topp
September 27,  2016
header_2
 
In this Weekly Harvest:     
So you have milk and are thinking of turning it into money, but you need help knowing where to start. We're teaming up with experts Leslie Cooperband and Wes Jarrell of Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery to bring you answers to your milk selling questions. 

The morning session will address the legal aspects of selling and handling milk. Milk is one of the most regulated commodities farmers produce. Navigating the legal hurdles is daunting, but possible. This three-hour session will tell you all you need to know about storing, handling, processing, and selling milk on-farm, at markets, and wholesale.

The afternoon session covers three dairy topics: Milk handling and processing equipment,Feed rations and its effect on milk production, and the balancing act of economic decision making in your business.

Sunday, December 4, 9am-4pm 
Register for the full-day for $75 or a half-day for $40. 
Lunch is included with full-day registration.  Click  here  to learn more.
market 
Market Corner
We're in for a gorgeous fall day at the  Champaign Farmers' Market . We'll be celebrating in the Sampling Tent with two delectable apple recipes from Chef Alisa and special guest Chef Ann Swanson from Hendrick House. Stop by for a Secrets of a Seasonal Cook taste while you shop!

The Developmental Services Center will be in the Community Tent with info on this weekend's Oktoberfest celebration. You can also learn more from the U of I Vet Med college about their Open House this Sunday


We'll also have a treat for Star Wars fans, with a special guest joining us at 5:30, courtesy of our local R2 Builders Club!


This week you'll find:

  • Butternut squash
  • Apples
  • Green beans
  • Wax beans
  • Tomatoes
  • Potatoes 
  • Lettuce
  • Hungarian wax peppers
  • Chard
  • Kale
  • Collard greens
  • Summer squash
  • Spaghetti squash
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Onions
  • Peppers
  • Garlic
  • Shallots
  • Pumpkins
  • Raspberries
  • Zucchini
  • Cucumber
  • Eggplant
  • Fresh herbs
  • Dried herbs
  • Apple cider
  • Apple butter
  • Popsicles
  • Cider doughnuts
  • Bread
  • Baked goods
  • Apple cider
  • Maple syrup
  • Jams
  • Jellies
  • Honey
As always, the Champaign Farmers' Market accepts Link, and we'll double your benefits up to $20 each weekRSVP to our Facebook event page to get vendor updates and share your market experience.

All this and more from 4-7 this afternoon. Come enjoy yet another gorgeous afternoon with us at the Market and load up on fresh local food!
farmfnFarm Fresh Now! Recipe of the Week


If you grew up in Illinois, you were probably like me and okra never crossed your mind-or plate. The fact is that I never laid eyes on an okra plant or ate an okra pod until my brother started growing it on his central Illinois farm. Now I pluck it off the tall beautiful flowering plants and eat it raw, stir fried, or sauteed with fresh tomatoes and sweet corn.

Visit us at the market today to pick up your free  recipe card  and nutrition card! Find all of our Farm Fresh Now! recipes on our website!

WorkshopsWorkshops, Field Days, and Grant Opportunities
THE LAND CONNECTION WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS

Central Illinois Farm Beginnings
Classes start October 22
Applications are open for our year-long farmer training program. Now entering its 12th year of creating successful farm businesses, Central Illinois Farm Beginnings (CIFB) gives aspiring farmers the opportunity to write a plan for the development of their farm business over the course of nine winter classes and with the guidance of expert farmers from the region. After the completion of the coursework, students are matched with a mentor farmer as they begin their first year of production. Scholarships are available for this course and now is the time to apply! Learn more and apply online here!

The Artisan Cup and Fork 
October 23, 2016
Artisan Cup & Fork is downstate Illinois' premier food competition: Farm to table chefs combine with family owned farms to prepare one signature dish. We then pair those seasonally inspired creations with an artisan brewer or cider maker to offer eight truly unique culinary experiences.  Learn more about the competition and buy tickets here.

Small Dairy Intensive
Sunday, December 4, 9am-4pm 
We're teaming up with experts Leslie Cooperband and Wes Jarrell of Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery to bring you answers to your milk selling questions.  Two sequential half-day workshops lead you through legal regulations, milk handling equipment, feed formulations for milk quality, and the economics of bringing milk from the udder to the table. The content will cover information for both cow and goat operations.   Lunch is included with full-day registration.  Click here to learn more.

Managing Risk in Organic Grain Farming - Workshop Series
This series of workshops is designed to help you manage risk in organic grain production, marketing, and financing. The four-workshop series started in J uly and runs through February. Each workshop costs $25 to register, or $75 to register for all four. Learn more about the workshops and register here.

