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CRAFT FIELD DAY: THIS SUNDAY! Vegetable Production II - Brassicas
Date: THIS SUNDAY! June 11th
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 PM, followed by a potluck;
please bring a dish to pass
Location: Turtle Creek Gardens, N5105 Pinnow Rd, Delavan, WI 53115
Host: Janet Gamble
Cost: FREE to CRAFT Members! $20 for non-CRAFT members, register
here.
Turtle Creek Gardens is a certified organic farm with an emphasis on regenerative farming practices and holistic management and biodynamic principles. We farm 15 acres of vegetables, custom graze cattle for the Zinniker farm and raise pasture pigs. Our markets include CSA, direct to restaurants and stores, farmers market and farm store sales.
The field day will cover a tour of our farm and some of the projects we are employing such as: mob grazing, water mitigation and general layout of fields and animal integration. Our production focus will cover growing and handling broccoli for our mixed markets. Broccoli has become one of our major crops we grow continuously through the growing season. We will take you through our cultural and handling practices for this highly perishable crop that ensures us for a nearly continuous supply from June-November. Topics will include rotations, variety selection, disease and insect prevention techniques specific to our conditions we face. We'll finish off the day with a potluck and conversation.
Please RSVP (members) or register (non-members) ASAP!
Non-members: if you register online AFTER Thursday, June 8th, please be prepared to show confirmation you have paid.
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CRAFT FIELD DAY: Pasture-Raised Livestock in the
Chicago Suburbs
Date: Sunday, August 20th
Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM, potluck at noon with burgers! Please bring a dish to pass.
Location: All Grass Farm, 18N681 IL Route 31, Dundee, IL
Host: Cliff McConville
Cost: FREE to CRAFT members! $20 for non-CRAFT members, register here.
Spend a day touring the diverse operations of All Grass Farms, a 150 acre farm on leased public land located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago just north of I-90. Tour the new grass fed beef pasture with high-tensile fencing constructed in 2016, innovative portable broiler and layer shelters moved daily to fresh grass, chick brooder operation in hoophouse, and pasture rotations for the Guernsey dairy herd. Also tour the historic dairy barn renovated with a modern milk parlor and egg washing equipment, as well as an on-farm retail store. The farm also includes an integrated vegetable operation serving CSA customers.
The field day starts at 10:00 AM with a break for lunch at noon. We'll then finish up by 3:00 PM. Grass fed burgers, buns, and fixings supplied by farm, please bring a side dish, appetizer, or dessert to share.
Please RSVP (members) or register (non-members) by Thursday, August 17th. Those who RSVP will be informed of any last minute changes to field days, therefore it is in your best interest to RSVP.
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WORKSHOPS: Starting a Food Business, Food Photography, E-Commerce, & More!
From: The Hatchery
Starting a Food Business
Location: 320 N. Damen Avenue, First floor, Chicago, IL
Start your food business today! The Hatchery is offering an introductory course to help you launch a successful food and beverage company. Learn all about the food entrepreneurship space as well as required licensing, certification, financing and branding. Each attendee will receive a business basics checklist to get started on the right track.
Picture Perfect- Food Photography Workshop
Location: 320 N. Damen Avenue, First floor, Chicago, IL
Photographs can make or break a food business especially when it comes to e-commerce. Jeff Delacruz, the author of "The Ultimate DIY Guide to Beautiful Product Photography" will show you how to photograph your own products using window light and navigate the complex world of hiring a professional to do it for you. For more information, click here.
Revival Food Hall Artisan Market
Date: Saturday, June 17th
Location:
Revival Food Hall,
125 S Clark St,
Chicago, IL
The Hatchery & Revival Food Hall have teamed up for a specialty artisan market this summer! Sponsored by Groupon, this event will highlight unique products produced right here in Chicago including fashion, cosmetics, floral, and, of course, FOOD! Join us at this free event where you can get access to a variety of specialty crafted, local treats all under one roof.
E-Commerce: Legal Tips to Running a Successful Food Business Online
Location
:
320 N. Damen Avenue, First floor, Chicago, IL
Having an online presence can increase profits and exposure. As you start or continue to build out an e-commerce platform for your food business, it is important to note all of the potential legal risks. This seminar will discuss the common legal issues that food businesses face and how to better navigate the online shopping space.
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WORKSHOP: Cool Tools in Action
Date: Sunday, July 16th
Time: 2:00 - 5:00 PM
Location: 6961 Hwy 97, Athens, WI
Cost: FREE
See, handle, and discuss an array of vegetable planting and cultivation equipment for all scales. Everything from the humble BCS walk-behind to the latest Japanese cultivation equipment will be on hand to inspect and test drive. Highlights of the equipment list include the new Tuff-bilt tractor which is designed specifically for vegetable farm cultivation; a straw spreader; a plastic mulch layer for the BCS; and a new Japanese hand torsion weeder like you have never seen before (skip to 1:30 in the video link to see it in action).
