©2024 Megan Strautman. Please do not use image without permission from artist.
3 12 x12 inches
Acrylic on canvases
In Collaboration with Maranda Miller, Natural Resource Educator (NRE), University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension
Healthy Soil: A Sustainable Agriculture Series depicts important aspects of sustainable farming in Wisconsin.
The first painting called “In the Soil” shows a cross-section of diverse vegetation, rich soil, the groundwater below, and a nearby stream. Diversity in plant life helps maintain soil health in farm fields. Water can be seen traveling through the soil and roots, making its way to the groundwater below and into the stream. Farming practices contribute to water quality as well, as water is essential to plant growth.
The second painting called “Communication” shows three people in a growing farm field. When farmers and nonfarmers share sustainable farming practices, it becomes just as important as implementing these practices. Communication and outreach are important in helping farmers take better care of their crops, soil, and water quality. Outreach and communication efforts are seen through demonstration farms in northeastern Wisconsin.
The third painting called “On the Farm” shows cows grazing in a pasture beside a farm field with a tractor. Through grazing techniques, livestock can revitalize nutrients in the soil below them, creating a cycle of nutrients through the plants and livestock. Farming techniques like covering the soil in non-growing seasons with crop residue and no-till farming allow for better soil quality and health on the farm. Traditional farming practices deplete soil health through growing one type of crop, excessive pesticide and fertilizer use, and diverging natural water sources like groundwater flow. This collaboration works to depict and bring awareness to sustainable agricultural practices to improve soil and water quality on farms in Wisconsin.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Megan Strautmann is a college student born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, studying Art and Geosciences at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. A passion for art at a young age sparked the creative and artistic journey that she pursues in her studies. In her art, Megan focuses on two-dimensional mediums such as charcoals and pastels, with love for impressionistic and realistic art styles. She aspires to connect her passion for geosciences and the environment in her art. More of her artwork can be found on her profile @megstraut_art on Instagram.
ABOUT THE WATER PARTNER
Maranda Miller is an Outreach Specialist and Natural Resources Educator with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension. She works with two demonstration farm networks conducting outreach around soil health and water quality to reduce non-point source pollution in the Great Lakes Basin. She combines her social science and natural resources backgrounds with photography and communication skills to create images and videos that aid farmers in adopting conservation practices on their land.
The Upper Fox-Wolf and Between the Lakes Demonstration Farm Networks support a network of producers to address erosion and non-point source pollution challenges at the ground level and provide solutions that can be implemented on a large scale throughout the Great Lakes basin. Producers voluntarily join the Demonstration Farm Networks, then select conservation agricultural practices to apply on their operation. These farmers then host field days, hold public discussions, and participate in other outreach activities to show other farmers what they’re learning about conservation practices that work locally. In this way, the Networks test and demonstrate the best conservation practices to reduce non-point source pollution entering the Great Lakes basin.
MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH SUPPORT FROM
