Home Care In Homestead, IA

Despite no electricity or running water, Nathan and Emily Armstrong's wedding ceremony continued after the storms that swept across Iowa Friday.

Paris Barraza

Iowa City Press-Citizen

It’d be easy to assume that the wedding party for Nathan and Emily Armstrong was standing in Walker Homestead’s wine cellar for a tasting event on the evening of March 31.

But the celebration moved downstairs not by choice.

Storms that spawned at least 16 tornadoes swept across Iowa last Friday, the Des Moines Register reported, causing destruction in Johnson County, largely in Coralville and Hills.

In its path was Walker Homestead, the event center owned by Kristy and Bob Walker situated on an 85-acre farm in Iowa City.

And there were the Armstrongs, their nearly 60 guests and less than a dozen staff, all in the cellar as the storms worsened above them.

“I was down there with friends and family and I just had a good time talking with everyone and hanging out,” Nathan Armstrong said. “The only bad thoughts that crossed my mind once the building shook a little bit and it was getting really windy up there, I was like, ‘I might walk upstairs and there might not be a Walker Homestead anymore. (I) might have to send everyone home.’”

‘There was nowhere safer in the world than that room'

The Armstrongs knew the forecast called for thunderstorms and possible tornadoes on the day of their wedding as it approached.

Day of, Nathan Armstrong, who is a line cook for Walker Homestead, said he remained optimistic, though they did move the wedding ceremony inside out of precaution. The couple, who lives in Coralville, also brought their two dogs with them to the wedding in case of an emergency.

Diana Giles, hospitality manager for Walker Homestead, said she and staff had prepared for the possibility of storms since the day started by moving furniture on the property to safeguard it from the possible strong winds and Kristy Walker purchasing extra flashlights and blankets.

During the wedding's cocktail hour, phones began receiving alerts about a tornado warning. Then came the loud sirens.

Giles, guests and staff made their way to the 36-by-57-foot cellar, save for a few storm watchers. Blankets were handed to guests because the cellar was cooler, and a pitcher of beer was available for guests to keep the celebrations going. Giles brought her laptop so that people could watch the news.

“We just hung out down there. We did get some eyes on some of the funnel happening,” Giles said. “Right after we saw the funnel, we lost power pretty much right away. We sheltered for 45 minutes, an hour, probably, down there.”

Harriet and Dave Reynolds, Nathan Armstrong’s grandparents, were some of the guests at the Friday wedding.

“You could hear the wind,” Harriet Reynolds said. “You could hear it coming.”

When they could see the funnel cloud, Kristy Walker guided all the guests into the 12-by-27-feet cold storage cement room as an added precaution.

“You were in a cement room inside a cement room… there was nowhere safer in the world than that room,” she said.

Reynolds said she was impressed by how calm staff were as they were directed into the cellar.

“It did run through my mind, here we are in the dark and we know a tornado was right there and here's our entire family in this one room and it did give me a minute to think about that,” she said. “And I thought, ‘Well, I don't have to worry. I know where everybody is.”

More:University of Iowa research lab in Coralville destroyed in March 31 tornado

Despite no electricity or running water, the wedding continued

Walker Homestead wasn't damaged by Friday's storms, but properties nearby were.

Walker wasn’t thinking about the state of the property as the wedding party and staff sheltered in the cellar. She was concerned with making her guests feel comfortable and later how to feed everyone without electricity and running water.

When guests finally emerged upstairs, they were greeted by a double rainbow, she said.

Armstrong, grateful that he and Emily were able to get married, had already made amends if the wedding couldn’t continue.

But Giles, the Walkers, chef Terry Shane — who was down two cooks, Armstrong and one of his groomsmen — and the staff at Walker Homestead weren’t going to let that happen.

They used Walker Homestead’s woodfire oven to cook the steak and shrimp. Other sides had already been prepared and just needed to be reheated to serve.

“When I saw them heating up that pizza oven, I said to Dave, ‘Maybe we'll just have pizza.' I didn't know what they were going to (do),” Reynolds said. “I couldn't imagine that they were going to be able to feed us steak and potatoes and vegetables and shrimp.”

