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Learn About a CSA Fair, a Climate Change Webinar, and Opportunities
Chicago Region's McHenry County College Seeks Local Farmers to Table at February 8 CSA Fair
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a system by which local food lovers subscribe to regularly receive product shares directly from individual farmers. It's a practice that enshrines the slogan of "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food."
Winter is the crucial time for CSA farmers who are seeking to add new customers, and a CSA Fair — planned for Saturday, February 8 at McHenry County College in the outer Chicago suburb of Crystal Lake — aims to help.
The event is a partnership of the college's Center for Agrarian Learning and The Land Conservancy of McHenry College, and they are seeking CSA farms that serve customers in McHenry County to participate in the event:
Our vision for the day is that each farm will have a table, personed by the farmer or a farm friend/employee, promoting their CSA. Simultaneously, we will be showing two 30-minute films on food and agriculture, one geared towards young audiences and one geared towards adults, in rotation. That way, folks can catch a short movie and peruse your tables as their schedules allow.
Specifics
Saturday, February 8, 2025
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Set up at 12:00 p.m.
No fee to exhibit, but a commitment to attend is necessary
Table provided. Brochure drop-off option, too.
NOTE: Participating farms must offer CSA pick-up or delivery options within McHenry County.
Applications to table must be received by this coming Friday (January 10). Click below to access the application form.
Farmers Rising's Farming in the Climate Change Era Online Series Resumes January 9
Farmers Rising, the farmer training non-profit based in Caledonia, Illinois, is resuming its online Farming in the Climate Change Era education series on Thursday (January 9) after a holiday break.
The session, which will run from 6 to 8 p.m. central, is titled Identifying and Preparing for Emerging Disease and Pest Pressures. According to the organizers:
Dr. Kacie Athey will discuss specialty crops and how to Identify and Prepare for Emerging Disease and Pest Pressures. Dr. Athey’s research contributes to the understanding of non-chemical insect control within specialty crops systems.mHer research combines field research with molecular gut content analysis to study practical insect control applications and arthropod food webs.
This is the fourth segment of six in the series, with subsequent programs scheduled for January 23 and February 6.
Click the button below to learn more and register.
Job Opportunities in the Good Food Sector
The following are job openings that I've gleaned from various sources. Did I miss yours? Please click the button below and send me your information.
American Farmland Trust is hiring an Illinois Watershed Coordinator who will take an active role in supporting the development and execution of the regional farmer-led soil health and water quality programming occurring in East Central Illinois initially, with the potential for expansion across Illinois. Click here to learn more and apply for this and other opportunities with American Farmland Trust.
Just Roots is a farm non-profit, based on Chicago's South Side, that works in collaboration with communities to develop and expand access to local, sustainably grown food. They are currently seeking to fill two positions that will be located, beginning in March, at their It Takes a Village Community Farm in south suburban Chicago's Sauk Village. Click here to learn about the Program Coordinator position, and click here to learn about the Farm Lead position.
The Land Connection is hiring an Operations Coordinator, Organic Grain Mentorship Coordinator, and a Farmland Access Navigator – Southern Illinois. Click here to learn more and apply.