Prairie Harvest Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
A CSA program joins subscribers in sharing the risk and bounty of the growing season by purchasing a share in WCI's fruit and vegetable production. Participants will receive a weekly box of farm-fresh produce for 20 weeks. Cost for the 2012 program is $425 per subscription. At least five different varieties of fruits and vegetables will be in each box, along with a newsletter with easy recipes and storage tips. The boxes will be delivered on Wednesday afternoons to six locations in central and southwest Iowa: the James Law Office in Creston, the Wallace House in Des Moines, the Weiland home in Greenfield, Pioneer's Carver Center in Johnston, Joseph's Jewelers in West Des Moines, and Applehurst in Winterset. Beginning each January, a link to the Prairie Harvest CSA form can be found on the home page until all subscriptions are filled. You can also receive a form by contacting the Country Life Center at 641-337-5019, the Wallace House at 515-243-7063, or emailing dianeweiland@wallace.org.

Real Soil, Real Food, A Real Difference
Real Soil, Real Food, A Real Difference offers incoming high school sophomores and juniors an intensive nine-day exploration about today's food and sustainable agriculture issues combined with an independent project for change. In addition to studying critical food issues, each day they take part in team building, networking, physical activities, and field trips to relevant sites such as Pioneer Hi-Bred International, the Neely-Kinyon Research Farm, the World Food Prize, and Iowa State University.

After the initial intensive portion of the program, students will also complete an independent project that involves their peers to address a food issue. Under the guidance of WCI staff, each student will have one year to complete his or her project and present the findings at the following Real Soil, Real Food, A Real Difference program.

The Wallace Centers of Iowa will offer two separate sessions during summer 2012: June 15-23 and July 6-14. Cost for each participant is $500. A reduced rate is available through a limited scholarship process. Supervised double-occupancy lodging at Hotel Greenfield is available for an additional $400 per person.

Applications are due May 1 and are available on the home page of www.wallace.org or at www.realsoil.org beginning mid-February 2012. Further information is available from Diane Weiland at 641-337-5019 or dianeweiland@wallace.org.

The project development and pilot was funded, in part, by a grant from the Wallace Global Fund.

Hearts & Homes Historic Teas
From her home at 756 16th Street in Des Moines, Nancy Cantwell Wallace edited the women’s department of the Wallaces’ Farmer agricultural journal called “Hearts and Homes.” Not just receipts and housekeeping advice, this section was a popular sounding board for women, men, girls and boys as they accepted Mrs. Wallace’s invitation to submit “contributions on all topics of interest.” Enjoy tea and a delicious lunch and join in the conversations started 100 years ago in the house where it all began. This program is perfect for book clubs, Questers, women’s groups, and any other group that likes to eat, chat and learn. Cost is $20 per person, with a minimum of 12 participants and a maximum of 28. The group pre-selects the main course and dessert. Offered on weekdays, reservations are required and can be made by calling 515-243-7063.

Civility Dialogue Lunches
The Civility Dialogue Lunch Series at the Wallace House focuses on strengthening civility in the central Iowa community. At each lunch, a community expert shares a civility theme and connects it with his or her experiences. Participants are challenged to share civility experiences, sign a Pledge of Civility, and adopt the principles into everyday life.

Speakers have included President of the Community Foundation of Des Moines Barry Griswell, Des Moines Register columnist Rekha Basu, rural Iowa community banker and environmentalist Liz Garst, former West Des Moines city council member Loretta Sieman, Ambassador Mary Kramer, and former Iowa state representative Libby Jacobs.

After introducing the first series of Civility Dialogue Lunches in early 2011, The Wallace Centers of Iowa received the Better Together Award from the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines. WCI then joined with the Community Foundation, Character Counts in Iowa, Drake University, and the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa in the Better Together--Creating Community through Civility project.

A second series, "Civility and Politics," was held in November 2011. Dates for additional series will be posted in the Events calendar.

Everyday Civility
Everyday Civility is an interactive dialogue workshop that helps employees understand and develop civility skills. The two-hour session focuses the discussion needed for employees to better realize the impact that civility skills have on business morale, productivity and overall performance. Participants will be emailed weekly civility stories, quotes, reminders, tips, and observations that encourage the civility skills needed at the workplace. A follow-up report unique to the business summarizes concrete, doable ideas for improving civility.

Cost ranges from $250 to $350 for a maximum 25 employees. Mileage charged outside of 25 mile radius of Des Moines.

One Step at a Time
With funding in part from a two-year USDA Rural Business Opportunity grant, WCI will develop and implement a holistic new program in 2012 designed to assist local food producers in a 12-county area.

One Step at a Time will provide education, mentoring, support, expertise and commercial kitchen space for growers to create, test, process, package and market a new food product. Adding value to what small farmers grow insures additional income, year-round sales, and pride in a product that will be enjoyed throughout Iowa and beyond.

