Down on the Farm Iron Pour
Before You Come
WHAT TO KNOW
Frequently asked questions
HELPFUL DETAILS
A few things to know to help you decide, arrive, settle in, or enjoy the experience fully.
.01
Arrival + Getting Oriented
We know arrival can feel like a transition. Take your time settling in. There’s a place for you here.
Check-In
When you arrive, please make your first stop at the check-in station, historically located near the house, but may move this year to the upper drive. Your best bet is to look for signage at the end of the driveways. Follow the one that says "Check In."
Check-in will be open Thursday through Saturday from 11am–6pm. This is where you’ll receive your registration materials and get oriented to the layout of the land.
If you arrive outside of these hours, feel free to ask around for a check-in helper, or simply stop by the next time the station is open, we’ll get you settled then.
Parking
After checking in, you’ll be directed to long-term parking, located up the hill via the field driveway just beyond the grove of trees. We’ll help guide you there so you can get situated with ease.
Getting Your Bearings
This is a spread-out, evolving farm landscape, so we recommend taking a few minutes after arrival to walk the grounds and get a feel for where things are :: camping areas, restrooms, gathering spaces, and studios. It helps everything flow more smoothly once the weekend gets underway.
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camping + Overnight experience
You’ll be living close to the land here. come prepared, stay flexible, and settle into the rhythm of shared space.
Tent City | Well of Dreams
Our camping area, affectionately known as the Well of Dreams, offers a shared, open space for tent camping. Whether you prefer to be tucked along the edges or closer to the hum of activity, there’s room to find a spot that feels right to you. Please bring your own tent and camping essentials, and consider labeling your belongings so they find their way back to you. We have an outdoor kitchen sink with fresh running well water for your morning + evening routines. Some prefer to bring a jug to fill to avoid lines.
A Shared Landscape
Camping at the Iron Pour is part of the full experience of sleeping under open skies, waking to the rhythm of the farm, and sharing space with both people + the land itself. The terrain is natural + varied, and pathways may be uneven, so we encourage you to move with awareness + care as you settle in.
Wildlife + Feral Farm Realities
This land is home to more than just our human guests. Opossums, raccoons, skunks, woodchucks, and other wildlife move through the area, especially at night. You may even hear coyotes calling across the fields. Encounters are rare, but we ask that you give wildlife plenty of space + keep food stored securely.
Keeping Things Cold
If you’re bringing your own food or beverages, please plan to bring a cooler + ice. The refrigerated trailer on site is dedicated to community meals and event use and is not available for personal storage. Thanks to a generous donation, we have an on-site ice maker for this year, but until we know how well it can keep up, please plan to provide your own ice.
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meals + beverages
Come hungry, bring your curiosity, and be ready to share mealtimes made and enjoyed together.
Community Meals
Meals are a central part of the Iron Pour experience. These are times to gather, refuel, and connect. In an effort to reduce waste, many dishes are reusable, so we ask that you bus your own place settings and lend a hand with dishwashing when you can. It’s all part of the communal chores of the weekend (and a great way to meet new people).
Beverages + The Pints
If you’ve purchased a silicone Silipint pint as part of your package or à la carte, you’re all set to enjoy the beverage trough, with a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. Your Limited Edition 2026 Iron Pour pint is your key to participation here. Refill responsibly as you like throughout the event.
For safety, glass is not permitted on site. If you’ve purchased a glass pint, please keep it safely stored in your vehicle to take home. Silicone pints are the only vessels allowed for use onsite, and are available for purchase if needed.
We’ll have bottle brushes available for rinsing between drinks, but you may also want to bring a separate reusable bottle for water.
A Note on Sharing the Space
This is a communal environment, and we do our best to minimize waste while caring for the land. You’ll find compost, burnable, and recycling systems in place. Thank you for helping us use them well and for supporting the flow of the farm.
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On-Site Logistics
A few practical details to help you move through the space with ease + make the most of what’s available.
Restrooms
Portable restrooms + hand-washing stations are located throughout the camping + common areas for easy access during your time here.
Outdoor Shower
Yes, we’ll have the outdoor shower available again this year. It’s a simple, open-air setup with hot + cold running water, created using repurposed materials from the farm (of all the donated cast iron tubs, we had to go make one into an actual shower).
The shower is nestled between two trailers with added curtains for privacy, a balance of function + improvisation that’s very much in the spirit of this place.