Stacey and Tenzin Botsford of Red Door Family Farm will host this event and prepare a bed or two for us to work in. In addition to Red Door's equipment, Kat Becker of Cattail Organics and Stoney Acres Farm, John Hendrickson of Small Farm Works, and Loraine Dryak with Tuff-bilt will all provide equipment ranging from large tractor-drawn pieces to unique hand-scale tools.
Attendees should also bring a tool to share, anything from seeders to weeders to carts that can be easily transported. Please RSVP and include a tool you can bring. We need a minimum of 15 RSVPs to make this event happen, so sign up soon!
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WORKSHOP: Explore Your Dream of Becoming a Farmer! Veteran Farm Dreams - Caledonia, IL
From: Angelic Organics Learning Center (AOLC) & Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC)
Date: Saturday, August 26th
Time: 1:00 - 5:00 PM
Sign Up Today! This workshop is for veterans and is FREE.
*Registration is required as space is limited. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
In this interactive workshop, you will learn about sustainable farming in the region, take part in a series of self-assessments, and be better prepared to pursue a farming business. The day will also include a panel discussion where attendees can ask esteemed veteran farmers about the development and success of their farm businesses. Bring your questions!
"The most useful piece of this training was interacting with other like-minded individuals, knowing I'm not alone in this dream!"
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EVENT: Goat-A-Palooza TOMORROW!
From: GlennArt Farm
Date: TOMORROW Saturday, June 10th
Time: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: GlennArt Farm,
5749 W. Midway Park, Chicago, IL
Cost: FREE - $20/yoga class
To register for goat yoga, click here.
Goat-A-Palooza 2017 is nigh!
The event offers the public lots of rare opportunities including hands-on goat milking, goat yoga, and the chance to name our baby goats!
Event Schedule:
8:00 - 10:00 AM | Milking at the Farm
10:00 AM | Goat Yoga ($20 fee)
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Fun & Frolicking - FREE!
3:00 PM | Goat Yoga ($20 fee)
For more details, click
here.
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EVENT: Closed Loop Food Fest
From: Plant Chicago
Date: Saturday, July 29th
Time: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Location: The Plant, 1400 West 46th St, Chicago, IL
Cost: $10 suggested donation, $5 for Back of the Yards residents
Join Plant Chicago for our annual summer celebration of delicious food,
excellent music, and (of course) closing waste loops! The event will take
place in The Plant's back yard. In addition to the fest, we'll have our
regular Farmers Market going on from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM.
For more information, click here.
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EDUCATION: Organic Vegetable Production Online Class
From: UMass Amherst
Dates: Monday, July 10th - Friday, August 18th
Enrollment for our online course, STOCKSCH 320 - Organic Vegetable Production is now open! This 6-week, 3-credit summer session class will
provide an overview of cultural practices for vegetables, pest, disease and weed control, greenhouse production and construction, irrigation practices, as well as harvesting and marketing techniques. By the end of this course, students will understand that successful organic vegetable production relies on more than producing vegetables; it requires managing money, people, and natural resources effectively.
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WEBINAR: Modern Marketing and Merchandising Essentials
From: U of I Extension
Date: Monday, June 12th
Time: noon - 1:00 PM
Cost: FREE
Presenter:
Andy Larson, MBA, Local Food and Small Farms Educator, University of Illinois Extension
Learn from a pro on how to draw shoppers to your market booth and increase sales. Build your brand and boost sales by having a booth that catches the eye, products that appeal to the senses, and customer service that surpasses expectations. Plus, we'll talk about how this process can start well before market day with a strategic social media presence.
To learn more, click here.
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WEBINAR: Farm Finances: Crafting a Simple Balance Sheet
From: The Land Connection
Date: Wednesday, June 28th
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 PM CST
Cost: FREE
Discover the power of the balance sheet in this live webinar. In collaboration with the Land Stewardship Project, we will walk participants through the various components of a balance sheet, how to interpret each line, and ways that a balance sheet is useful to your farm business.
If you can't make it live, check back for the posted recording!
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WEBINAR: In Her Boots Podcast
From: MOSES Rural Women's Project
The MOSES Rural Women's Project offers a new new podcast series, In Her Boots: Wisdom from Women Who Farm, to bring ideas and inspiration directly to your earbuds while you're working in the field this season. This podcast features interviews and insights from seasoned and successful women farmers, including In Her Boots workshop hosts.
The podcast kicks off with Kathy Zeman of Simple Harvest Farm Organics in Nerstrand, Minn. Hosted by Lisa Kivirist, coordinator of the MOSES Rural Women's Project, these podcasts give you a seat at Kathy's kitchen table as she shares her farm story. Kathy also talks about cover crops, farming as a solo operator, and the challenges and opportunities of farming female.
Click here to listen to this season's episodes.
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RESOURCE: Red Clover - Antibiotic Alternative for Cattle?
From: Cornell Small Farms Program
Are you looking for an antibiotic alternative for your cattle? A compound found in a common forage plant may help to reduce use of growth-promoting antibiotics in cattle, goats, sheep, and other ruminants. Scientists in Lexington, Kentucky have discovered a natural antimicrobial compound, biochanin A, in red clover. The compound may be able to inhibit and kill a group of "protein-wasting" bacteria in ruminants that is typically treated with antibiotics. Results from field trials show that cattle given feed mixed with biochanin A show levels of the compound which kills wasteful bacteria and promotes weight gain in animals. For more information, visit this article.