That was in addition to gluten-free and vegetarian meals Shane had to prepare.

“(Shane) was very dedicated and everything showed up as if he had power and there was nothing wrong,” Nathan Armstrong said. “It was plated perfectly. He’s a man of his craft.”

According to Nathan Armstrong, it was some of best food he’s ever had.

“I walked away such a happy man with how everything turned out,” Nathan Armstrong said.

As it grew dark, Bob Walker positioned and turned on the lights to his tractor to emit some powerful beams for the guests out on the dance floor. Inside, candles were lit to provide additional illumination all around the venue, including inside the bathrooms. Music was played off a Bluetooth speaker.

He’d dashed to his daughter’s home earlier to fill up 250 gallons of water so that people could wash their hands and have flushable toilets.

“It really, strangely enough, seemed like any other wedding… It felt hectic, but it also just felt fun like any other kind of celebration,” Giles said.

Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Reach her at [email protected] or 319-519-9731. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.

Special to the Register

Walker Homestead Farm and Winery in Johnson County took root nearly 2,000 miles away, when Bob and Kristy Walker, both professors at the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business, were on a trip to Sonoma County, Calif.

“Three wineries in, sipping on a glass of wine under an olive tree playing bocce ball, we (thought), ‘Wouldn't it be cool if we had this in our backyard?,’” said Kristy, adding, “Careful what you dream for.”

What they dreamed for is now a reality — and a venue and experience unlike any in the state and one that undoubtedly rivals its muses in California wine country. Part working farm, part winery, part special events venue, part laid-back and family-friendly hangout, Walker Homestead Farm and Winery has become a destination in itself.

And when the Walkers say they have a “working farm,” they aren’t talking an acre or two with a couple chickens running around. Try 85 acres full of what seems to be a little bit of everything.

“Our herd is made up of Highland cattle, Nigerian dwarf goats, baby doll miniature and Harlequin sheep, heritage turkeys, chickens and honey bees,” Kristy said.

“We have 22 acres of crops that rotate corn/beans/wheat with cover crops and 22 acres of alfalfa, four acres of native grasses and wildflowers, over seven acres of woods and silvopasture, cherry and apple orchards, chestnut and paw paw groves and Shiitake and Golden Oyster mushroom cultivation log structures.

"We have four acres of garden vegetables, herbs and flowers, three tunnels to support extending our season, two acres of sunflowers, a new large lavender patch, elderberry, aronia berry and — of course — grapes.”

The Walkers grow all cold-hardy grapes: Marquette, Petite Pearl, Crimson Pearl, Verona, Breanna, Leon Meon, La Crescent and Frontenac Gris. Using those, winemaker Jenny Lovetinsky makes dry and semi-dry wines in a California style.

“We also make brut sparkling wines, made using an intricate process called ‘Me?thode Traditionnelle’ — the same time-honored approach used to make French Champagnes,” said Kristy. “Our goal is to make the best Iowa wines with Iowa grapes.”

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The winery itself is an open, modern barn building, with 22-foot ceilings and white shiplap floor through ceiling. The south and west walls open up to the outside.

“The sunsets are stunning,” said Kristy. “The winery overlooks our vineyards with sunflowers, an alfalfa field, wildflowers, prairie and 7-plus acres of woods. All areas of the farm are accessible via walking trails.”

Although most of their business consists of private events, Walker Homestead does open up for the public to experience their food and wine weekly as well as for special events.

Known for their wood-fired brick oven pizzas and vegetarian and salad plates, the menu does change weekly, “driven by what the gardens and the orchards dictate that we should be feeding you,” said Kristy. “It is our goal that 80 percent of what makes it to your fork comes from our farm or products from our local producers.”

Farm manager Ben Weber, previously seed manager at Decorah Seed Saver, works with chef and general manager Kent Foulkner, who was recently awarded Winegrower of the Year from the Iowa Winegrowers Association, to “curate the food we bring to your plate,” said Kristy.

“Walker Homestead Farm and Winery is a little bit of Napa in the middle of Iowa,” said Kristy. “Walker Homestead is a farm and table experience. We are a working farm and winery where guests can experience food prepared at the peak of freshness and see how it is grown and raised. Our mission is to build community through agriculture education and culinary celebration. It is a perfect place for a micro vacation.”

