Keep Iowa Beautiful’s newest program, “A Garden for Every School,” provides an innovative online, video-based training program for school garden planning. It helps schools build a garden team, asset-map their community, and plan for the most common challenges school gardens face before getting started through a series of free, short on-line videos. Each of the 10 videos highlights best practices and includes a downloadable PDF planning guide. Relevant lesson plans that meet Core curriculum and STEM standards are also provided. The resulting school garden plan (binder) doubles as a garden grant application.

School gardens have been linked to improved science test scores, healthier food choices for students and their families, and project-based service-learning. Digging in the soil and knowing where food comes from has a profound impact on youth, and gardens at schools result in a constant flow of students each year graduating to another school, or out into the community

Winter 2017

A GArden for every School

KeeP IoWA BeAUTIfUl AnnoUnceS PhoToGrAPhy conTeST WInnerS

Keep Iowa Beautiful (KIB) is announcing the winners of the 7th Keep Iowa Beautiful Photography Contest aimed at raising awareness of Iowa’s natural and environmental beauty. KIB wants to learn what resonates with Iowans based on the photographs they share through this annual photography contest.

FIRST PLACE: Justin Rogers of West Des Moines. “Fall Farmstead” taken from Ridge Road in Balltown. 1st place winner awarded $50.

SECOND PLACE: Mark Iwig of Johnston. “Sunset from the State Capitol” in Des Moines. 2nd place winner awarded $35.

THIRD PLACE: Steve Collins of Le Mars. “Sunset on the Golf Course” at Willow Creek Golf Course in Le Mars. 3rd place awarded $25.

FIRST PLACE: Justin Rogers—West Des Moines“Fall Farmstead”—Balltown

(Continued on page 4)

(Continued on page 3)

Board of Trustees

Miriam Erickson BrownChairman

Nancy RichardsonVice-Chairman

Donald F. LambertiHonorary Co-Chair

Robert D. RayHonorary Co-Chair

Neal ColemanSecretary

Doug ShullTreasurer

Jeff BadgerMichael Chilton

Anthony J. Colosimo Kim Drautz

Steven FalckWilliam J. FultzTom Hanafan

Geri HuserMegan JonesReo Menning

Brandon NeilsonNoreen Otto

Mike RichardsonLoretta Sieman

Scott SmithKen Waller

Marcia WannamakerInky Westfall

Staff/ConsultantsGerald F. SchnepfExecutive Director

515-323-6507

William H. JacksonExecutive Assistant

515-323-6537

Martha McCormickEducation Consultant

515-979-3311

Hometown Pride CoachesJeff DavidsonJasper County319-541-7048

Douglas ElamLouisa County319-654-4007

Doug FriedliFremont County402-873-2215

Kathy EvertSac County

712-260-8746

Beth HicksCapitol Neighborhood

515-556-0586

Margo UnderwoodPocahontas County

641-420-3896

www.keepiowabeautiful.com

Gerry Schnepf, on behalf of the KIB Board of Trustees, presented State Representative Pat Grassley with a certificate thanking him for his support during the last legislative session. Grassley is Chair of the Appropriations Committee and also serves on the Commerce Committee. He lives in New Hartford and represents Grundy County and parts of Butler and Hardin Counties.

ThAnKS To STATe rePreSenTATIve GrASSley

The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) has added NO LITTER signs along a number of the bus stop routes in Central Iowa. The signs encourage riders to use the trash bin on the bus.

dArT—no lITTerApril 2017 will be the 5th year for Keep

Iowa Beautiful Month. It is the time of year to celebrate the start of season to clean-up and improve the looks of your community. The time is right to fix-up, paint-up, clean-up and plant-up your hometown with the help of community volunteers.

This year KIB, with the help of the Iowa League of Cities, is urging Iowa’s 944 mayors to sign a proclamation and encourage their local community to plan beautification enhancement projects during April and the rest of the year.

“Iowa’s communities understand the importance of clean and attractive communities,” said Alan Kemp, Iowa League of Cities Executive Director. “We greatly appreciate Keep Iowa Beautiful’s efforts in building stronger communities.”

“This is a great opportunity to recruit community volunteers to tackle a local project that will enhance and improve their community,” said Gerry Schnepf, KIB’s Executive Director.

A sample proclamation, that can be localized, is available on KIB’s website www.keepiowabeautiful.com

APrIl—KeeP IoWA BeAUTIfUl MonTh

w/Iowa league of cities

with the knowledge to make different choices. They also take that information home to their families and create a ripple effect.

