Just as title says looking for some fun and different work out classes other then just going to the gym. I'm a fat lady and I'm pretty content being my size but I wanna go to a place thats accepting of me being fat and won't get wild looks for existing there or weird comments any reccomended places would be great!

With the loss of Joann's, the only real craft shop left that has jewelry supplies is Michaels (won't shop at HL). Are there any local craft or jewelry supply specific stores around (or even out to Ankeny, Ames, or Indianola) that have flown under my radar? Googling hasn't been helpful, finding mostly scrapbooking, quilting, and leatherworking places. Mostly looking for charms and beads, especially semi precious stones and pearls. Ideally a shop that doesn't break the bank.

I’m looking for boxing and or kick boxing classes. I’m a fat woman who doesn’t necessarily hate being fat but would like to get my body moving more than just walking my dogs. Has anyone experienced a place that has good classes and is not super judgemental of size? I’m looking at Peña’s boxing and curious about anyone’s experience.

TIA!

Hello!

I just moved to Des Moines after graduating college and I am trying to meet new people. Right now I mostly hang out with the friends I already have nearby, usually at bars, which has been fun. But I'd love to find more ways to meet other 20 somethings.

Are there any good clubs, meetups, or groups in the DSM area for young adults? Also, I'm religious and would like to find a church with at least some people my age though I haven't had luck finding one yet.

Any recommendations would be awesome!

I live in Iowa, and the more I pay attention to our agricultural landscape, the more conflicted I become.
Everywhere I look, it feels like the same cycle:
Corn. Soybeans. Corn. Soybeans.
Huge fields planted with two commodity crops, harvested, and then often sitting without living vegetation until the next growing season.
Meanwhile, we’re constantly talking about nitrate pollution, water quality, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and the long-term health of our soil.
And I keep coming back to the same question:
What happened to farmers being stewards of the land?
Before anyone jumps down my throat, I’m not saying every farmer is evil or that farmers alone created this system. I understand that modern agriculture is tied up in debt, equipment costs, crop insurance, commodity markets, government policy, corporations, land prices, and the simple reality that farmers have to make a living.
I understand that the system can trap people.
But I also struggle with the idea that being trapped in a broken system completely removes someone’s responsibility to help change it.
At what point does:
“This is the only way I can make a living.”
need to become:
“Then why aren’t we fighting to create a system where there are better ways to make a living?”
I’ve met diversified farmers who grow multiple crops, rotate them, use cover crops, integrate animals, build their soil, and think about the farm as an ecosystem rather than simply acres that need to produce the maximum number of bushels.
That feels much closer to what stewardship actually means.
And yes, I understand that a 20-acre market farm and a 2,000-acre operation aren’t directly comparable. I’m not naïve enough to think every Iowa farmer can wake up tomorrow and start growing tomatoes, lettuce, chickens, and heirloom carrots.
But surely corn and soybeans can’t be the only possible future for Iowa agriculture.
Especially when we need to ask:
Do we actually need to grow this much corn and soy?
A huge amount doesn’t go directly toward feeding people in the way most people imagine. It becomes animal feed, ethanol and other fuel products, industrial ingredients, oils, sweeteners, starches, exports, and ingredients used throughout our processed-food system.
So we’ve dedicated an enormous portion of some of the most productive farmland on Earth to producing two commodities for an industrial system.
And I’m genuinely asking:
Is that the best possible use of this land?
What would Iowa look like if we measured agricultural success by more than yield and profit?
What if we also measured:
Soil health
Water quality
Nitrate loss
Biodiversity
Food produced for people
Long-term sustainability
The ability of the next generation to continue farming
Because here’s where I get frustrated: a successful harvest isn’t necessarily the same thing as a successful agricultural system.
If we’re producing record yields while degrading soil, contaminating waterways, losing biodiversity, and becoming increasingly dependent on fertilizer and chemical inputs, can we honestly call the entire system a success?
I don’t think farmers are the sole villains here.
I think the agricultural system we’ve built is broken.
But farmers aren’t completely powerless passengers either. Farmers vote. Farmers organize. Farmers influence agricultural policy. Farmers can advocate for conservation programs, diversified markets, better crop insurance, regional processing infrastructure, and policies that make regenerative and diversified farming economically viable.
So I guess this is the part I’m struggling with:
If farmers are supposed to be stewards of the land, shouldn’t they be among the loudest voices demanding an agricultural system that actually allows them to steward it?
I’m genuinely interested in hearing from farmers, agricultural workers, agronomists, environmental scientists, and anyone else who has a perspective I might be missing.
What am I getting wrong?
What am I getting right?
And most importantly:
If the current system isn’t working for farmers, the land, or our water, what would it actually take to build something better?
And this conversation feels especially relevant to me right now.
I’m in Iowa, and I’m literally watching this system operate around me.
Bayer is holding a major Crop Science investor event in Des Moines and Huxley, where investors will see agricultural technology, R&D and in-field demonstrations.
And I can’t help but see the bigger question behind an event like that.
We constantly hear about innovation in agriculture.
But innovation toward what?
Are we innovating to help farmers produce even more corn and soybeans more efficiently?
Are we innovating to sell more technology, inputs and products into an already highly industrialized agricultural system?
Or are we innovating toward agriculture that actually improves soil, protects water, reduces pollution, increases biodiversity and produces more diverse food?
Because those are not necessarily the same thing.
And this is where I struggle.
I don’t doubt that companies like Bayer employ scientists, researchers and people who genuinely believe they’re helping agriculture. But large agricultural corporations also operate within the same economic reality everyone else does:
They have products to sell. Investors to satisfy. Markets to grow.
So when we talk about farmers being trapped in a system, we also have to talk about the companies, policies and financial incentives that help shape that system.
I keep asking myself:
If the solution to the problems created by industrial agriculture is primarily more technology and more products sold into industrial agriculture, are we actually solving the underlying problem—or just making the existing system more efficient?
That’s not me saying technology is bad.
It’s me asking whether efficiency and sustainability are actually the same thing.
Because we can become incredibly efficient at doing something that ultimately isn’t sustainable.
And standing here in Iowa—surrounded by millions of acres of corn and soybeans, while we simultaneously debate nitrate pollution, soil health and the future of farming—I think that’s a conversation worth having.