GRANTS

Honeybee Conservancy Invites Applications for Beekeeping Materials
The  Honeybee Conservancy  is inviting applications for in-kind grants designed to help nonprofit organizations or schools safely set up, maintain, and observe on-site bee sanctuaries in schools, community gardens, and green spaces across the United States.  Learn more about the funding opportunity here.

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS

Local Flavors Dinners
Champaign-Urbana:
October 20th:Timpone's Restaurant
Bloomington-Normal: 
October 20th: Dinner at Anju Above
Springfield:
October 20th: Dinner at American Harvest
Peoria: 
October 20th: TBD

Enjoy farm-fresh meals at your favorite restaurants during the Local Flavors 2016 farm-to-table restaurant series. Local Flavors dinners will be held on the third  Thursday of each month, June through October in Champaign, Springfield, Bloomington-Normal, and Peoria.  Stop by any participating restaurant on their scheduled date during their regular business hours. Each restaurant will prepare a Local Flavor Menu of three or more items featuring ingredients sourced directly from central Illinois farmers.

The series opens new markets for small farmers; highlights restaurants with a commitment to sourcing locally; and gives YOU a chance to support local farmers, local restaurants, and sustainable farming while savoring the finest flavors of central Illinois. Learn more here!

1st Annual Wool Conference & 6th Annual Sheep & Fiber Farm Tour
October 7, 2016
Falcon Heights, MN
Bloog Of Balance and Community
This morning I woke to the first crisp air of the fall. It is a welcome shift from the blazing heat of a summer out of place. The mixed signals from the Earth have had me off balance this month. The waning day length, the blooming goldenrod, the smell of browning leaves have all signaled that autumn is upon us. Yet, the summer's heat persisted. A good farmer will tell you, after years of working with the land, your rhythms sync with her. She tells you when its time to plow, to plant, to weed, to harvest. Farming is timing.  Read the rest of Mallory's blog here.

agnews Agriculture in the News:
Something you should know
The Land Connection has moved!  Our new address is 206 N. Randolph Street, Suite 400, Champaign, IL  61820
 
Something you should do
Call Governor Rauner at ( 312) 814-2121  and tell him to please apply for the SNAP waiver now.  If allowed to expire, nearly 260,000 people in Illinois could lose SNAP (food stamp) benefits.  

Something to be happy about
The Land Connection Champaign Farmers' Market was rated as a best in class farmers market during American Farmland Trust's Farmers Market Celebration!

HAVE SOMETHING? NEED SOMETHING? 
You can post your ad or search for more listings in the  classifieds section  o f our website. To have something listed in the Weekly Harvest, email us at info@thelandconnection.org or call 217-840-2128.

Employment Opportunities:

FAMILYFARMED - OFFICE MANAGER 
Reporting to the President, the Office Manager is the operational contact for FamilyFarmed and is responsible for bookkeeping as well as supporting the administrative needs of the organization, staff, programs, events and project teams. The Office Manager performs general office administration tasks, provides administrative and program assistance, and serves as the human relations function.  Learn more here.

HARVEST MARKET CHAMPAIGN - GENERAL OPENINGS
The Harvest Market Mission is to bring our customers and associates closer to the land, closer to our farmers and makers in order to help them make good food choices.  We believe in the genuineness of family-owned farms and farm families and promise to deliver great tasting food with integrity and transparency.   Learn more about employment opportunities  here .

FARM HAND - SOLA GRATIA FARM
Sola Gratia Farm is a mission-based farm enterprise dedicated to producing locally-grown, high-quality, natural produce. Along with selling its produce through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and other markets, the farm is committed to helping those who lack adequate food resources by donating at least ten percent of its produce to support regional hunger programs, such as the Eastern Illinois Food Bank.

Farm hands will participate in all aspects of production. This includes greenhouse seeding, field planting, hand and mechanical weeding, harvesting, wash/pack, and distribution to the community. Farm hands will be working side-by-side with volunteers, and in some cases may be leading crews, so good people skills and ability to lead by example is important. More hours and financial bonuses may be available to people who do good work and are willing and able to take on more responsibility.  To apply, please send a cover letter to solagratiacsa@gmail.com  or Sola Gratia Farm, 2200 South Philo Rd, Urbana, IL, 61801. 

PROJECT COORDINATOR:   
We are seeking farm crew members to start immediately that have at least 1 year of experience on a farm. This is a paid, full-time position with room and board available.  
Knowledge of farm equipment, mechanical work and/or animal care is helpful and a great attitude is a must. 
 
 
 
 
INTERNS & CREW MEMBERS :  
We are seeking interns/crew members to start immediately. This is a paid, full-time position with room and board available.   No experience is necessary, but experience in physical labor or mechanical work and animal care is helpful and a great attitude is a must. 

