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kids with chickens               
The mission of the Prairie Crossing Learning Farm is to educate and inspire people to value healthy food, land, and community through experiences on our farm.  

 

The Learning Farm utilizes three acres of land, several greenhouses, a children's garden, and a hen house as outdoor classrooms. 
  
We hope that through our programs, the Learning Farm will educate and inspire YOU!

 

 
Radical Root Radical Root Moves to Libertyville                   
                   

We are pleased to announce Radical Root's graduation from the Farm Business Development Center (FBDC). Radical Root Farm will become the first certified organic farm in Libertyville's history, operating at the centennial Casey Farm beginning in 2014. 

 

This is the first long-term lease of publically owned land for sustainable food farming in the Chicago region, and was made possible through an innovative partnership between Conserve Lake County, the Lake County Forest Preserve District, and the Liberty Prairie Foundation.   

 

Read the details surrounding this "radical" transition in the Chicago Tribune and in the Daily Herald. An article also appeared in the Lake County News Sun with some fantastic Casey Farm photos. 

 

Sustainable Local Food was identified as one of 12 regional priorities in the GO TO 2040 regional plan adopted by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning in 2010, and launching sustainable local food businesses is a priority for many organizations in Lake County, IL.

 

Congratulations to Radical Root Farm on becoming the first certified organic farm in Libertyville!  

 

Comments Needed on the Food Safety Modernization Act  
  
The Food Safety Modernization Act  (FSMA) was signed into law in 2011, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed new rules to put this law into action. As currently written, these rules would negatively impact farmers who grow and distribute fresh fruits and vegetables.
  
We urge you to provide comments to the FDA here (Produce Rule) and here (Preventative Controls Rule) before the November 15th deadline. Here are some resources to learn how these proposed rules will impact local food producers:

 

 

 

 

The comment period ends on Friday, November 15. Submit your comments to help modify FSMA so that sustainable and organic agriculture, local food, and farm conservation efforts are not threatened. Support your local food producers today! 

yogurt with fruit and granola Yogurt & Granola Workshop  
  
Homemade yogurt is easy to prepare, healthy, and delicious. Only 1 spot remains in this upcoming Suburban Homesteading adult workshop - register today!

 

Homemade Yogurt and Granola - Saturday, Nov. 16 from 9-12. We'll demonstrate several methods for making yogurt, and will share our favorite granola recipes, plus make a batch of granola to sample with the yogurt. The workshop fee is $40, and advance registration is required.

 

Lake County to Allow Chickens and Bees   
  
Earlier this week, Lake County unanimously approved regulations that allow residents in unincorporated Lake County to keep chickens, bees, and hoophouses for local food production, based on certain lot size restrictions. Read more about this important development in this Daily Herald article.
 
Recommendation #8 in the Lake County Sustainable Local Food Systems Report is to "expand definitions and allowable uses to support local food activities." We are pleased with Lake County's success in updating their regulations to allow residents in unincorporated Lake County to more fully participate in their food system by raising chickens and bees. 
  
The Lake County Sustainable Local Food Systems Report was a collaboration between numerous partners based on 2 years of research and analysis to identify barriers and propose recommendations for developing a sustainable local food system.
PFC crew and leaders Prairie Farm Corps Reflections                          
It was another great year for the Prairie Farm Corps, working with a diverse group of area youth! Throughout the spring and summer program, participants were immersed in organic agriculture, while every aspect of the program was designed to shape them personally and professionally.

 

Farm work provided daily challenges for participants to develop resilience, attention to detail, and the practice of receiving and implementing feedback. Fast-paced farmers markets honed customer service skills, and presentations for recipients of Women, Infant and Children (WIC) Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers provided practice in public speaking. All of these activities occurred under the mentorship of college-aged crew leaders and professional farmers.   

 

The cooking component of the program was expanded this year, with delicious and educational results. Each participant spent a total of two weeks working on the kitchen crew, lead by a culinary arts student from the College of Lake County, to prepare a daily farm-fresh lunch for the rest of the Prairie Farm Corps. This required everyone to acquire a wide variety of new kitchen skills. The delicious healthy lunches were enjoyed by all, and also provided participants with increased confidence answering their customers' questions.

 

With the support of our generous sponsors, the Prairie Farm Corps was successful in cultivating vegetables, youth AND community. Thank you to the Morrison Family Foundation, Roy G. Kerr Foundation, Liberty Prairie Foundation, Vermont Compost, individual donors, plus a special donation in memory of Clifford Carlberg.

 

Pumpkin Pride                    
  
Thank you to everyone who supported the Montessori School of Lake Forest Adolescent Program's pumpkin sale.
 
As part of their farm-based education program, the students began planning last fall to grow pumpkins on a quarter acre at the Prairie Crossing Farm. After a year of planning, weeding, and irrigating the students were proud to sell over 220 pumpkins.  
  
Swiss Chard

About the Liberty Prairie Foundation 

 

The Liberty Prairie Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered on the Foundation's 100 acre certified organic Prairie Crossing Farm within the Prairie Crossing conservation community in Grayslake, Illinois. 

 

The Liberty Prairie Foundation supports educational programming at the Prairie Crossing Farm to educate and inspire people to value healthy food, land and community through experiences on our farm. We envision a world where people of all ages are deeply connected to their food, land and community, and therefore make choices toward sustainable systems in nature and society. 

 

The Liberty Prairie Foundation also develops and supports enterprises that build and strengthen our local food system while enhancing the natural landscape. We provide leadership and financial support for local food system development, social entrepreneurship, land conservation, environmental education, and civic engagement.   

 

The Foundation owns and operates the Farm Business Development Center, Prairie Crossing Learning Farm, and Byron Colby Barn  in support of our mission. 

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Prairie Crossing Learning Farm
32400 North Harris Road
Grayslake, IL 60030

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