About Walker Homestead Farm and Winery

Address: 3867 James Avenue SW, Iowa City

Distance from downtown Des Moines: 109 miles

Hours: Walker Homestead is open to the public from 5-9 p.m. each Thursday.

Kids: People of all ages are invited to explore Walker Homestead. “Our farm is a playground for all generations," Kristy Walker said. “This is a place where parents and grandparents can relax around a fire while the kids play. On rainy days, kiddos will find a large wood toy barn under the staircase with vintage farm toys and a wooden train set.”

Events: On the first Thursday of each month, come for garden tours with bites and wine pairings. The third Wednesday of the month are their farm-to-table dinners. Look for these ticketed events, as well as Nolte Ballet on the Farm and Sunday Afternoon Music on the Farm, at walker-homestead.com.

Weddings: Walker Homestead is booking weddings now for 2023 and into 2024. “We like to think that we provide a Napa-like wedding in Johnson County, Iowa,” said Kristy. Couples exchange vows either in the vineyard, under a pavilion overlooking the vineyard or inside the winery. “When you reserve your wedding here, you get the whole farm to yourself, the gardens, the farm animals that love to eat treats from the palm of your hand, horseshoes, carpet ball, bocce ball, corn hole, torches lit at sundown highlighting the roses at the end of the vines, the sunflower background and the stunning sunsets over the vineyard,” said Kristy.

While You’re There: Being Hawkeyes themselves, the Walkers recommend taking in a sporting event, cultural show or lecture at the University of Iowa. During camping season, rent a site at Kent Lake, Lake McBride or the Coralville Reservoir.

The West Burlington nonprofit urban farm Homestead 1839 is finding success adopting sustainable agricultural practices and using horticulture therapy to help community members on the path to recovery.

Led by co-directors Mollie and Tobin Krell, the organization grows specialty organic produce and flowers, and raises chickens to promote education and love of the land.

The Krells and their son moved from Portland, Ore., to Mollie’s original Iowa home in 2015. Their farm sits on 30 acres, which was originally the Homestead of Mollie’s ancestors, dating back to 1839. “This farm is my 90-year-old grandmother’s, who is alive and well,” Mollie says. “We live with her in the farmhouse and take care of her, along with maintaining the land.”

The farm has gone through many changes, including the city growing up around it.

Social justice, lessons learnedIn Portland, Mollie was a gardening teacher where she began using her small community garden to help at-risk students and kids with behavior issues. “If they were having problems, I took them out to the community garden to get them busy and working,” she says.

The Krells found success helping youth in Portland and decided to take their knowledge and experience back to Iowa. After a couple years of working hard to get settled and developing their organizational model, the couple is on their way to realizing their dreams.

They now work with juvenile court services, probation services and mental health resource organizations to help rehabilitate youth and adults in southeast Iowa. “These folks are gaining experience with food, agriculture and farming in a totally different way, and that’s good for their soul,” says Tobin.

One of Homestead 1839’s core programs provides vocational rehabilitation on Wednesdays. “We have a project ready for them,” Mollie says. “A project might be something like picking cucumbers, pickling and canning them, and then they can take them home.”

“I want them to leave here and say, ‘Look what I can do, no matter how hot, sweaty and dirty,’” Tobin says. “Everyone leaves with a sense of accomplishment and pride in what they’ve done and, hopefully, some veggies!”

Organic permaculture benefitsTobin says they are running an organic farm to better sustain the type of farming that isn’t dependent on inputs. They call their system a permaculture — a farming system that uses nature for maximum production that benefits people and the land. “Producing food organically helps educate our visitors about food systems — knowing where your food comes from,” he says.

An example of their permaculture system is companion planting, where they strategically plant vegetables and sometimes flowers next to each other that repel bad bugs, or attract insects that feast on the bad bugs.

They also build special birdhouses to attract birds that prey on the Japanese beetle, a known scourge of plants and flowers.

The chickens on the farm are also part of the system. “The chickens help fertilize the farm and eat bugs that would harm plants and crops,” Tobin says. “Eggs from chickens are just a side benefit.”

