines and/or 40 minutes from Ames.  The fun starts at 2PM on Sunday afternoon and the weather looks great.

If you're in Central Iowa hope to see you in Mingo...we'll share some garlic...and maybe get a chance to hear Larry sing some Johnny Cash?

If you want to comment here, feel free or let's get together on Twitter @RuralLifeRadio - Thanks for coming by! - Michael

Images from Practical Farmers of Iowa 2013 Conference "Soil to Soul"

The annual conference of Practical Farmers of Iowa was held this past weekend in Ames, Iowa.  Here are several images from the "Soil to Soul" event:

Dr. Andrew Hoiberg and Pete Kaputska from Calcium Products, Inc. talking about OMRI listed SuperCal 98G (lime) and SuperCal SO4 (gypsum) and the benefits of using pelletized products.

During a panel discussion regarding restaurant use of locally grown food and marketing with George Formaro of Gateway Market and Centro, Larry Cleverly of Cleverley Farms and writer/food consultant Jim Duncan or @Foodude on Twitter.

Some of the 450+ attendees during the PFI event in Ames.

Popcorn during the break...yum!

First time attendees/vendors Jessica and Charles from Terra Biotics talking with our friend Sean Skeehan from Blue Gate Farm.

Finally, we had this question for PFI staff member Luke Gran about where Practical Farmers of Iowa saw themselves in relationship to traditional to organic farmers:

 

If you want to connect with us we can do that on our Twitter Stream @RuralLifeRadio. Thanks for coming by!

Practical Farmers of Iowa - Soil to Soul

Our friends from Practical Farmers of Iowa held their annual conference here in Ames.  Our goal is to find out more about this group who gathered over 450 people on the campus of Iowa State University to learn more about soils...and the souls who care for the land.

 

Practical Farmers of Iowa "Soil to Soul" continues through Saturday, January 12th.  If you're in the area you might stop in sometime before noon.

Thanks for coming by.  If you would like to connect with us feel free to join our Twitter Stream @RuralLifeRadio.  And here is the Twitter Stream for #PFI @PracticalFarmer.