Presenting: From Soil to Seeding Local Foods
Content:
Highlights
This chapter brings the story of the historic poor farm full circle, by documenting the work of GROW Johnson County. Co-founded in 2015 by John Boller, Scott Koepke, and Bob Andrik, GROW’s initial vision was to meet community needs around food access in Johnson County. Despite Iowa’s status as a predominantly agricultural state, food insecurity only continues to expand, with recent pressure points including the COVD-19 pandemic, policy changes in SNAP benefits, and the continuing escalation of the cost of living. Join Emerson as they dig into the efforts to establish GROW and Scott Koepke reflecting on its early days in addition to its legacy, how food policy shapes Iowa’s food system, why local food infrastructure matters, and why everything comes back to soil.
Conclusion
What do we grow on intergenerational timelines? Who do we need to support our dreams to make good on a plan? We need each other when we are bold enough to build something in the times we are standing in the middle of a muddy field, and the rain is pouring, and we question our own capacity, our knowledge, and our energy to see it through.
Transcript
For a full transcript of this episode, visit: disabilityecologiespodcast.buzzsprout.com
Credits
Episode written and narrated by Emerson Cram, University of Iowa. Recorded with Riverside FM. Production and Sound Editing by Maura De Cicco.
All media clips are used for educational purposes only. Sound effects licensed through Pixabay.
KCRG.Com, "Johnson Co. food pantries address SNAP benefit concerns," October 31, 2026
Audio of Johnson County Supervisor Meeting, October 1, 2014.
Funding
Research, writing, and production have benefitted from generous support from multiple sources, including: the National Communication Association’s Karl R. Wallace Memorial Award; UI OVPR Arts and Humanities Initiative Standard Grant; UI Provost Investment in Strategic Priorities; UI College of Liberal Arts DSHB Humanities Scholar; CLAS Summer Humanities Award.
Special Thanks
With thanks to Maura De Cicco; University of Iowa Departments of Communication Studies, Gender, Women’s & Sexuality Studies, and American Studies (Especially Angie Looney, Kembrew McLeod, Eric Vázquez, Naomi Greyser, and Hallie Abelman); The Johnson County Local Food & Farm Team (Julie Watkins & Ilsa DeWald), State Historical Society of Iowa (especially Hang Nguyen, Allison Johnson, and Anu Tiwari); Sarah Keen, University Archivist, University of Iowa; V Fixmer-Oraiz, Johnson County Board of Supervisors; Kim Painter, Johnson County Recorder; Rebecca Dewing, Johnson County Historical Society; GROW Johnson County (especially Jason Grimm, Emmaly Renshaw and Malik Salsberry); the 2024 Colby Summer Institute in Environmental Humanities Seminar Participants; Claire Fox; Teresa Mangum; Jennifer New; Phaedra C. Pezzullo; Constance Gordan; and Jesse Waggoner.
Audience Participation
