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September 9, 2014
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In this Weekly Harvest:    
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What Will Be Your Legacy?

 

Who will look after this land?  
Sometimes, after a lifetime of work, it's hard to think about what will happen to a piece of land that your family has been stewarding for generations -- and that almost seems like a member of the family itself.

We know that farm transitions are financially and emotionally complicated, and that there is no "one size fits all" answer. We also know that there's no time like the present to start exploring your options! 

That's why The Land Connection invites farmers and non-farming land owners/inheritors to our Farmland Roundtable September 23 in Peoria (details and registration here).

At the roundtables, The Land Connection provides worksheets and exercises to help you learn about your values and goals. Attendees will have the opportunity to get information and feedback about their farmland situation, and offer feedback to others about farm transition options. Everyone will go home with specific next steps to move them closer to their goals.

 

The September 23 roundtable will be held from 6 to 8 pm at the Peoria Country Farm Bureau, 1716 N. University. Doors open at 5:00pm, and a light supper featuring local foods will be served.  Seats at the roundtables are limited and advance registration is required. For more information, or to register, click here or call 217-840-2128. 

 

  

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 

Classes Start October 18

  

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. 

 

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]. 

  

Central Illinois Farm Beginnings 

Classes Start October 18

  

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.    

 

Specialty and Organic Grains Farmer Training Intensive

Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery

Champaign, IL

November 3-5, 2014  

Over the course of three days, participants will learn in detail about production and marketing of specialty and organic grains, through tours and presentations by the experts. The market for these grains is wide open, as demand for organics rises, local production of small grains remains limited, and consumers increasingly seek alternative products. This intensive will prepare growers and marketers of these grains to add to or expand their production. It will employ the expertise of industry leaders at many levels, from those on just a few acres to those on thousands, and those selling at the farmers market, internationally, and everywhere in between. If you have ever contemplated growing grain and weren't sure where to start, our Specialty and Organic Grains training intensive will prepare you for success.

For more information and to register, visit our website.  

  

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...

Seeing the Horizon

When I lived in Japan in college, I met a Japanese man who said he wanted to come to America to see the horizon. I didn't really understand what he meant at the time. Living in Tokyo means there are lots of buildings, everywhere, and most of Japan that isn't a city is a mountain.

But I'd lived in Chicago my whole life and you can go to the lake, or the ocean in Tokyo, and see the horizon and watch the sun rise (or set). But the longer I live in central Illinois, where you really CAN see the horizon, I know he didn't just mean he wanted to see the line where the sky and earth meet if you look in one specific direction. He meant he wanted to have that sensation of being in an empty place, with no buildings.

 

 

Where maybe you can't actually see the horizon, but that's because the corn is taller than you...


agnewsNEW!
Agriculture in the News:
Something you should know: Raw milk is at risk in the state of Illinois!

 

Something you should do: A program called Farmer to Farmer provides farmer-mentors the opportunity to travel to East Africa to share skills and experiences with small farmers.
 
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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