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December 9, 2014
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In this Weekly Harvest:    

beerWriggling Toward Sustainability

 

 According to a recent NPR article, the last measure of wasted food in America weighed in at over 35 million tons. 20 percent of what goes into landfills in America is food waste.

 

From grocery stores to school lunches, food is thrown out every day by the truckload due to minor imperfections, concern over "sell by dates," and simply purchasing too much. The problem of food waste is one that permeates the entire food system of the United States even as we see the increases of food deserts and an improperly nourished society.

 

Working to lower food waste starts at home. It starts with a change of attitude about the way that we see and value food. It starts with buying what you need and nothing more, and knowing how to get value out of our food scraps instead of tossing them into landfills. Our latest workshop will teach you how you can compost at home and help take part in an ecological solution to food waste.

 

Vermicomposting, or composting with worms, is a great way to reduce the amount of food waste you add to landfills. The worms eat the bacteria and fungi that grows on decomposing vegetable scraps, turning it in a nutrient dense substance that can be used to fertilize plants. Worm castings, manure, or - let's admit it - poop is pretty awesome. When done right (appropriate amount of food, correct moisture levels), a worm bin should smell earthy and rich. Join us on Monday, December 15 at Common Ground Food Co-op in Urbana for a full evening of learning about composting with worms, and take home a fully assembled bin and 500 worms to start your adventure in vermicomposting!

 

Wormshop: Vermiculture at Home

December 15 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Common Ground Food Co-op 


 

$45 registration cost includes worms and composting bucket. Register online here

Thank you for making #GivingTuesday a success!

Thank you all SO MUCH for joining us in our Giving Tuesday Campaign last week. We ended up reaching and EXCEEDING our Founder's Challenge Goal!

It is only with the YOUR SUPPORT that we are able to continue providing our community programs, giving scholarships to farmers for our training program, and working towards creating a healthy food system. Thank you!


You can see more of our #WhyWeGive campaign featuring staff and board members on our Giving Tuesday page.  

Did you miss Giving Tuesday? 
Don't worry, you can still show your support for The Land Connection by donating through 
our website or by sending a check to The Land Connection, 505 W. University Ave. Suite 203, Champaign, IL 61820.
WorkshopsWorkshops, Field Days, and Grant Opportunities

Farmer to Farmer Reception

December 11, 2014

4:00 p.m.

Quality Bar, Downtown Champaign

The Farmer to Farmer Program sends farmers and other people involved in agriculture from US on short-term all expenses paid volunteer agriculture assignments to other countries. Catholic Relief Services is implementing the Farmer to Farmer Program in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. CRS is working with over 100 host organizations of farmer groups, cooperatives, small scale processors, credit unions and other people-led organizations involved in rural areas. 

This people-to-people program offers the best example of American generosity through sharing knowledge and experiences with others around the world. 
Learn more about the program at this reception. Learn more here and contact [email protected] with any questions. 

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.
 

East Central Illinois Small Farms Oral History Project

Through January

WILL/Univerisity High School UIUC

For their annual project working with WILL to create documentary radio pieces, students at Uni High are focusing on the history of small-scale agriculture in east-central Illinois and the experiences of small-scale farmers. Hearing firsthand from people who know about this topic from their own experiences helps them understand the relevant issues much better than they would otherwise. At this point, they are finding people in the community who would be able to help with the project by sharing their experiences and perspectives. The students are looking for people who could talk informally with students about related issues, or show students around their farms. If you would be willing to contribute, please contact Janet Morford, the faculty sponsor of their project, at [email protected].

 

Slow Food Springfield Film Festival

January 24, 2014

A film festival for everyone interested in learning about and supporting local food systems is planned for Saturday, January 24, 2015 in Foundation Hall at the Old State Capitol (Level 2) in Springfield from 2:00 - 8:30 p.m. The films are:

 

Flow: For Love of Water (2:00-3:30 p.m.)
Top 10 Finalists from the 2014 Real Food Media Contest (4:30-5:30 p.m.)

