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September 2, 2014
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In this Weekly Harvest:    
legal
TLC Matchmaking: Sweet Success

 

Nathan Ryder and his family at their new home in southern Illinois.
"We are farmbound, finally!"
 

This was the ecstatic boldfaced sentence in the middle of Talina Norris-Ryder's

Harvest of Daily Life blogpost.

 

"To make a long story short," Nathan Ryder wrote, "my wife Talina and I had a conversation back in December where we decided we either needed to pursue our dream a different way or put it by the wayside. It's just next to impossible for someone who doesn't already own a plot of land or have a large pile of money to start a small farm operation."  

After an entire year of searching for land and a livable house for their growing family they had struck out, and so, as Talina wrote:    

"At the beginning of 2014 we resolved to put our feelers out for unconventional farm acquisition options, anywhere that they may be. . . . Amazingly, about a month after setting our resolution/goal, we found a unique little opportunity that we feel is right up our alley, one that gets us a livable, rent free house, lets us acquire land for our own farming dreams, allows us to learn key farming knowledge, has access to all the equipment we might need, and offers us the chance to pursue our own farming projects at the same time. It was all thanks to an Illinois based organization called The Land Connection and their Farmland Classifieds. 
 
By May, the Ryders were heading west to the thousand-acre Tanglefoot Ranch in southern Illinois run by Grover and Shirley Webb.  After a month at his new job, Nathan wrote:  

 

It used to be I didn't see my family for 12 hours at a time working for corporations and having an hour-long commute each way. Now I get to see my wife and kids all throughout the day, experiencing more of life's precious moments with the people who matter most.

 

Oh yeah, and we've followed a dream. I'm afraid it's something most people don't do with their lives. We've taken a huge risk leaving our comfy paycheck and corporate benefits behind but we're now working for ourselves and the six other people who rely on the success of this farm. We're now providing high quality food and nourishment to the countless number of folks who believe in us and buy our products for their dinner tables. I'm proud to say I'm now a farmer.

 

And we at The Land Connection are proud to say we played a role!  

 

If you've made a successful match through our online classifieds, please let us know!

 

  

cifbCentral Illinois Farm Beginnings

 

Whether you're interested in growing fresh fruits and vegetables for local markets, turkeys and geese for the holidays, or ancient grains for regional markets, the Central Illinois Farm Beginnings staff, farmer-instructors, and farmer�-mentors can help you jump-start your farm business.

During Central Illinois Farm Beginnings you will build a sound business plan, get on-farm experience, and connect with many successful local farmers during each seminar and through the field day and mentorship components.   

  

Over two-thirds of our graduates are currently farming--heading up successful small businesses that generate jobs, steward Illinois farmland, and meet the growing consumer demand for high-quality, locally grown food. We invite you to join them!  

 

Applications are now being accepted. The course begins on October 18th.  For more information, contact Jeff Hake, or simply fill out the online application. 

 

Workshops, Field Days, and Grant Opportunities

Central Illinois Farm Beginnings 

Scholarship Deadline September 1, 2014

If you want to plan and launch your own sustainable farm business, register now for our year-long, farmer-led program. Some scholarships are available.

For more information, visit our website.

 

Food Forest, Cover Crops, Soil Health, and Adding Value through Diversity
PrairiErth Farm
September 4, 2014 9am-12pm

  

Topics covered at this free field day (lunch included!) will include off the grid grazing; controlled drainage systems; balancing soil health and micronutrients; the "3Crop" farming system; value adding techniques; and three on-going university research projects. Speakers will include Dave Bishop of PrairiErth Farm; Dr. Sam Wortman of the University of Illinois Crop Sciences department; Dr. Bill Becker, crop consultant; Liz Pegg, doctoral student at Illinois State University; and Cassandra Wilcoxen, University of Illinois. For more information, click here or contact Dave Bishop at[email protected].