Unique produce, locally grownThe Krells grow traditional Iowa produce, such as tomatoes, squash and peppers. But they also focus on lesser-known heirloom varieties that are more difficult to access locally, including okra, tomatillos, edible flowers and fresh herbs.

Tobin says the produce is for the community. “Our goal is to feed families in the area who may not have easy access to fresh produce,” he says. The Krells sell produce seasonally to the public at their roadside market, “The Veg Shop,” at their farm and at local farmers markets.

They also have an organic flower garden, a main source of income to support the produce that feeds the community. “Flower sales have enhanced weddings, dinners, special events and people’s homes,” Mollie says. “We also donate flowers to the hospice house and other places in the community.”

USDA conservation assistance helpsHomestead 1839 has 5 acres of cropland. In spring 2018, they seeded down 14 acres of pollinator habitat through USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program.

“Especially here in southeast Iowa, when you look around, you see a lot of corn and soybeans,” Tobin says. “We’ve been able to grow just about everything outside of citrus fruit.” He adds, “It’s not totally about the number of crops, but also the variety. We have about 20 different types of tomatoes growing and three different corn plots for different uses.”

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is helping Homestead 1839 to better protect its natural resources through planning and financial assistance for erosion control and soil health improvement. With NRCS help, the Krells have used cover crops, applied conservation crop rotations and implemented pest management on their 5 cropland acres.

“Thanks to NRCS, we used cover crops our first year, which did wonders to keep down weed competition,” Tobin says. The Krells also use worm castings to help improve soil health. “It revitalizes the bacteria and all the other good stuff in the soil.”

NRCS assistance helped them establish a high-tunnel system to extend the growing season and provide a more environmentally friendly environment for growing produce. The high tunnel includes a water catchment that filters water to two 1,000-gallon tanks for irrigation.

“We wouldn’t have been able to do all of this without USDA programs in place,” Tobin says. “It’s allowed us to do something innovative that we’ve also been able to turn other folks onto doing and experiencing.”

To read more about Homestead 1839, visit its website at homestead1839.org. To learn more about conservation planning, practices and programs in Iowa, visit the NRCS at ia.nrcs.usda.gov or your local NRCS field office.

Source: Johnson is public affairs specialist for NRCS, which is responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and its subsidiaries aren’t responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

IOWA CITY — Kristy and Bob Walker just meant to trade in their Iowa City house for a rural home where they could garden and perhaps retire in an idyllic setting that reminded Kristy of the farm she grew up on.

'My goal was to see how much food I could get from the farm,' she said. 'I started out on a farm. I want to end on a farm.'

Soon, however, they found themselves growing so many vegetables they started a small CSA (community supported agriculture) program to sell them to friends and neighbors. Then they started hosting dinner parties in their backyard, and soon people started asking if they could hold their weddings or other events on their land.

The Walkers started to see the potential for their small patch of rolling hills to be something more. They decided to expand, purchasing 80 acres next to the initial couple of acres and house they had bought just west of Iowa City. That was about five years ago, and they've been transforming the property ever since, converting it from commodity corn and soy beans to pasture land. vegetable production and vineyards.

Last year, they built an events barn and started opening Walker Homestead up to the public, for weddings, private parties and meals and classes on the farm.

'It's been a journey,' Kristy Walker said.

They joined forces with chef Chris Grebner, who became a co-owner of the venture. Grebner owns Provender, a wood-fire pizza mobile food truck and catering company, and The Farmer's Table, which hosted farm-to-table meals throughout the community. He met the Walkers after they volunteered to host a Farmer's Table event on their land.

'A kitchen on a farm was what I had been working to. This relationship has really blown that dream up and out,' Grebner said. I enjoy learning, watching the produce growing ... I like the challenge of working with familiar products and trying to push things a little bit, to try new things.'

He works directly with Walker Homestead's farmer, Kyle Laws, to decide what to plant and to plan each week's menus. Every Sunday the farm is open for dining; people can come for pizza, salads and other dishes, plus wine from the vineyard, and find their own socially distanced spot on the land to enjoy their meal.

'The freshness really jumps off the plate,' Laws said. 'It's been really great collaborating so closely with a chef.'

