Putting Small Acres to Work

The University of Illinois Extension local foods and small farms team is sponsoring a series of workshops on a variety of topics to help people who have a few acres learn ways that they can put them to use.

“Putting Small Acres to Work” workshops will be offered between Nov. 1, 2014 and March 7, 2015 at locations throughout Illinois. Topics and presenters will vary at each location, but will include: season extension, vegetable and fruit production, livestock production, choosing scale-appropriate equipment, soil health, beekeeping, herb production, agroforestry, organic production, integrated pest management, and composting.

Workshops will be held on the following dates:

• Nov. 1 - Sauk Valley Community College, Dixon
• Dec. 6 - NIU Rockford Meeting and Conference Center, Rockford
• Dec. 6 - Tony Noel Agricultural Technology Applications Center at Parkland College, Champaign
• Jan. 21 - Franklin County Extension Office, Benton
• February 14 - John Wood Community College, Quincy
• March 7 - Lincoln Land Community College, Hillsboro

For the Nov. 1st session:

We will begin the day at 9am with our keynote presentation on resource management and soil health.

Participants can choose two breakout sessions which include:

• Organic Overview: Information and Resources on Principles, Practices and Certification.
• Integrated Pest Management
• Beekeeping: Is It For Me And You?
• Raising Backyard Chickens Right
• Growing Herbs For Sale
• Introduction to Composting

 The fees are $30.00 per person or $40.00 per couple which include lunch and handout material.  Register by October 27 at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/clw  If you have questions or need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, contact our unit office at 815-835-2070.

For information on other sessions:

Details and registration are available online at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/smallfarm/puttingsmallacrestowork.html or by phone: 217-782-4617 or email: cvnghgrn@illinois.edu.