Legal Issues Workshops
Wednesday, September 3: Champaign, U of I Extension office
Friday, September 5: Carbondale, SIUC Dunn-Richmond Center
Tuesday, September 9: Grayslake, U of I Extension office
 

If you work with sustainable farmers, this workshop is for you!  Learn all about the  wide range of legal needs that entrepreneurial farmers may need help with, including:

  • Creating a business entity
  • Writing by-laws and operating agreements
  • Negotiating land leases
  • Hiring employees and interns
  • Health department regulations for value-added or processed foods
  • Complying with a variety of production and marketing regulations
The Land Connection, in collaboration with Rachel Armstrong, lead attorney at Farm Commons, will present information, role-play interactions, and resources to help you effectively present and disseminate the legal information and tools that farmers need to become economically viable businesses, and the stable and resilient foundation of rural areas.

These workshops will be of particular value to organizers, presenters, and facilitators of farmer training programs, University and Extension personnel, community college instructors, and nonprofit staff. Each The workshops are a full-day and include lunch. With four locations across Illinois, there is one near you! To register for this free workshop, visit our website.

Seedsaving Workshop

Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery

Champaign, IL

September 27, 2014
 

Saving seed is a practice as old as agriculture itself and yet it has faded with the advent of hybrid seed and a decrease in home and small-scale production. In this three hour workshop, Vicki Nowicki, founder of the Liberty Gardens Seed-Lending Library, will first discuss the principles of seed saving, then take us to the plot of Heirloominous Farm just outside Champaign, where she will demonstrate how to save lettuce and bean seeds. Register on our website.   

Farmer Grant Writing Workshop

October 1, 2014

University of Illinois Extension

Existing and prospective farmers are invited to participate in a grant writing workshop on Wednesday, October 1 from 6:00-9:00 pm (registration starting at 5:30 pm) at the University of Illinois Extension Office, 700 S. Airport Drive in Springfield. Information will be presented on the basics of grant writing as well as specifics on grants available through the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Farmer Rancher Grant Program and the Illinois Department of Agriculture. A light meal will be provided. Be sure to bring your grant writing ideas too!

 For additional information, contact Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant at 217-782-4617 or

[email protected].


 

2015 Farmer Rancher Grant Call for Proposals
November 20, 2014


The 2015 North Central Region - Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (NCR-SARE) Farmer Rancher Grant Call for Proposals is now available.
Farmers and ranchers in the North Central region are invited to submit grant proposals to explore sustainable agriculture solutions to problems on the farm or ranch. Proposals should show how farmers and ranchers plan to use their own innovative ideas to explore sustainable agriculture options and how they will share project results. Sustainable agriculture is good for the environment, profitable, and socially responsible. Projects should emphasize research or education/demonstration.

There are three types of competitive grants: individual grants ($7,500 maximum), partner grants for two farmers/ranchers from separate operations who are working together ($15,000 maximum), and group grants for three or more farmers/ranchers from separate operations who are working together ($22,500 maximum). NCR-SARE expects to fund about 45 projects in the twelve-state North Central Region with this call. A total of approximately $400,000 is available for this program.
NCR-SARE will be accepting online submissions for the Farmer Rancher Grant Program. More information about the online submission system can be found in the call for proposals.

 

Potential applicants with questions can contact Joan Benjamin, Associate Regional Coordinator and Farmer Rancher Grant Program Coordinator, at [email protected] or 573-681-5545 or 800-529-1342.

Whole Farm Technical Assistance Program   
Pembroke Farming Family Association
January 2015
 

Pembroke Farming Family in Kankakee is offering technical assistance to Small, Socially-Disadvantaged Producers (experienced farmers and new farmer training participants). The program covers production, marketing, and financial aspects of the farm business process, including assessing your resources; budgets and record keeping. Established farmers who are Small, Socially-Disadvantaged Producers can improve their business planning and management skills by participating in this program. For more information, visit their website.  
 
Free Social Media Marketing Webinars and Starter Kits 
Online all the time 

We know farmers are busy all the time--that's why we are creating FREE social media content to help you more effectively market your products to consumers. We have also recorded a webinar series on our website and YouTube channel so you can watch and learn on your own time. Visit our website to sign up to receive the starter kits and watch the webinars. 
 