The 12-county outreach area includes Adair, Adams, Cass, Clarke, Decatur, Greene, Guthrie, Madison, Ringgold, Taylor, Union, and Warren counties. For more information, call 641-337-5019 or contact Diane Weiland at dianeweiland@wallace.org or Katie Routh at katierouth@wallace.org.

Community Conversations
Community experts, members and guests gather around the dinner table for facilitated conversations about current issues. Most programs are offered at both the Wallace House and the Country Life Center, resulting in a diverse audience of both urban and rural perspectives. Past topics include the mental health, the Iowa caucuses, food and fuel, public health, and Iowa's wealth transfer. Programs are typically held in the spring and fall. The schedule for Community Conversations will be included on the home page Event calendar. Call the Wallace House at 515-243-7063 or the Country Life Center at 641-337-5019 or email anntaylor@wallace.org for more information.

Annual Garden Workshop
WCI's garden workshops have quite a following from area gardeners who want to learn about the latest gardening trends and helpful tips. Area experts present information on a variety of topics such as attracting butterflies, container gardening, garden fountains, and leaf casting. Topics change each year.

The Country Life Center's workshop is usually the third Saturday in March. Cost is $25 per person. Registrations are accepted beginning each February by calling 641-337-5019.

The Wallace House's workshop is the first or second Wednesday in May, kicking off WCI's Front Porch Plant Sale. Cost is $25 per person. Reservations are accepted beginning in April by calling 515-243-7063.

Little House on the Iowa Prairie
Inspired by the beloved children’s classic, WCI staff adapted events and practices from long ago to offer “Little House on the Prairie,” a full day of programming for girls and boys ages 8 to 11. Using the nine acres of restored Iowa prairie and four acres of produce gardens at the Country Life Center, children will learn homesteading skills such as cooking, gardening, and prairie exploration. Last year's successful pilot resulted in the demand for a similar program for boys.

Girls can become Laura or Mary for a day during on Tuesday, June 5. Boys can test their pioneer skills on Tuesday, August 7.

Cost is $40 per person. Please contact Diane Weiland at 641-337-5019 or dianeweiland to receive registration materials for this adventure.

Group Tours
Groups are welcome to visit the Country Life Center, the birthplace farmstead of Henry A. Wallace, named "Most Influential Iowan of the 20th Century." Customized tours of the 40-acre historic site are available for $3 to $5 per person, depending upon the group's interests. For an additional charge, groups of 15 or more can experience seasonal cooking with a meal, dessert, or snack made from fresh organic fruits and vegetables from the garden. For reservations, please call 641-337-5019 or email dianeweiland@wallace.org. The farmstead is open to the public Monday - Friday, 9 am to 4 pm. Weekend hours from Memorial Day to Labor Day are 9 am to 3 pm on Saturdays and noon to 4 pm on Sundays.

Tours of the restored Wallace House in Des Moines gives a glimpse into the life of "the first family of American agriculture." The a tour of the modest Victorian house includes family artifacts from the worlds of business, publishing, and politics and the 2011 documentary "An Uncommon Man." Guided tours of about 30-60 minutes are $2 per person. Another option for groups of 12 to 28 is the 90 minute "Hearts and Homes" historic teas for $20 per person (see above). For reservations, please call 515-243-7063 or email janfalk@wallace.org. The house is open Tuesday - Friday from 9 am to 2 pm or by appointment.

School Tours
Tours of the Country Life Center are available during April, May, June, September, and October for $2 per student. Chaperones and drivers are admitted free.There is no charge for Iowa history classes or for classes that want to complete a service learning project at the Center. Service learning projects are pre-arranged with the teacher, students, and the Center's program staff. Projects can vary from lawn and trail maintenance to garden planting to special event mailings. Contact the Center at 641-337-5019 or email dianeweiland@wallace.org.

School tours at the Wallace House focus on "Uncle Henry" Wallace and his influence on Des Moines, agriculture, and farm journalism. We also discuss his famous son and grandson, Henry C. Wallace and Henry A. Wallace, who were both U.S. secretaries of agriculture at turning points in our nation's history. Classes should be divided into 20 students or fewer. Recommended for grades 3 and up. $2 per student; chaperones and drivers admitted free. Contact Janis Falk at 515-243-7063 to make arrangements or email janfalk@wallace.org.

Corn Belt Leaders: Iowa's U.S. Secretaries of Iowa
This traveling exhibit reaches businesses, museums, and organizations across Iowa about the policies and politics of the four U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture who came from Iowa. Free, but the borrower must make arrangements and assume any expenses for the exhibit's pick-up and return. Call the Wallace House at 515-243-7063 to reserve the exhibit.