This information is forwarded from the Iowa Environmental Council. Council Sponsors Energy Event April 12, Grinnell "Global Warming and Iowa's Energy Future" is sponsored by Ecumenical Ministries of Iowa, the Luce Program in Nations and the Global Environment at Grinnell College, and the Council. The event, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will focus on energy production, business, agriculture, and environmental issues. Bill McKibben, author of End of Nature, and Bentham Paulos, of the Energy Foundation, are the featured speakers. Contact Benjamin Webb at < [log in to unmask]> or 319.277.8520. Exhibitors sought for Children's Water Festival If you have a water exhibit appropriate for 5th graders, the Iowa Children's Water Festival would like to include you in this year's Festival on May 9. For more information please contact Paul Van Dorpe at 319.335.1580 or < [log in to unmask]>. Submitted by Kristie Wildung Native plant landscaping workshop March 7, Altoona Public Library The Polk County Conservation Board will educate on landscaping with native plants in Iowa. With invasive exotic plants, native plant use is more important that ever. The event is intended for adults, and requires a $5 registration fee. For more information call 515.323.5300 or visit < http://conservationboard.org>. Submitted by Patrice Petersen-Keys Small producer marketing workshops March 8, near 1-80 Greenfield exit March 9, Johnson County Fairgrounds "Creating Value and Understanding the Customer," sponsored by Practical Farmers of Iowa, is presented by the Food Processing Center at the University of Nebraska. The March 8 event is from 1 to 5:30 p.m. just south off the Greenfield exit on I-80. The March 9 event is from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. Contact 515.232.5649. Submitted by Gary Huber Dr. Wes Jackson seminars March 11 and 12, Ames Dr. Wes Jackson and Dr. Stan Cox of The Land Institute in Salina, KS will present their research "Natural Systems Agriculture: An Agriculture Where Nature is the Measure." Two events are scheduled on the ISU campus: a Sustainable Agriculture Colloquium on the 11th at noon, and a seminar at 4 p.m. on the 12th. Both events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Dr. Kathleen Delate at 515.2943.5116 or < [log in to unmask]>. Submitted by Laura Miller Leopold Center Urban Conversations March 14, Sioux City; March 18, Des Moines The Leopold Center, Ecumenical Ministries of Iowa, and National Catholic Rural Life plan three 90-minute forums to talk about what urban and suburban dwellers want from agriculture. Director Fred Kirschenmann will give a short presentation, followed by a facilitated discussion. The forum on the 14th, will be at Grace Methodist Church in Sioux City, and on the 18th at the Grace Lutheran Church in Urbandale. A forum in April is yet to finalize. For times and more details, check the Leopold Center web site, < http://leopold.iastate.edu> or contact Sarai Beck at 515.255.5905. Submitted by Laura Miller "Surviving the Loess Hills" workshops March 14-15, Sioux City The day-and-a-half event sponsored by the Iowa Association of Naturalists provides sessions for education and interpretive professionals and amateurs. A variety of topics are offered-from science education to planning to wildlife to communications. The workshops will be held at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center. For more information, contact Dawn Chapman at 712.258.0838 or <[log in to unmask]>. Submitted by Theresa Minaya Maquoketa Riverfest March 22, Monticello The day-long celebration of the Maquoketa River watershed is free and open to the public. Featured topics will include fishing/canoeing the Maquoketa River, water quality protection projects, nutrient management, and watershed points of interest. The Mobile Outreach for Pollution Prevention traveling display will provide pollution prevention information and answers to questions on how business and industry impact water quality. The event will be held at the Berndes Center on the fairgrounds. For more information contact Rick Lawrence at 563-652-5104. Submitted by Sue Behrns Wind power workshops March 23, New Providence Workshops will discuss small and large wind in development issues in Iowa. Technical sessions on siting and installation of small systems are offered, as well as a tour of Judy and Alan Staples' successful system. For times and locations contact Teresa at I-Renew at 563.288.2552 or <[log in to unmask]>. Submitted by Don Laughlin Public Health Conference March 26-27, Ames The Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa Environmental Health Association invite you to attend the "Iowa Spring Conference for Public Health: Public Health in Action." The conference will be held at the Scheman Center in Ames. For full details and registration information, visit the Iowa Environmental Health Association web page at <http://IEHA.net> Submitted by Ken Sharp 2nd Annual Water Monitoring Conference March 28, Cedar Rapids Prairie High School Presentations will highlight the IOWATER citizen monitoring program, bacterial testing at Iowa's state park beaches, groundwater monitoring, historic trends, and public retrieval of monitoring data through Iowa STORET. The conference is open to the public and poster displays are welcome. The registration fee is $10. For more information and to register, visit < http://www.igsb.uiowa.edu/wate> or contact Stefanie Forret at 515/281-3150 or <[log in to unmask]>. Deadline for registration is March 15. Submitted by Stefanie Forret Local Foods on University Campus April 4, Ames Nadeem Siddiqui, director of the award-winning Cornell University Dining Services in Ithaca, N.Y., will share his recipe for culinary success, "From Farm to Fork: A Forum on Locally Grown Foods at University Campuses." An informal discussion will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m., with Mr. Siddiqui speaking from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. For more information, contact Rich Pirog, 515.294.1854 or <[log in to unmask]>. Submitted by Laura Miller Tax Time Chickadee Check Deadline: April 30 Support wildlife diversity programs in Iowa by contributing to the "Chickadee Checkoff" on your state income tax forms. This program has sponsored such programs as the restoration of the river otter, peregrine falcon and trumpeter swan, among many other programs. Every dollar raised will match four dollars of aid. For more information, talk with your tax preparer or visit < http://www.state.ia.us/government/dnr/organiza/fwb/wildlife/pages/funding.htm> Submitted by Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and Jane Clark Erin Jordahl Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club 3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280 Des Moines, IA 50310 515-277-8868 [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask]