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 […]
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 […]
Champaign County Area Restaurant Week Promotes Local Restaurants & Suppliers
by Terri Reifsteck, Visit Champaign County The 5th Annual Champaign County Area Restaurant Week: Takeout Edition is back to make an impact on the local food industry during this nine-day celebration, from January 29–February 6, though it will look a little different. Beginning in 2017, the Champaign County Area Restaurant Week became a notable […]
COVID and Our Connection to Food
by Elliot Brinkman, Executive Director of Prairie Rivers Network I remember the feeling well–it sat in the pit of my stomach, somewhere between dread and panic. I’m sure many of you felt it, too, when, in early spring, you arrived at the grocery store to find aisles packed with people, and once fully-stocked shelves decimated. […]
4th Annual Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day – Recap
The 4th Annual Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day is officially in the books! Yes, things were a bit different this year, and sure, we ran into some challenges, but it was all worth it to be able to talk cultivation and mechanical weed control for even just a few hours this September. Instead of […]
Sarah’s Kitchen Creations: Fall Harvest Grain Bowls
by Sarah Buckman, Common Ground Food Co-op As cooling weather falls upon us each October in Champaign-Urbana, I am always stunned by the bounty of local foods harvested this month. October straddles the last of summery heat-loving foods like our favorite nightshades all the while welcoming the harvest of cool-loving salad mixes, brassicas, and storage […]