For more information and to apply, contact Julie Larson at  jlarsen@mintcreekfarm.com.

APPRENTICE - PRAIRIERTH FARM - ATLANTA, IL
Do you want to farm?  Do you have land but not the skills to tend to it?  Have you wondered what it would be like to spend a summer growing food for a community surrounding a farm?  

Our apprenticeship is designed to give individuals with the desire to farm and grow food an opportunity to do that on a production scale to make a living.  We offer housing & monthly stipend in exchange for a full season commitment. 

INTERNSHIP - COOK FARM
We raise mixed produce for CSA, farmer's markets and wholesale customers.  We'll work side-by-side from seed to sale in hopes that you finish the season with a solid grasp of what it takes to run a small farm. Interns are expected to work quickly and efficiently in good and bad weather, to ask questions, and to learn from mistakes. Stipend starting @ $800/month and food from the farm as well as shared housing for the right candidate.
Full-time and part-time positions available. Contact Dylan at dylanrcook@gmail.com!

FARM HAND - BLUE MOON FARM - URBANA, IL
We are hiring for farm hands. This is part-time work starting in May or June running into December. You would be doing all kinds of manual labor: harvesting, weeding, washing, occasional transplanting and general cleanup. The benefits are hard to beat: lots of produce, exercise, and interesting people to talk to. No experience needed. For an application, visit our website. Please fill it out and send to:  bluemoonfarmurbana@gmail.com.

FARMERS MARKET SALES ASSOCIATE - JONES COUNTRY GARDENS
This is a part-time job opportunity to work with Jones Country Gardens of Pontiac, Illinois. One day per week the employee will work in a group setting for the duration of Urbana's Market at the Square 2016. The Farmers' Market Sales Associate will gain experience operating a farmers' market stand at one of the oldest and busiest farmers' markets in the State of Illinois. The position will involve a high level of engagement with coworkers and customers in the midst of the hustle-and-bustle of the farmers' market.

I n collaboration with the Produce Manager and other staff, the Farmers' Market Sales Associate will work to market fresh produce, flowers, potting and bedding plants, eggs and frozen meats. Responsibilities will include:  Helping with setup and teardown of the stand,  assisting with display and marketing aspects of the operation,  engaging and conversing with customers and p rocessing transactions. Please email a brief cover letter and resume to jonescountrygardens@yahoo.com, including "Farmers' Market Position" in the subject line. Feel free to contact our Produce Manager, Bryce Davis, with any questions at 815-674-8235.

Land, Equipment, and Other:

SEEKING John Deere 2025R or 2032R with H130 BUCKET
Organic specialty cut flower farm seeking JD 2025R or 2032R with H130 bucket and implements - tiller, manure spreader and bed shaper.  Email Ali at  hiddenhiveflowers@gmail.com or call 773-841-4415 

NEW HOLLAND 1034 BALE WAGON (Mechanical hay loader/stacker)
A pull type wagon that can mechanically pick small square hay bales up out of the field and stack them into pallets of 100 bales that can be moved with a forklift. Always shedded while I've owned them, since 1999. I've quit raising hay. Two available. Asking $5,000 each, obo. 100 pallets also available. Pictures available here. Contact Brian Severson at  815-584-1850 or email  brian@qualityorganic.com.

ARTHUR, IL - PIGS FOR SALE
Selling at least 8 pastured, non-GMO fed, antibiotic-free pigs for around $1 a pound. Also available are a few  Red wattles which are antibiotic free, grown outside and will sell for 85 cents per pound. If you are interested contact Ammon Troyer at (217) 543-2979.

FARM FOR SALE CLINTONVILLE, WI - $60,000
Small organic farm in Clintonville, Wisconsin. Chemical free for more than 15 years. Two tillable acres on quiet property (~ 4 acres) located on the wooded banks of the Pigeon River Watershed. Perfect for family who wants to enjoy nature, grow their own vegetables and fruits (apple and pear trees on property), fish and hunt, and live near a small community. Used for market gardens. Room to build a house. Two car garage, electricity, drilled well, septic system, greenhouse (house?) foundation, large compost bins on farm. Call 920-788-2445 or email gmn5rck@gmail.com.

LAND USE OPPORTUNITY:  2.5 acres on north side of Aurora, IL
Landowner is making land available for garden/farm use. Has been in grass
since 1981. Located near Indian Trail and Mitchell Road. Call owner Bill
Robinson at  (630) 927-0519.
Thank you to all the sponsors, donors, and supporters that make the daily operations and programs of The Land Connection possible. We couldn't do it without you!
    
     
       
                          


         


       
 And thanks to all of our 2016 Market Sponsors!









    
 Emmanuel Memorial Episcopal Church




STONE COURT FARM