Promoting Regenerative Practices in Fairfield, Since 2004

News & Blog

Make-Your-Own Winter Decor Workshop

December 3, 2022

Make-Your-Own Winter Decor Workshop $20 registration fee (pre-registration…

A Celebration of Bob Ferguson’s birthday and Fairfield Sustainability Achievements and Action Plans

September 14, 2022

Jenny Sammons & Andy Toepel in Concert

September 14, 2022

Who We Are

The Sustainable Living Coalition is a 501c3 non-profit operated by a board of dedicated community members in Fairfield Iowa who have come together to promote sustainable living practices in our region.

Our focus is on building our local food system and regenerative agriculture practices, promoting the adoption of renewable energy, tackling the challenge of food insecurity, and becoming a physical hub of education and community engagement at our Sustainable Education and Enterprise Design Center campus Eco Barn Event Center.

The Eco Barn is a straw bale event center melding sustainable energy, water, and waste systems with refined, rustic charm.

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History

How It Started

The Sustainable Living Coalition was formed in 2004 as part of an Iowa Great Places grant awarded the Town of Fairfield.

That grant allowed for the purchase of our 12 acre campus and the eventual development of our Eco Barn facility.

Our organization is evolving continually, and in some real sense is designing itself through our board member’s individual and collective passions.

How It’s Evolved

The SLC campus was originally conceived as a center for permaculture design, education and demonstration. The organization and its purpose have evolved with the gradual development of the Eco Barn facility. Much of the construction was accomplished by skilled volunteers, as well as the development of the grounds, so the process has unfolded over many years.

Our original mission of being a hub of permaculture education has expanded to include all aspects of sustainable living.

Offerings

Eco Barn Rental

The Eco Barn and grounds are available for private and organizational events, classes, celebrations, activities or courses.

Our Eco Barn features many advanced energy features, some of which come from traditional methods, others from modern technology. Great care was taken to create a building that is functional, beautiful and harmonious with its environment.

Call Mary Tarnoff, 641-919-0130 or Bob Ferguson, 913-208-6357 or email us at info@sustainablelivingcoalition.org for reservations and rates.

Monthly Potluck & Community Discussion

Come dine and learn with us! Monthly Community Discussions that include a pot luck, entertainment by local musicians, community good news, and local, regional and national speakers. Visit our Facebook events page.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer opportunities for community based projects, assisting developing or working on our campus permaculture garden, offering courses, workshops, and lectures, participating in the development of our Everyone Eats program to eliminate food insecurity in Jefferson County, projects or initiatives you convene and bring to us.

A Word From the Director

From Board Director: Bob Ferguson – The Sustainable Living Coalition was born of the desire to foster institutions, individual actions, and cooperative efforts that result in a Fairfield and by extension our county and region that is truly regenerative. Sustainability is a worthy goal, but creating a truly regenerative society requires us to think much more broadly about the systems we create to support our lives, individually and collectively.

To that end I, the SLC board, and all of our collaborators and friends in Fairfield and beyond happily bend our efforts. We are inventing as we go, and having a grand time bringing forth our vision. We invite anyone reading these words to join us.