Each Wednesday is a rotating activity. Some weeks are pizza nights that mirror the Sunday meals. Before the coronavirus pandemic arrived, they planned to do live classes, wine tastings and outdoor farm dinners on other Wednesdays. Those dinners, which in the past Grebner served at a long communal table, are on hiatus, and classes and wine tastings have become virtual events.

'Our mission is to build community through agricultural education and culinary delights,' Bob Walker said. 'We figure a lot of people don't know where and how their food is raised.'

This year they hired winemaker Jenny Lovetinsky. For now, their vineyard and winery is small, with their wines mostly sold on the farm. They use all Iowa grapes, though their vines are not productive enough yet to only use their own.

The farm also includes highland cattle, goats, heritage turkey, chickens and rabbits. Kristy Walker hopes to get sheep to keep the vineyard mowed.

'It's exciting to feel the diversity of the land and see the permaculture and see it keeping it all in balance,' Kristy said. 'Our goal is that this is a productive farm to showcase farming that's both useful and beautiful.'

They're slowly adding more elements. In the front of the property, evergreen saplings are the start of a future Christmas tree operation. They recently planted a chestnut orchard.

Everything, Kristy Walker said, is looking to the future. Establishing all of these things will take years of effort, and they hope their children and grandchildren, along with Grebner's family, will keep it going long after they're ready to fully retire. Their goal is for the entire farm to be organic certified, which takes time. They're also working on things like planting filter strips to keep runoff out of stream beds and other eco-friendly efforts.

'We're trying to build the soil health back,' Bob Walker said.

He said the agritourism aspect is important to make the venture financially viable. They've had ongoing discussions with the county Board of Supervisors on how they should be zoned and about the number and types of events they can have without needing to make infrastructure improvements like paving the gravel road leading up to their farm, which the Walkers said would be cost prohibitive. The Iowa Legislature passed a new law this year exempting 'agricultural experiences' from special use permits and variances, which Kristy Walker said she believes will allow them to have events throughout the year instead of just the 120 days they've been limited to.

'I feel like this is our work of art. It's ever-changing. All the seasons are beautiful,' she said.

Both the Walkers have other jobs. Kristy Walker retired from a career at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and now teaches part time at the UI Tippie College of Business and works for Mahaska Health in Oskaloosa. Bob Walker teaches at the UI John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center.

'Bob thought we were too old to start farming,' Kristy Walker said. 'I told him, 'Farming keeps you young. We're going to be going full steam until we drop.'

If You Go

What: Walker Homestead

Where: 3867 James Ave. SW, Iowa City

Hours: Food and wine on the farm 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Other events are Wednesday evenings; check website for details.

Details: (319) 351-4791, walker-homestead.com

If you've ever thought Iowa would be the perfect setting for a Christmas movie, you're not alone! Thanks to a new article from Only In Your State, we found out that there is a Hallmark holiday movie that is set in the town of Homestead, Iowa.

Appropriately named Christmas in Homestead, the 2016 Iowa-based Christmas movie stars Taylor Cole and Michael Rady and follows the same formula that many other Hallmark movies do. The official description reads:

"One of the most famous actresses in the world heads to the Christmas-obsessed town of Homestead, Iowa, to shoot a holiday-themed movie. She is thrown for a loop when a romance brews between her and local inn keeper and single dad, Matt. As she gets a taste of small-town life, she discovers the true meaning of Christmas."

There is some bad news about the movie, though. Even though Christmas in Homestead takes place in Iowa, unfortunately, the filming did not. According to The Pioneer Woman, the movie was actually filmed in Dahlonega, Georgia. Iowans who've spent time down in the Amana Colonies will likely notice the difference immediately. It would've been nice to see some familiar buildings and businesses in the movie, but at least we Iowans get to enjoy all the holiday magic in-person! The annual Tannenbaum Forest will kick off on November 25th and the Prelude to Christmas celebration will take place December 2nd through 4th.

If you want to check out Christmas in Homestead, the movie will play on the Hallmark Channel next Monday, November 14th at 5 a.m. You can check out more showtimes for all of Hallmark's holiday movies HERE.

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