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RESOURCE: What You Can Tell by Looking at - And Touching - Your Soil
From: Cornell Small Farms Program
If you are outside and want to know something about the soil you are working with, and don't have any fancy equipment, you can still conduct meaningful research on your soil using your eyes and hands. Learn more about your soil's pH, structure, and organic matter content with these quick tricks. These simple at-home tests give you valuable knowledge about your soil. Doing these tests before your planting season, and amending your soil accordingly, can bring you healthier produce and yard plants.
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LAND OPPORTUNITY: 18 Acre Farm - Southwest MI
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11249 Lange Road, Bridgman, MI 49106
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For Sale: Small 18 acre farm in beautiful Southwest MI.
Located just 3 miles from Lake
Michigan and Warren Dunes State Park.
For more details and a picture gallery, click here.
Land:
- Grape vines, berries, & fruit trees previously grown successfully
- 14 tillable acres, divided into 8 acre and 6 acre plots
- 8 acres previously leased to grow corn & soy
- 6 acres hasn't been tilled due to excess moisture
- Can now be used as pasture or field tiles to improve drainage
- Approx. 400' of wooded road frontage on dead end road
- 1 aluminum storage shed
House:
- 3 bedrooms
- 1 bath with 1,570 square feet
- Unfinished basement with unfinished 1/2 bath
- Forced air heat with city water and sewer
Asking price: $190,000.
Call Jacque White at 847-989-7461 for more information or click here.
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JOB OPPORTUNITY:
Seasonal Part-Time Help - Brightflower Farm, Stockton, IL
Seeking seasonal part time help on a flower farm on Sundays from 8am-2pm. Additional hours may be available during the week. Must have own transportation, must be able to work outside in all types of weather, must be familiar with flower industry. $10 to start, first raise possible after a 2 week probationary period. Email credentials to jeaniem@brightflowerfarm.com.
Brightflower Farm
650 N Stockton Rd
Stockton, IL 61085
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JOB OPPORTUNITY:
Farm Hand - Tempel Farms Organics, Old Mill Creek, IL
Tempel Farms Organics is seeking farm help this season. This is a paid position that includes weekly vegetables. Please send resumes to Mike Morrison at
info@tempelfarmsorganics.com.
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JOB OPPORTUNITY:
APPLICATIONS DUE TODAY!
Executive Director, Advocates for Urban Agriculture - Chicago, IL
Hi all,
As some of you may have already heard, after 5 1/2 years of working with AUA to support and expand urban agriculture in Chicago, I will be stepping down as AUA's executive director in early June so I can dedicate my time and energy to developing a fruit and vegetable growing operation in tandem with educational and charitable programming in my new home of SW Michigan.
Which means that the search is now on for a new executive director -- please click here to see the job description and apply.
I'm going to miss working closely with Chicago's urban ag community, but I have the feeling that there will continue to be opportunities to collaborate in my new position. I'm also very excited to see how AUA will grow and evolve under new leadership -- we've seen some very encouraging developments over the last few months that I think will set the stage for major growth and innovation in Chicago's urban agriculture movement. It's a great time to be a part of it all!
Best regards,
Billy Burdett, Executive Director
Advocates for Urban Agriculture
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SEEKING:
Survey Respondents
From: University of Minnesota & Future iQ
T
he University of Minnesota and Future iQ are collaborating to explore the future of Midwest agriculture. This survey is open to all stakeholders and people who have an interest in the future of Midwest Agriculture, which covers the major agricultural areas of the central parts of USA and Canada. We want to hear your insights and perspectives about the future of this region, and its communities, landscape and industries.
For more information and to take part in the survey, click here.
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FOR SALE:
Equipment & Popping Corn - Sandhill Family Farms, Brodhead, WI
2007 Isuzu NPR 14' Refrigerated Truck - $18,950
Aluminum lift gate, 14,500GVW, 234,xxx miles, power locks, power windows, automatic, cruise control, engine brake, electric standby on reefer, roll-up rear door, curbside door, LED box lights. Very dependable, clean and properly maintained. Over the last 4 years used to deliver CSA and market produce - very, very easy to drive.
IH 140 - $4,650
It's time to start cultivating! Standard, offset gas cultivating tractor SN17248J. We've used regularly since 2004 to stale bed and cultivate our vegetable crops. Front and rear lifts - rear has been converted to Cat1 3pt. hitch and 12v electric. Also available - side dresser ($525) and rear toolbar with tools ($500). A very dependable tractor that we have relied on for years - Makes a great package!
5' variable speed conveyor - $500
12" wide, was wired with foot switch which has since been cut off. Very sturdy on casters.
Popping Corn on the Cob - $65 per 150 count crate
2016 Robust organic popcorn on the cob for sale. Beautiful golden ears are 6"-9" long, ready to pop and tasty! Can be picked up in Brodhead, WI or Rockton, IL.
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