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 provide leadership and financial support for local food system development, social entrepreneurship, land conservation, environmental education, and civic engagement.

Experience the changing seasons with a series of fun and educational events at the Prairie Crossing Farm.

Last Chance for Gleaning

Volunteers in the Liberty Prairie Foundation's gleaning program harvest produce from Sandhill Family Farms' fields to be donated to local food pantries.

As of mid-October, volunteers have harvested 4,670 pounds of fresh produce! Gleaning is a meaningful volunteer experience that makes a difference in the community and provides a "behind the scenes" view of organic agriculture.

Thank you to Sandhill Family Farms for allowing gleaning in their fields and to our dedicated volunteers! Only two more chances to join the gleaning crew on Sun. Oct. 18 and 25 from 2 - 6 p.m. - click here to RSVP.

Prairie Farm Corps Reflection

by Natalie, age 17

When I first started this program, I had been learning about sustainable agriculture for years. I read everything I could about sustainable agriculture, watched movies and videos, learned anything I could about sustainable farmers, who were my heroes.

I remember on the second spring training Tuesday, Eric was leading our first ever end of the day meeting. And I remember he said, "Guess what you guys? You farmed today. You're farmers."

That moment stuck with me throughout the summer work season. As the season went on, I would think about what Eric said that day, and I realized that I was no longer just learning about sustainable farming. I was no longer on the outside looking in, dreaming of one day working with my hands to heal the land. I was actually doing it. With everyone else, my fellow crew members and our crew leaders, we were actually farming.

We were actually farming as we pulled weeds in the onion and garlic field in the pouring rain on the first summer work day. We were actually farming as we pruned, staked and tied tomatoes. We were actually farming as we weeded to save the beets. We were actually farming as we harvested kale and fennel and beans and wheat. We were actually farming as we weeded with the wheel hoes. Can you tell that farming is pretty much all about weeding?

Because of all this, because of all our hard work, we are farmers! And we're also chefs and leaders and friends and volunteers and teammates. While probably a lot of us will go on to have to have other careers outside of farming or cooking, we will never outgrow all the experiences we've had and things we've learned.

We will continue to support local farmers, buy organic produce, cook meals at home, encourage our family and friends to do the same. We will never outgrow this good farming and good food movement. Because if there's one thing working on the Prairie Farm Corps has taught me, it's that we are the movement. We are the change that is bringing fresh, local, healthy eating, and environmentally just farming to America.

Support the Prairie Farm Corps

Thurs., Oct. 22 is the last chance to support the Prairie Farm Corps at the Libertyville Farmers Market (7 a.m. - 1 p.m.), but it's not the only way to support this youth development program.

With the support of our generous sponsors, the Prairie Farm Corps successfully cultivates vegetables, youth AND community. Donate now to support this youth development program!

The Prairie Farm Corps integrates personal/professional development with farm work, and provides participants with hands-on experience cooking fresh vegetables and incorporating healthy eating habits into their lives.

Thank you to our generous sponsors: The Morrison Family Foundation, Roy G. Kerr Foundation, Liberty Prairie Foundation, Vermont Compost, individual donors, and a special donation in memory of Clifford Carlberg. Join them with your tax-deductible donation to support youth development.

Land Access at Chicago Food Day

Miss us at Farm Aid 30? After a fabulous day connecting with concert attendees, we're back on the road for Chicago Food Day!

Join us for "Farmland Mingle" on Thurs., Oct. 22 from 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Daley Plaza. This land access game illustrates the challenges of finding long-term land access in the Chicago region and the relevant factors for a farmer's business.

Land access is critical. Our experience with Farm Business Development Center alumni illustrates the challenges farmers face when trying to find long-term land access, often leaving the Chicago area in search of more affordable land in Wisconsin or other parts of Illinois.

When sustainable farmers leave, our region suffers an economic loss. More than 90% of food consumed in Illinois is produced elsewhere. Without access to long-term leases, farm businesses will continue to leave the region, taking with them money that could have been circulated in the local economy.

We are engaged in a 3 year Land Access pilot project to increase sustainable local food farming on public and privately owned lands in northeastern Illinois. The Liberty Prairie Foundation and Openlands are partnering on this innovative project, which is generously funded through Food:Land:Opportunity-Localizing the Chicago Foodshed, a multi-year funding initiative of The Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust.

Project leaders presented on this work at the Land Trust Alliance's 2015 Rally sharing the "Local Food and Conservation: Tackling the Land Access Challenge" presentation with conservation professionals throughout the U.S.

Community Food Systems Microgrants

The Liberty Prairie Foundation recently funded 6 organizations engaged in dynamic projects to make local, fresh food more accessible. Our Lake County Community Food Systems Micro-Grant Program provided grants between $500 - $2,500 to support organizations using food as a catalyst for change, whether by relief efforts, entrepreneurial opportunities, education, and more.

"The Foundation is committed to providing resources to community groups doing important work across the county to feed vulnerable residents, educate people about good food, and engage in community and economic development through food and agriculture," said Brad Leibov, Liberty Prairie Foundation President and CEO.

The following organizations were selected for funding:

Andrew Cooke Magnet School
The Fuller Center for Housing Hero Project
Village Homesteading Mundelein
University of Illinois Extension
Roberti Community House
Lord of Glory Lutheran Church Food Pantry

Click here for more information, including a description of the projects funded. As the projects move forward during the upcoming year, watch for updates in upcoming email newsletters.

Fall Festival

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our final on-farm event of the season!

Visitors enjoyed meeting the chickens and ducks, pretending to collect eggs, processing wheat grown at the farm, and taking an educational hayride with Jeff Miller from Sandhill Family Farms.

Thank you for supporting the farmers growing local food including Duck Tail Farm, Radical Root Farm, Sandhill Family Farms, Yaw-Ye Farms. on Sat., May 14, 2016!

Stay tuned to this email newsletter for information about upcoming 2016 events, including our Organic Plant Sale & Farm Open House on May 14!

About the Prairie Crossing Farm

The Prairie Crossing Farm is a working organic farm nestled inside the Prairie Crossing community in Grayslake, Illinois. The Prairie Crossing Farm is owned by the Liberty Prairie Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

The Foundation operates a variety of programs at the Prairie Crossing Farm to advance our mission. The Farm Business Development Center, an incubator program, prepares beginning farmers to meet the demand for locally-grown organic food in the Chicago region. The independently-owned Prairie Crossing Farm businesses serve customers throughout the Chicago region.

The 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. Educational programming includes the Prairie Farm Corps youth development program, seasonal events, and more.

www.libertyprairie.org

32400 North Harris Road
Grayslake, IL 60030