By Joan Y. Jach My little corner of the world is small but mighty. It’s a deep lot in Old Town Champaign on a brick-paved street. All in all, it’s about ⅛ of an acre, including the house. What it lacks for in square footage, it provides in diversity and abundance. It’s mid-March and I […]
Growing a Farm One Bite at a Time
Tips on Expansion from a Central Illinois Flower Farm By Maggie Taylor, Delight Flower Farm “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time,” says Desmond Tutu. While I’m not eating an elephant or even growing veggies, I am taking on a project that is seemingly huge, heavy, and overwhelming, so this metaphor […]
Organic Farmers Need More Technical Advisors – OATS is Here to Help!
By Mallory Krieger, OATS National Program Director Navigating organic transition and managing certified organic production of grain crops is a complex undertaking full of challenges and potential pitfalls. Farmers who are considering organic production seek information wherever they can find it: field days, workshops, conferences, online forums, YouTube videos – the list goes on and […]
Love & Farming – A Letter from Molly & Ben Oberg
by Molly Oberg, Co-Owner of Meyer Produce It was the end of June, and I was just one month into my first summer season of working on the farm. Ben and I were newlyweds, and we were both working under Jeff Meyer – the owner of the farm at the time. We were taking a […]
Harden Bison Ranch – An In-Depth Look
I happen upon quite a few conversations every Saturday while making my rounds through the Winter Market. Most of those conversations are centered on local foods and what I appreciate most is that our local foodies are always interested in learning more about the products they are purchasing. The beauty of shopping at farmers markets, […]
What is the Black Oaks Center?
by Akin Carter, Co-Founder, Black Oaks Center Hello, my name is Akin Carter. I’m a 24-year-old regenerative farmer and co-founder of Black Oaks Center (BOC). BOC is a 501(c)3 founded in 2006 that focuses on facilitating communities in navigating a climate uncertain, resource-constrained future. Our four skill-building tracks at the heart of BOC are: Sustainable […]