Today, many school gardens struggle. Without a team of people, one passionate teacher often leads the charge alone and gets burnt out. If they leave, the garden falls apart. Without a plan, weeds grow, the harvested produce doesn’t get used, and gardens go into disrepair in the summer causing students lose interest. Without garden curriculum tied to core standards, other teachers see the gardens as extra work and not a tool to help them teach. Without an understanding of how to get funding and volunteers, as more gardens start the more competitive the landscape becomes.

A handful of schools do everything right. They build a coalition from the community and get buy-in throughout the school. They create a year-round plan for weeding, harvesting, and maintenance through the summer. They provide curriculum to their teachers tied to core standards. These schools and their best practices are highlighted in the video series.

Keep Iowa Beautiful is working directly with Des Moines area partners and schools to promote and implement the program.

According to the Heartland Area Education Agency,

26% of the elementary schools targeted are at or above 80% free or reduced lunch, while 70% are at or above 50% free or reduced lunch. Targeted schools that complete the video and worksheet requirements are eligible to receive a $1,000 seed grant for garden supplies and programming.

This program has been funded through Presenting Sponsors ($25,000+) - Whole Kids Foundation and the Anonymous Fund; Community Sponsors ($10,000+) – Principal Financial Group and Kiwanis Nebraska – Iowa District; Supporting Sponsors ($4,000+) –

Community Choice Credit Union, Metro Waste Authority, Whole Foods Market, Polk County Betterment, United Way of Central Iowa and UnityPoint Health; Garden Sponsors ($1,000+) – Simonson & Associates Architects, Cultivating Compassion – The Dr. Richard Deming Foundation, Great Southern Bank, Polk County Health Department, Catholic Health Initiatives , Rotary International and Bankers Trust; and School Sponsors ($500+) – Confluence, Wright Outdoor Solutions and Kum & Go.

To access “A Garden for Every School,” visit: http://www.teachers-going-green.com/teachers-going-green/school-gardens.

The Vogel Family of Orange City has been honored with the 2016 Donald F. Lamberti Hometown Pride Vision Award. Four years ago, Keep Iowa Beautiful started the Hometown Pride Vision Award to recognize those Iowans who work to improve and enhance the quality of our state.

“Diamond Vogel Paint has served Iowa, the Midwest, and the nation with an exceptional product reflecting the quality and values of the Vogel family,” said Miriam Erickson Brown, Chair of the Keep Iowa Beautiful Board of Trustees. “The Diamond Vogel Paint company has partnered for 13 years with Keep Iowa Beautiful in providing over 8,000 gallons of paint to improve 585 community projects in Iowa,” she added.

The award luncheon ceremony was hosted by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad. Honorary Keep Iowa Beautiful Co-Chairman Donald Lamberti, Retired Founder and Chairman of Casey’s General Stores, assisted the Governor with the award presentation.

(Continued from page 1)

A GArden for every School

voGel fAMIly honored

Presenting the award in the Governor’s office at the State Capitol were Governor Branstad and Donald Lamberti. Pictured (L to R) are Mark Vogel, Vice President OEM Marketing, Doug Vogel, Vice President Trade Marketing, Governor Branstad, Donald Lamberti, and Drew Vogel, President and CEO.

(Continued from page 1)

FOURTH PLACE: Diane Ebert of Waterloo. Photo taken in George Wyth State Park. 4th place awarded $15.

HONORABLE MENTION: Jim Gabriel of Kearney, Missouri. “Seasons of the Swinging Bridge” in Columbus Junction.

“This is a great way for Iowans to share what they like about rural and urban Iowa,” said Gerry Schnepf, KIB Executive Director. “This photo contest offers both amateur and experienced photographers an opportunity to tell Iowa’s story in a fun, engaging way.”

The photos will be featured in KIB’s quarterly newsletter and on the KIB website during the year: www.keepiowabeautiful.com Over 90 entries were received.

SECOND PLACE: Mark Iwig--Johnston“Sunset from the State Capitol”

FOURTH PLACE: Diane Ebert—Waterloo“George Wyth State Park”

THIRD PLACE: Steve Collins-Le Mars“Sunset on the Golf Course”—Willow Creek in Le Mars

HONORABLE MENTION: Jim Gabriel—Kearney“Seasons of the Swinging Bridge” in Columbus Junction

KeeP IoWA BeAUTIfUl AnnoUnceS PhoToGrAPhy conTeST WInnerS

hometown Pride — capitol–holiday PartyCapitol Neighborhoods Hometown

Pride was proud to partner with Viva East Bank! and Des Moines Public Schools on the 4th Annual Holiday Party at Hiatt Middle School on December 15th. Close to 500 elementary and middle school students from Des Moines’ east side and their families enjoyed a free dinner from a local restaurant along with photos with Santa, face painting, and arts and crafts. More than 2,000 winter coats/hats/gloves, clothing and household items (including blankets and pillowcases) were distributed to families in need.

