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Locally Grown

Find out more about Locally Grown issues and activities.

February 27, 2009

Local Foods Class to be Offered

"Locally grown", "sustainable", "localvore", "seasonality"—you have heard the words, but what do they mean? A class titled Building Community: One Bite at a Time will define these terms as the possibility of building a sustainable local food system is explored. The class will be taught by University of Illinois Extension staff Carrie Edgar and Brenda Derrick on Thursday April 2, 2009. Offered by John Wood Community College as one of their community education courses, the class will run from 6:00-8:30 pm in room D022 of the Paul Heath Center. The cost is $20 and those interested can register by contacting JWCC at 217-641-4941 or http://www.jwcc.edu/communityed.asp.

Posted by Brenda E. Derrick at 2:01 PM | Permalink |

February 17, 2009

Is Entrepreneurial Farming for YOU?

Have you ever dreamed of starting your own farm-based business - perhaps a pumpkin patch, apple orchard, or even raising honey bees? If so, how do you know if this type of Entrepreneurial Farming is for YOU??? Come find out...the possibilities are endless!

Join us on Thursday, March 12, 2009 at the Hancock County Extension Office in Carthage for "Is Entrepreneurial Farming For YOU?", a half-day, interactive workshop, where participants will have the opportunity to meet experienced sustainable farmers, Farm Beginnings graduates, and talk with other prospective farmers. You will learn about different successful farm enterprises, and be able to ask questions about the genesis and development of farm businesses. The day will cover resource assessment, goal-setting, financial planning, marketing options, and finding land and equipment. "Is Entrepreneurial Farming for YOU?" will help you learn what it takes to start and manage your own farm-based business, and decide whether this is the path you are ready to take.

The workshop will begin at 1:00 p.m. and should conclude around 5:00 p.m. Refreshments and reference materials will be provided. Registration fee is $15 if pre-registered on or before Friday, March 6, $20 if registered after March 6. For more information or to pre-register, call (217) 357-2150 or register online at www.extension.uiuc.edu/hancock

Co-sponsors of the workshop include University of Illinois Extension, Hancock County Farm Bureau, Illinois Institute of Rural Affairs, Carthage Industrial Development Corporation and The Land Connection. Persons needing a reasonable accommodation to participate in the class should make their request known at the time of registration.

Source: Kristin Huls, Ag Program Coordinator, U of I Extension, Hancock County Phone: 217-357-2150

Posted by Carrie Edgar at 4:13 PM | Permalink |

February 10, 2009

Plan to attend the Small Acreage workshop this weekend.

Putting Small Acreage to Work is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 14th at the Adams County Extension office. The program features breakout sessions with the following topics to be addressed: hoophouses, small fruit, forage/pasture, organic gardening, native plants, sheep/goat health and forestry. Some of the sessions will be repeated. A general session on "Resources Available for Small Farms" will be held during lunch. Click here to register online.

Posted by Carrie Edgar at 1:19 PM | Permalink |