Local Flavors Events 
Springfield, Bloomington-Normal, Champaign-Urbana and Peoria 
Lunch the first Tuesday and dinner the third Thursday June through October

The Local Flavors series, an Illinois Stewardship Alliance sponsored event, brings together restaurant owners and Central Illinois farmers to provide monthly lunch and dinner events to the public. To see the schedule for your city, visit the  

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This Week on the TLC Blog...

Tomato: Art and Agriculture

The tomato. In my house this week, it is where agriculture meets art. August is that time of year when I, a self proclaimed tomato fanatic, find myself watching the mounds of the sweet juicy fruits in a literal rainbow of colors cover every inch of counter space, and wonder if I am enjoying the glorious abundance enough. Torn between freezing them for later--the best antidote to the winter blues that I can come up with--and just eating every single one of them raw while I stand in the kitchen and think about it. And somewhere in that stream of thoughts that runs wild through my mind I think of all the fancy--and not so fancy--recipes that I should be trying...


agnewsNEW!
Agriculture in the News:
Something you should know:

The National Farm to School Network has launched its first evaluation framework for farm-to-school programs. Read about how this new resource can be used here.
 
Something you should do:

Get educated and contribute to the conversation about sustainability by registering for one of these two conferences.

Something to be happy about:

Mechanical methane digesters are transforming manure into electricity. Read how in this article.
 
classifieds
Classifieds
HAVE SOMETHING? NEED SOMETHING? 
You can post your ad in the classifieds section of our website. To have something listed in the Weekly Harvest, email us at [email protected] or call 217-840-2128.

 

LOOKING FOR LAND NEAR CHICAGO

I would love a piece of land on which I can grow tree crops in or near Chicago. 

My goal is to start my own permaculture-based organic farm within the next two years, and to eventually incorporate educational empowerment programs for youth who lack parents. I plan to cultivate, wild-craft, and forage for nutrient-dense foods and medicinal plants on my farm, and ultimately create a healing farmstay retreat which the youth will help run. Contact Katharine Egan at 224-392-2275 or [email protected].

 

BELVIDERE, IL FARMLAND WITH HOME AND OUTBUILDINGS  

Income Producing Property. Great Weekend Getaway. Modern, beautifully kept 3 bedroom, 2 bath ranch home, 2 machine sheds (one with AC/heat) and a cattle/horse barn (with water) on 40 acres in Spring Township just east of Belvidere, Illinois. Property is well suited for cattle operation and/or to become an organic, locally grown, farming operation. A unique country retreat. 73 miles northwest of Chicago, IL. 82 miles southeast of Madison, WI. Contact Ray Brownfield, Managing Broker at Land Pro, LLC, 630.258.4800 or www.landprollc.us

 

FARMLAND IN WHITEHALL, IL

Looking for a dedicated farmer to farm 133 acres, 90-96 tillable, some pasture and remainder in woods and creek bottom. 1/3 acre certified organic blackberry patch. Only second year in production produced over 1750 lbs of blackberries. Approximately 90-92 acres in legumes in transition, ready for 2015 certified corn or bean crop. 2400 square foot farm house, new windows, older barn.

If interested in either buying or renting, contact Nathan at 217-370-4370.


WORKER/MANAGER FOR 25-ACRE SUSTAINABLE FARM NEAR OGDEN, IL  

Looking for hard-working individual(s) with a passion for restoration agriculture. Help needed with nurturing (and eventually harvesting) 2-acres of woody perennial polyculture. Need help creating a big year-round greenhouse to grow produce. Also need help to create a silvo-pasture for cattle and pigs.  For more information, please call Marcia at (217) 582-2112 or email [email protected].

 

NURSERY FOR SALE IN GODFREY, IL  

Greenhouse fully enclosed for 4 acres, trucks, generators, tools, hose, growing benches, file drawers, desks, computers, growing pots, heating equipment, etc.  Everything that is needed to run the business is for sale. Asking price is $450,000. Contact Vivian Moncken at Lauschke Realtors at 618-558-1551.

 

FORTY ACRES NEAR EASTON, IL  

Nonfarming siblings own 40 acres near Easton, IL and want the land to be farmed more sustainably and are looking for options. They do not want to sell at this time, but are interested in an opportunity to help a sustainable farmer get started. Call 425-238-7290 or email [email protected] for more information.    

 

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