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 'Tis the Season for Indoor Markets
The weather over the past week has made it abundantly clear: winter is quickly rolling in. And although we are sad to don our hats, scarves, and gloves, the holiday season has gotten us more than a little excited. The cold and snow is bringing with it the start of Indoor Holiday Markets everywhere. These cozy markets offer more than the seasonal veggies that we can still get our hands on, but also a vast array of hand-made crafts, gifts, and baked goodies all provided by local businesses and individuals. It is the perfect place to stay warm, shop for holiday gifts, and continue to support your local economy. Here are a few Holiday Markets that we know of around the area:
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The Land Connection Holiday Happy Hours
Celebrate another year of farmers, farming and local food.
-Uncommon Ground, Chicago-
 Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Uncommon Ground 1401 W. Devon Ave Chicago, Illinois
$40 per person
Price includes hors d'oeuvres
and one drink ticket.
Visit Us Online
Tickets for both events can be purchased on our website thelandconnection.org/tlc-store or checks can be made payable to The Land Connection, 505 W. University Ave, Champaign, IL 61820.
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-Big Grove Tavern, Champaign-
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Big Grove Tavern
1 E. Main Street
Champaign, Illinois
6:00 - 8:00 p.m. $40.00 per person Price includes hors d'oeuvres and one drink ticket.
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Workshops, Field Days, and Grant Opportunities
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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 open.
Farmers and ranchers in the North Central region may submit grant proposals to explore sustainable agriculture solutions to their farm problems. Sustainable agriculture is good for the environment, profitable, and socially responsible. Projects should emphasize research or education/demonstration.
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.
Springfield Farmland Transition Roundtable
December 2
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
U of I Extension Office
Join Terra in Springfield for our last farmland transition roundtable of the year. You will meet others in similar situations, and have a facilitated discussion about what you'd like to see happen with your farmland. Clarifying your goals, succession self-assessment, and information and feedback about your farmland situation are all part of this evening. Registration is $20 for this unique workshop. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and a light supper will be available. Register online here.
Putting Small Acres to Work
December 6, 2014
9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
NIU Rockford Conference Center
8500 E. State Street, Rockford, IL
Do you have a few extra acres you'd like to put to good use? Whether it's an old farmstead, a fallow green space, or a great big yard you'd rather not mow, you probably have some ideas about what it could become. This workshop offered by U of I Extension Boone County, is here to help you get started converting a few acres to plant or animal production. Outreach professionals from both Illinois and Wisconsin will provide the expertise.
$40 per person (includes all program materials & lunch). Please register by December 1, 2014 to ensure adequate space and materials. Register online here or call 815-544-3710.
Vermiculture Wormshop
December 15, 2014
6:00 p.m.
Common Ground Food Co-op
Vermicomposting is the science of composting with worms, and is a great way to keep vegetable scraps out of the trash. Led by Wes King, Illinois Stewardship Alliance, you will go home with 500 worms, a fully assembled vermiculture bin, and plenty of knowledge on the care and feeding of your new composting friends.
Registration is $45 and includes all materials. All ages are welcome - two adults per bin maximum. Register online here.
Small Farm Webinar Series
Beginning January, 2015
Presented by University of Illinois Extension
The Small Farm Webinar Series is a weekly educational series starting next year for the small farm community and provides practical knowledge on emerging topics which advance local food production in Illinois. This series of online events is aimed at providing small farm producers with a look at how leading practices in production, management, and marketing enable operations to improve profitability and sustainability. Learn more here.
Whole Farm Technical Assistance Program
January 2015
Pembroke Farming Family Association
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
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This Week on the TLC Blog...
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Dreamforce
This conference I went to, it was kind of a big deal. We use a system called Salesforce as our CRM, or database we keep track of many things TLC-related in, like who comes to our workshops. It's a really valuable tool, and being able to go to the annual conference, Dreamforce, was great. Not just because I got to go to San Francisco, but I got a lot of ideas about ways we can use it better, and what other people are doing.
But like I said, a big deal. Hillary Clinton was one of the major keynote speakers. She spent a lot of time talking about a new reading initiative to get parents to read to infants.
Bruno Mars and Cake played for the conference party. Al Gore, Neil Young, and the Beach Boys were also present...
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Nourishing The Land Connection
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As the year comes to an end, we want to remind you that The Land Connection relies on donations from people like you to provide programs and workshops to the community and scholarships to our Central Illinois Farm Beginnings students.
 Your generosity allows us to continue working towards our common vision of a future where healthy, local food is readily available to all, where people know where their food comes from, and where farmers are appreciated for all they do for our communities.
Please consider making a tax-exempt donation to The Land Connection at thelandconnection.org/donate, or make a check out to The Land Connection and send to:
The Land Connection
505 W. University Ave. Suite 203
Champaign, IL 61820
If you wish, you may contribute specifically to our Central Illinois Farm Beginnings Scholarship Fund.
Thank you for helping new farmers get started, and for supporting our local farms. |
Agriculture in the News:
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Something you should know:
Diversified farmers will now have access to a improved crop insurance option with USDA's release today of a new crop insurance policy. Read about it here.
Download this new app that lets you purchase credit for produce from your favorite local farmers. It allows the farmer to get the money they need up front and saves customers from having to worry about bringing cash every Saturday. Read more here.
Something to be happy about:
Overstock.com provides a large scale platform for selling CSA shares from small-scale producers. Read more here.
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HAVE SOMETHING? NEED SOMETHING?
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FARM FOR SALE IN ST. JOSEPH
Small Farm,8.33 acres, for sale in St. Joseph, Illinois for $200,000. Three bedroom, two bathroom turn of the last century farmhouse, in good condition. Natural gas, three year old roof, new pump. Two pastures, small converted barn. Seven acres in production, two fenced pastures, chicken yard. Three driveways onto main county road. Good school system, near major fishing lake. Tractor with front loader, grader, and mowing deck.
E-mail [email protected] for more information.
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].
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