Hamburg Hometown Pride and community members from far and wide celebrated the dedication of the Fallen Heroes Memorial Park. Military flags were sponsored by local families

and the Boy Scout Troup 73 helped raise the flags.Track Maintenance Crew from the Burlington

Northern Santa Fe railway were on hand to set rails that had run under the World Trade Center up until the September 11, 2001 tragedy. With the dedication ceremony of the Fallen

Heroes Memorial Park, Hamburg Hometown Pride celebrated the completion of one of their longstanding goals.

hometown Pride — fremont county–hTP–hamburg park dedication

HOMETOWN PRIDE COACHES CORNERBuilding Stronger Communities – Developing Sustainable Futures

HOMETOWN PRIDE COACHES CORNERBuilding Stronger Communities – Developing Sustainable Futures

Our Yoho tools made it to Morning Sun the day before our work session on Sat for the new landscaping at the Veteran’s Memorial - see attached. Funding for the Morning Sun

Veteran’s Memorial was a combined effort of a HtP Pulled Pork dinner, a Foundation Grant and the Cemetery Board (who was ecstatic that someone actually cared!) funds. They were able to hire a professional landscaper to design the memorial, provide the plants and bring in the large rocks. HtP cut the cost by providing the labor.

Sully Hometown Pride had a good fall with two grants received for two significant community service projects. Several years ago a major winter ice storm knocked out

power to Sully for 3 days. A temporary generator was brought into the community center and it functioned as an emergency shelter until power was restored. Sully Hometown Pride was able to obtain a $2500 grant from the Jasper Community Foundation which paid for 50% of the expense of a permanent generator for the Community Center. The City partnered with the other

50% of the funding needed, and the permanent generator was recently installed. This will enable the Community Center to function as community hub during future emergency events. Sully Hometown Pride received its second grant to

help finish the bandstand stage in the town square Central Park. A $5000 grant was received from the Casey’s Foundation to help finish the stonework which is shown below. The new bandstand is a striking feature of the completely renovated park, and several events have already been held. An earlier Paint Iowa Beautiful grant enabled volunteers to apply clear sealer to the beautiful woodwork on the bandstand.

hometown Pride — Jasper county–Sully

hometown Pride — louisa hTP–Morning Sun

HOMETOWN PRIDE COACHES CORNERBuilding Stronger Communities – Developing Sustainable Futures

Pocahontas County Hometown Pride Committees gathered and celebrated their fourth year of the county-wide program at a special event planned to showcase their successful 2016 projects. During the past 4.5 years, the nine Hometown Pride Committees have received $748,974.62 in grants and have completed 136 community and county projects.

Auburn Hometown Pride event on Halloween night. This was the kick-off promoting a new trail that will connect Auburn to Grant Park. Residents of all ages turned out Halloween night to show their support for the proposed trail. Fundraising and grant resources are being pursued to fund this 1.5 mile project.

hometown Pride — Pocahontas county

hometown Pride — Sac county-Auburn

Return Service Requested

300 East Locust • Suite 100

Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDWaterloo, IA

Permit No. 901

Calendar/Deadlines

Paint Iowa Beautiful GrantsApplication deadlineFebruary 17, 2017

Yo-Ho Tools GrantApplication Deadline

March 3, 2017

Keep Iowa Beautiful MonthApril 2017

Iowa State FairAugust 11-21, 2017

The No Litter decals are being updated to several larger sizes for delivery trucks and pickups. Companies already using No Litter decals on their vehicles are Doll Distributing Beverage Company, Atlantic Bottling Company and Des Moines Waterworks.

“This is a great promotion for Keep Iowa Beautiful’s No-Littr Hotline program,” said Gerry Schnepf, Executive Director of KIB. “The no-litter hotline receives nearly 100 calls a month from citizens that report a litter being thrown from a vehicle.”

Businesses interested in adding the No-Litter phone number decal to their vehicles should contact Keep Iowa Beautiful at gschnepf@keepiowabeautiful.com or 515-232-3507.

neW no lITTer decAlS

Report Littering!1-888-665-4887

KeepIowaBeautiful.com