WOMEN, LAND AND LEGACY "The good, the bad, the ugly…What will we leave behind?" On September 8, 2007 the Women, Land and Legacy program takes a new turn…literally. Everyone who is interested in preserving our agricultural and natural heritage is invited to join a bus tour connecting us with some of the newest programs in rural conservation. The tour will leave PROMPTLY at 9:00 A.M. from 502 Main Street in Malvern (in front of the Malvern Public Library). Two points of interest include a quail buffer on the Charles Goodman farm in White Cloud Township and the Wearin Prairie north of Hastings. Conservation officials and landowners will describe the process of establishing and maintaining these protective practices and the advantages they will have for coming generations. The next part of the tour will demonstrate the impact that large housing developments have on fragile loess soil environments and the ecosystems they sustain in Southwest Iowa.  From there, a fun element of conservation and preservation will be explored…a new antique shop (Briar Patch Antiques) established next to  a 100 year-old+ Victorian farm house west of Silver City. Conservation tourists will enjoy a sack lunch at Kings Crossing Winery. Wineries were once a thriving industry in Southwest Iowa and are now making a comeback. Something old is new again, and it’s preserving the soil as well as the diverse agricultural heritage in this area.  The last stop is back on the library grounds in Malvern where several Best Management Practices have been installed including: a dry swale, a grass channel, native plantings and a large rain garden. These practices divert and absorb storm water runoff and prevent pollution of streams. Conservation officials will demonstrate how these practices are useful for rural and urban settings.  And finally, dessert and coffee will be served in the Library Conference Center with time to refresh and reflect on the tour. Reservations MUST BE MADE BY AUGUST 31, 2007. There will be a $5.00 charge for the meal and tour. Please mention any dietary restrictions at the time you make reservations. Plan to join this informative, exciting tour with your friends and neighbors. It will give you a new outlook on the future of conservation on your own land and in your community. Event Partners/Sponsors: Farm Service Agency Golden Hills Resource Conservation and Development ISU/Mills County Extension Mills County Farm Bureau Mills County Soil and Water Conservation District Natural Resources Conservation Service The Women Land and Legacy Core Committee Consists of Susanne Burgoin, Deloris Williams, Becky Wearin Pulk, and Beverly Dashner. WLL Article 3 WLL Article 2 WLL Article 1