Alright …. Of the greater metro Ford dealer network (Stivers, Gabus, Dewey, Granger, DeYarman) where do you service your car? Looking for some insight on which dealership provides the best service for maintenance as I’d want a long term relationship with a dealership. Pricing be dammed, I want quality service.

Has anyone seen this woman’s videos? Don’t get me wrong I love to see horrible people get exposed and called out. Especially that Welcome to Des Moines guy. But her last few videos shes appeared to look manic, hasn’t slept, hair a mess. She seems to be going on a decline from where she started but am I the only one seeing this? I don’t really talk to a lot of people to ask others and her comments never show much, so I thought I’d ask here.

No hate to her, I hope she stays safe and healthy. Just genuinely curious

Looking for a local shop to take my car to get an oil change. Unfortunately, the car isn’t in the greatest shape (200k miles and shows signs of wear and tear), and after working at a couple different quick lube locations. I have a fear of it being neglected. TIA

Im wondering if anyone has experience scheduling an early am uber/Lyft to get to the airport. Did it work out? Horror story? Id just do one day of but im not sure if there are active drivers around that time.

45F, single. Just need ideas on what to do at night that doesn’t involve alcohol or substances in the area. I also considered going to a bar and ordering NA drinks, but I don’t really want the temptation of alcohol.

Does anyone have any experience coaching for this club? Specifically the kickstarter programs. I signed my son up for his first year and they had an option to volunteer as head coach or assistant coach thinking it would like a parent switch out type of deal and next thing I know I have a whole team under me, assigned as head coach with no direction on what to do next. I’ve coached smaller kids in the past which is why I wanted to volunteer, but I cannot get anyone to email me back or find a phone number to call anyone. Does anyone have any experience with them at all that could provide some insight?

I run and walk a lot along Grand Ave.

Whenever I cross the street when the pedestrian light is on, people always turn anyway. Some even look at me as they do it. I have had trucks just whip in front of me as I am already on the crosswalk.

I have had drivers confront me and honk at me for crossing the street while the pedestrian light is on. My response is usually just a point at the light. One time a lady just slowly shook her head in disdain as if I found this loophole to cross the street when the pedestrian light was on.

Is it REALLY worth risking a strangers safety to turn a few seconds earlier? Has anyone else noticed this?

Hey y'all. Looking for a _small_ and hopefully family owned business to take care of some aeration and overseeding for me this year.

Where I come from Bermuda grass is the norm but I think I'm figuring out the northern KBG/rye/fescue grass that's typical here but the soil seems a bit compacted and I think I can get it a little fuller.

I really don't wanna go with the big dogs or franchises. The money should stay in your state.

Who y'all trusting with your yard?

I'm looking to purchase a mini Split Heat pump for my trailer (mobile home) in Des Moines, and would love a recommendation for an installer in the Metro. I'm running into issues getting someone to even consider it given it's a trailer.

Any recommendations? Thanks!

Anyone know a place in town that sell fresh Kaffir leaves? I know C-Fresh has them sometimes but it seems hit or miss.

I moved here from Minnesota and the craziest thing is the people here seem to never heard of the words “thank you” and “you’re welcome”, like you do something nice for somebody and they don’t say thank you and the craziest thing is someone would do something nice for you and you say “thank you” and they don’t say shit like I’m very confused on the culture here someone please educate me, also the only people who do seem to have good manners out here are Hispanics shout out to them.

Hey Food Freaks of DSM!

I would love to know if there was a store in town that carried a selection of locally produced deli meats / cold cuts - does this exist?! I feel kinda nuts going to hy-vee to shop through kraft, hormel, hillshire, buddig etc when we produce SO much meat right here in the state.

I know of, and shop at, The Good Butcher for nice cuts when grilling, but I'm thinking of something more affordable, like a staple, for weekday sandwiches etc...

Any suggestions on a good taekwondo class for a 12 year old in the area? Frustrated with our schools decision for not offering a 7th grade basketball program due to "low interest the last two years" yet 6th grade last year had so many kids that they didn't have enough coaches. So looking for an alternative for the kiddo.

Looking for pricing too but I can always email suggested places

Heyyy so Im broke as hell but still want to enjoy some time on the water, been trying to save up to purchase my own but thats pretty difficult with bills and stuff.

I am in the DSM metro area, I think I remember seeing a similar post maybe a week or two back and someone mentioned a place that offers free kayak rentals?

I know raccoon river offers rentals for paddle boards for like 15 an hour but even that is a little steep for me and my girlfriend.

Does anyone know of any free rental areas or anything a little cheaper? Thanks in advance. 🤙

I saw where a group of freedom minded youngin's took it upon themselves to rack up some felony charges in the name of freedom. Just curious if a re-brand might make them more sexy.

Anyone know if there's going to be a rocky showing anywhere this year?