Essential Agreements for use:

1. PDFs are available to download & print.

2. Please refrain from downloading & distributing photos. These have been offered by our community as a gift to view & appreciate.

3. Feel free to upload your own Iowa nature photos using the yellow plus button. Just be sure to add a caption so we know what we're looking at. (Please note: all photos will be manually approved by our team for safety)

Explore all our garden-based reads here! Want more? Check out our book blog here.

*Note: We’re still learning how to talk about disability, identify ableism & work to ensure sustainability is accessible. We welcome you to this journey of learning (and unlearning) too 🦋

Advocates for Social Justice (ASJ): Creating social, political, and environmental change within the greater Cedar Rapids area.

Escucha Mi Voz: Empowering immigrant workers to achieve dignity and justice by addressing labor inclusion, discrimination, and informal work conditions. Provides protective accompaniment, rapid response, and legal observer trainings in the corridor.

Great Plains Action Society: Resisting colonial capitalism and working towards ReMatriation, healing justice, and regenerative economies. Led by Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains region.

Linn County Corridor for Justice: A grassroots community for activism, mutual aid, community organizing, and justice in Linn County and the Iowa Corridor. Share resources, build connections, support neighbors, and take action for positive change.

CR Anti-Cap Club: Building an alternative local economy based in mutual aid. Barter, trade, swap, & share!

Thomas Park (Marion)

Wanatee Park (Marion)

Indian Creek Nature Center (Cedar Rapids)

Wickiup Hill Learning Center (Toddvillle)

Bird Preserve (Cedar Rapids)

Palisades-Kepler State Park (Mount Vernon)

Prairiewoods (Hiawatha)

Our main responsibility is to keep showing up. To commit to learning & unlearning, adapting, and evolving with time. To be aware of the impact of our everyday actions and make the conscious effort to do better when we know better.

What essential role(s) do you play? How will you add to the collective effort?

*Stay tuned for future Sustain & Simplify Classes here & here.

In the Cedar Rapids Metro:

• Feed Iowa First

• 24/7 Community Resource Cabinet

• Hiawatha Public Library Community Fridge

• Marion Public Library Community Fridge

• Our Future Iowa

• Anti-Cap Club

• Share a Row

• Cultivate Hope Corner Store

• Advocates for Social Justice (ASJ)

• Catherine McCauley Center

• Central Furniture Rescue

In Iowa City:

• Iowa City Mutual Aid

• Table To Table

• Grow: Johnson County

• Resilient Sustainable Future Iowa City (RSFIC)

• Eschucha Mi Vos

Additional spaces to look into: Iowa Mutual Aid Network, Linn County Corridor for Justice (Facebook group), food pantries, public libraries, public schools, free little pantries, free little libraries, blood drives, trash cleanup days, social justice groups... this map of community fridges created by Little Village...

1. Public libraries (books, movies, games, maker space studios, seed libraries, and SO MUCH more!! Hiawatha's Public Library organizes some of the best swaps.)

2. Free Little Libraries (be sure to check ours at the shop)

3. Matthew 25 Tool Library (everything from drywall jacks to ladders, saws to rakes, pliers to tile saws)

4. CR Anti-Cap Club (skill share workshops, barter menus, & more)

5. Basement Collective (our favorite monthly clothing swaps!)

6. Breathing Room Yoga (seasonal clothing swaps)

7. CR Swap Box (local art)

8. Neighbors, friends, coworkers, family -- get creative, ask around, go out on a limb. You never know what goodies people are willing to gift until you ask. In my experience, people love being generous when given the chance.

There are SO MANY folks dedicated to sustainable living & being in relationship with the Earth. Find them at:

• The Indian Creek Nature Center (Cedar Rapids)

• Prairiewoods (Hiawatha)

• Moss (Cedar Rapids)

• Monarch Research Project (Marion)

• Wickiup Hill Learning Center (Toddville)

• Bur Oak Land Trust (Iowa City)

• Resilient Sustainable Future Iowa City (RSFIC)

• Tallgrass Prairie Center (Cedar Falls)

• Iowa Prairie Network

• Wild Ones (Cedar Rapids & Iowa City)

• Iowa City Bird Club (Iowa City)

• 24/7 Community Resource Cabinet

• Hiawatha Library Community Fridge

• Marion Library Community Fridge

• Catherine McAuley Center

• Cultivate Hope Corner Store (produce)

Clothing:

• 24/7 Community Resource Cabinet

• Willis Dady

• Families Helping Families

• Clothing Swaps:

  • Basement Collective (monthly offering)

  • Breathing Room Yoga (seasonal offering)

  • Hiawatha Public Library (Halloween costume swaps & more!)

Home Goods:

• Central Furniture Rescue

• Willis Dady (bedding)

  
  

Books:

• Little Free Libraries

• Sister's Books & Nooks

• Big Brothers Big Sisters

• Friends of the Library:

  • Cedar Rapids

  • Hiawatha

  • Marion

    
    

Art Supplies:

• Create Exchange

• The Free Art Studio (Iowa City)

• Public Space One (Iowa City)

General/Assorted Items:

• Anti-Cap Club

• St. Vincent de Paul