Illinois Small Farms

Celebrate local foods - join the University of Illinois Extension for a three-course dinner at KiKi B's in the Edgebrook Center. The menu will feature local produce, meats, cheese and wine. Meet the farmers behind the food. To purchase tickets contact the U of I Extension Office at 815-986-4357. Or register online at https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/ ?RegistrationID=1956.

Time: 6:00 pm

Join us in Macomb for the third annual Consider Organic Farming workshop offered by the University of Illinois Extension. This year’s workshop theme is ‘Management and Marketing.’ Past themes focused on ‘Organic Crop Production Systems’ – general considerations for transitioning into organic production, and ‘Tools for Success’ – organic pest control products, cover crops for fertility, marketing resources for organic producers, and economic returns from organic farming. Past workshops have featured area speakers from Extension, Western Illinois University, and professionals from the agricultural industry and the private sector. Small panels gave participants the opportunity to speak with organic producers first hand, and small group sessions allowed participants to discuss and solve problems with other producers. For more information, contact Loretta Ortiz-Ribbing at the University of Illinois Extension, Macomb Center Office at ortizrib@uiuc.edu.

Quincy Steamboat Company, in concert with University of Illinois Extension, is hosting a series of locally-grown dinners that celebrate the uniqueness of each season. Held in the ever-popular Quincy Steamboat Company, the celebrations will highlight the culinary talents of Sondra Bartley and Clyde Nall and a seasonal menu featuring foods produced by local and regional farmers. Diners will also have the opportunity to meet some of the farmers who grow or raise the food highlighted at each dinner.

Each dinner will include appetizers followed by a three course dinner. The dinners will be accompanied by coffee and tea and diners may bring their own wine and spirits to enjoy with the meal. A very limited number of tickets are available for each dinner and the cost is $40 per person. Tickets for each of the dinners may be purchased at University of Illinois Extension at 330 S. 36th St. in Quincy or on-line at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/adamsbrown/index.html. Checks should be made payable to University of Illinois Extension.

Time: 6:30 pm

Vegetable growers, Certified Crop Advisors, and residents can improve their crop pest scouting and trouble shooting skills by participating in this workshop being offered by the University of Illinois Extension at the Springfield Extension Office. This intensive one-day workshop will introduce Integrated Pest Management, discuss alternative and organic pest control methods, provide hands-on vegetable pest identification, and discuss scouting tools and techniques, pesticide safety, and worker protection standards. As part of the course participants will receive a set of references to assist them with vegetable crop pest diagnosis, as well as hands-on training in insect, weed, disease, and other problem identification. Participants will benefit by improving their ability to correctly identify pests; receiving a good set of references to assist them in identification and evaluation of pest problems; becoming acquainted with the principles of IPM; learning alternative/organic control techniques; and having an opportunity to learn new skills in a supervised setting, thus increasing their confidence of these skills. The course instructor is Loretta Ortiz-Ribbing, Crop Systems Extension Specialist for the University of Illinois Extension. Date: TBA

A tour of the Starhill Forest Arboretum will demonstrate conservation efforts to protect indigenous species of trees and reduce invasive ones. Located on 48 acres in southern Menard County, IL, Starhill Forest Arboretum is a private arboretum owned and operated by Guy and Edie Sternberg since 1976. The primary scientific collection is a quercetum (oak) comprising the living reference collection recognized by the North American Plant Preservation Council. Farmers will gain a greater understanding of the importance of forestry conservation in its role in protecting the diversity of the farm. For more information, contact the Illinois Stewardship Alliance.

Quincy Steamboat Company, in concert with University of Illinois Extension, is hosting a series of locally-grown dinners that celebrate the uniqueness of each season. Held in the ever-popular Quincy Steamboat Company, the celebrations will highlight the culinary talents of Sondra Bartley and Clyde Nall and a seasonal menu featuring foods produced by local and regional farmers. Diners will also have the opportunity to meet some of the farmers who grow or raise the food highlighted at each dinner.

Each dinner will include appetizers followed by a three course dinner. The dinners will be accompanied by coffee and tea and diners may bring their own wine and spirits to enjoy with the meal. A very limited number of tickets are available for each dinner and the cost is $40 per person. Tickets for each of the dinners may be purchased at University of Illinois Extension at 330 S. 36th St. in Quincy or on-line at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/adamsbrown/index.html. Checks should be made payable to University of Illinois Extension.

Local Flavors: A Taste of the Seasons is part of the Locally Grown Program of University of Illinois Extension. Locally Grown is a comprehensive program to help develop a sustainable local food system. Locally Grown provides an approach to target all levels of the local food system network by creating learning opportunities and increasing availability of locally grown products for consumers. The project creates awareness and understanding between farmers and consumers resulting in a more sustainable food system. For more information call the U of I Extension office at 217-223-8380.

Time: 6:30 pm

Quincy Steamboat Company, in concert with University of Illinois Extension, is hosting a series of locally-grown dinners that celebrate the uniqueness of each season. Held in the ever-popular Quincy Steamboat Company, the celebrations will highlight the culinary talents of Sondra Bartley and Clyde Nall and a seasonal menu featuring foods produced by local and regional farmers. Diners will also have the opportunity to meet some of the farmers who grow or raise the food highlighted at each dinner.

Each dinner will include appetizers followed by a three course dinner. The dinners will be accompanied by coffee and tea and diners may bring their own wine and spirits to enjoy with the meal. A very limited number of tickets are available for each dinner and the cost is $40 per person. Tickets for each of the dinners may be purchased at University of Illinois Extension at 330 S. 36th St. in Quincy or on-line at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/adamsbrown/index.html. Checks should be made payable to University of Illinois Extension.

Time: 6:30 pm

Attend this day-long workshop to increase your awareness and knowledge of effective marketing. Speakers from around the country will share information on topics such as: Strengthening the Connection between Nutrition and Agriculture, Looking at the present and future Agriculture Economy, Farm to School programs marketing locally grown meat, Agritourism and more. The conference will be hosted by Iowa State University and sponsored by University of Illinois Extension, University of Missouri Extension and others. Registration fee will include a noon meal featuring localfoods. For more information, contact Detra Dettmann, Pathfinders RC&D.