Raise, Grow, Harvest, Eat, Repeat

As fall comes in, you're probably done with your gardens and shutting them down. Perhaps you've spent all summer canning and preserving foods. Maybe you also planted some garlic recently. You also might be going to the farmers markets these last weeks and finally getting around to visiting the local orchards for their apples (and the apple cider donuts. It's okay. We eat them too). All of this to say that with all your local foods activity this summer, you deserve a break and what better break than a local foods event to celebrate the end of season featuring Rockford area chefs and farmers that will kick off with a permaculture presentation?

On Saturday, November 8^th, you are invited to Foodies and Farmers, an Openfields event in Rockford, IL at the YWCA Nicholas Conference Center (4990 E. State St., Rockford) from 4:00-7:00PM. Bryce Ruddock, a certified instructor at the Permaculture Institute and co-author of Integrated Forest Gardening: The Complete Guide to Polycultures and Plant Guilds in Permaculture Systems, is the evening's keynote speaker. Following his presentation, we'll have a 4-course dinner that's prepared from area chefs and farmers that includes Al Castrogiovanni of Giovanni's, Paul Sletten of Abreo, Michelle Princer of Toni's of Winnebago, Cindee Robinson of R Family Farm, Ben Beyer of Harrison Market Garden, and Phil Leininger of Chestnut Cliff Farm. Each chef/farmer pair will introduce their dish and discuss how the food was grown and prepared. Cost is $45 per person, which includes keynote presentation, a four-course, locally grown and produced meal, and non-alcoholic drinks. For more information and to register, visit web.extension.illinois.edu/jsw or call (815) 986-4357.

Hope to see you there!

Grant