Get FREE Sweet Corn in Linn County in July
Sweet corn season is here! If you've been looking for a good haul this summer, the end of July brings your chance to get it FREE. According to the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT) website, this crop of sweet corn is meant for the "hungriest among us in Linn County." It's an event the organizers told KCRG is designed to address food insecurity in Linn County. The pandemic combined with the derecho has left 400,000 facing it in Iowa.
Planted by the farmer and meant for the hungriest among us in Linn County, this corn must be picked when it’s ready – the last 10 days of July.
Iowa's News Now says The Free Community Corn Harvest takes place at Dows Farm, 622 Dows Rd, in Cedar Rapids. The last ten days of July are the prime time for picking sweet corn, so the timing of this event is perfect, but you do have to reserve a time slot. That can be done here. They also encourage you to share a ride as parking may be limited, as will, very likely, supply.
Volunteers are needed as well. If you'd like to sign up to help as a parking lot guide, sign in guests when they arrive, guide guests into and out of the cornfield, or teach guests how to pick corn, you can register here. You will need to make sure to bring your own bags, boxes or other containers to carry your corn in.
For more sweet corn goodness don't forget about the in-person return of the annual St. Jude Sweet Corn Festival. It takes place the weekend of August 13-15 with all of your favorite activities including live music, a raffle, and of course, sweet corn.