It’s a refreshing way to rinse off after a day of casting, and if you happen to look up, you might catch a view of the night sky or even the Milky Way overhead. We ask that you use your best judgment and help keep it accessible for others, as this is a shared resource.
Please bring your own towel and biodegradable soap (we recommend something like Dr. Bronner’s) to help us care for the land.
Bathrooms + Shower Etiquette
This is a shared, rustic setup, so a little mindfulness goes a long way in keeping things tidy, moving through efficiently, and leaving the space ready for the next person.
Sand Studio (Hours + Tools)
If you’re working in the sand studio, please note that it closes nightly at midnight, with a hard stop on Friday at 11:59 pm. There is no sand casting on Saturday (pour day).
Tools are provided, though you may encounter wait times during busier periods. If you bring your own tools or materials, please label them clearly so they return to you. Our preference is to use T25 star screws/bits when possible.
What to Bring (Helpful Extras)
A few items that can make your experience more comfortable:
* Lawn chairs (labeled)
* Reusable water bottle
* Towels + personal items
* Yard or table games to share
* PPE for studio + pour flour participation
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farm awareness + safety
This is a working landscape. your awareness + care help keep it safe + welcoming for everyone.
A Living, Working Farm
The Iron Pour takes place on a family farm that is both actively used + in the process of restoration. You’ll encounter uneven ground, evolving structures, tools, and materials that are part of ongoing work on the land. We ask that you move through the space with awareness + respect for both the environment and those working within it. Please also help keep an eye on children - whether they are yours or not, they belong.
Horses + Fencing
We’re currently sharing the land with horses. For their safety and yours, please do not enter the pasture or approach them. Be aware that pasture fencing is electric—assume all fences are active and give them plenty of space.
Fire + Fireworks
Out of care for the animals, the land, and the safety of the event, fireworks are not permitted. The Iron Pour already contains powerful fire-centered elements, and we ask that all additional fire-related activity be approached with intention and permission.
Shared Responsibility
This is a participatory environment, and everyone plays a role in maintaining a safe and supportive space. Please follow posted signage, respect boundaries, and be mindful of others as you move through the weekend. Please especially help keep the cafeteria area clean + clear as the cooks shouldn't have to also make room for everyone to eat.
A Note on Risk + Awareness
As a reminder, this event takes place on a working farm property under active restoration. By being here, you acknowledge the inherent risks of uneven terrain, structures, animals, and shared outdoor spaces, and agree to take personal responsibility for your safety and the safety of those around you.
For full details, please refer to our Terms + Conditions.
Children + Young People
We welcome people of all ages to the Iron Pour. This is a space where learning, making, and gathering happen across generations, and we value the presence and participation of young people in the experience.
At the same time, this is a working farm environment that includes active restoration, tools, fire, and uneven terrain. Children and underage participants require attentive supervision at all times.
We ask that parents and guardians take primary responsibility for the safety, awareness, and guidance of the young people in their care. This includes helping them understand boundaries, respect the land and animals, and move safely through shared spaces.
Like everything here, this is a shared environment. Everyone’s awareness contributes to a space where people of all ages can feel welcome and supported.
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land + responsibility, community care
We each play a part in how this place feels. thank you for helping make it welcoming, respectful, and alive.
Caring for the Land
This gathering takes place on land that is actively being restored, tended, and reimagined. Every step we take, every space we use, becomes part of that ongoing process. We ask that you move through the weekend with care, respecting the land, using shared resources thoughtfully, and leaving things better where you can.
Shared Effort, Shared Experience
The Iron Pour is shaped by participation. From preparing meals to washing dishes, from setting up camp to lending a hand when something needs tending :: these small gestures are part of what makes this gathering meaningful. We invite you to engage, contribute where you’re able, and support the rhythm of the space.
Respect for One Another
People arrive here from many different places, backgrounds, and walks of life. This is a space where we practice meeting each other with openness and respect, making room for difference, conversation, and connection. We ask that you help us create an environment where everyone can feel welcome and at ease.
Leaving a Light Footprint
We do our best to minimize waste + care for the systems that support this land. Please use the provided compost, recycling, and burnable waste areas mindfully, and help others do the same when needed. Small acts add up quickly in a shared environment.
Down on the Farm Iron Pour
View our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions here. © 2026 Down on the Farm Iron Pour.
All Rights Reserved.
Decorah, Iowa, United States
text only :: (651) 317-9448
