Vegetable farm field day set for Sept. 1

Carly & Ethan Zierke of Calmar will be hosting a Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) field day. The event is free to attend and open to the public. More information about the field day is below and full details can be found on the event’s webpage.

Mindful Growth at Sweet Season Farm

 

Beginning farmers Carly and Ethan Zierke own and operate Sweet Season Farm, a 2-acre certified organic veggie farm in Calmar, Iowa. They’ve recently transitioned to a new farm and are scaling up mindfully by purchasing equipment and building infrastructure with versatility in mind to fit their current needs and their vision for the future. In 2024, they are installing a washing and packing area that includes equipment for washing greens, spray tables and a walk-in cooler built from a 20-foot shipping container. Carly and Ethan sell their produce to a local direct-market and to wholesale outlets. They’ve also started a seed enterprise growing flowers, herbs and tomatoes on contract with companies.

Scaling up looks different on all farms. This event is a chance to find out what it looks like for one beginning farm in northeastern Iowa – and how the Zierkes are planning purposefully for growth.

Date: Sunday, Sept. 1

Time: 4-6 p.m.

Location: 2264 200th St. | Calmar, IA 52132

RSVP: Attendees can RSVP by visiting the event page or calling PFI at (515)-232-5661

**This event will be presented in English with Spanish interpretation available upon request.