Growing Cities: A film about urban farming in America (6:15-8:30 p.m.)
 

Admission is $7.00 per person ($5.00 for Slow Food Springfield members). Students with a student ID are free. "We're pleased to announce that this year refreshments and dinner will be provided by Bear Creek Farm & Ranch for purchase during the festival," says Ann Hamilton, chapter leader for Slow Food Springfield. More information is available at www.slowfoodspringfield.org or contact Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant, Extension Educator, Local Foods System and Small Farms at 217-782-4617cvnghgrn@illinois.edu
 

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.  

blThis Week on the TLC Blog...

 Winter Radishes Lighten and Brighten the Holidays

 

While winter holidays and parties are wonderful times to share food and drink with family and friends (don't miss The Land Connection's Holiday Happy Hour at Big Grove Tavern Tuesday December 9!), they are also often a challenge to the better angels of our diet. 

 

But just because it's winter doesn't mean you can't sit down to a simple, satisfying salad. And the perfect winter salad is made with crunchy, sweet winter radishes...

  
agnewsAgriculture in the News:
Something you should know:
The nation's largest food hub will be coming to Louisville, Kentucky in 2016. Learn more about it.

Something you should do: 
Join the campaign for farmers to be added to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program to help incentivize young people to become farmers. Sign up here!

Something to be happy about:

The ex-president of Trader Joe's is opening a grocery store that resells misshapen or past date food to reduce food waste. Read about it here.  


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.

 

NEEDED: FARMERS PRODUCING UNDER ILLINOIS' COTTAGE FOOD LAW
Are you currently producing products produced in your home kitchen through the Illinois Cottage Food Law (see the Illinois Stewardship Alliance for a nice summary:  http://www.ilstewards.org/policy-work/illinois-cottage-food-law/).  Author Lisa Kivirist is looking for examples of farmers using this law to feature as case studies in various workshops and articles. Her new book, Homemade for Sale (www.homemade forsale.com) is the first authoritative guide that provides a clear roadmap to go from idea and recipe to final product. Please contact her with a brief description of what you produce/website by Dec. 31[email protected] 

 

SEEKING ORGANIC FARMER/FARM MANAGER

Join the most interesting and lucrative farming sector in the country today - Organic Farming! Ostfriesland Farms owns and operates 300 acres of prime farmland in Central Illinois. We are looking for an industrious, self-starter to help farm and manage all aspects of our growing organic row crop farm operation. The successful candidate will have an Ag (or related) degree, good working knowledge of farm machinery, an interest in learning about organic farming, and work well without supervision. This is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate. We offer a competitive salary, bonus, profit-sharing, & benefits. Get in on this ground floor position. Send your resume to: Ostfriesland Farms 39W973 Crosscreek Ln, St Charles IL 60175 or [email protected] 

 

 

SEEKING EXPERIENCED FARMER/FARM FAMILY FOR 500 ACRE DIVERSIFIED FARM ON THE GARDEN PENINSULA OF UPPER MICHIGAN

The farm is located in Delta County near Garden, MI.   There is an updated four bedroom house on the property. The local school is excellent, and there is good hunting and fishing nearby.
 
We are looking for an experienced farmer to care for the land, woods, animals, buildings, and equipment as if they were their own.  The farm includes cattle, chickens, fruit, grain crops, and syrup trees. For a detailed list of responsibilities, contact [email protected].


 

CREW LEADER, PRAIRIERTH FARM

PrairiErth Farm is a ten-acre certified organic farm in Central Illinois looking for a crew leader. The crew leader's main duties will be:

-Collaborating with the farmers to lead the crew through daily and weekly tasks

-Keeping the crew on track 

-Setting the pace for speed and accuracy in the field

-Maintaining a positive attitude 

-Praising and giving constructive criticism to workers/volunteers.

We are looking for someone who has had two seasons experience working on an organic farm and experience leading a crew.

 
View the full job listing at on our classifieds page or contact Hans at [email protected]

 

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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