With the CSA Fair coming up this Saturday, we wanted to make sure that you had all of the information you might need regarding CSAs. The CSA Fair takes place during the Urbana Business Association’s Market IN the Square on Saturday, March 7. The CSA Fair allows community members to learn about the various Community […]
local food
Essential Market Ingredients
Submitted Thu, 08/23/2018 – 12:31pm This week’s blog entry is from a guest writer. If you are interested in your article or blog entry being featured on the TLC blog, contact [email protected]. By: Joy Garling Prud’homme Exactly four and a half weeks ago I moved from Champaign to Stillwater, Oklahoma. It’s been a busy time, […]
Farm to School – It’s Local and Important to Teach
by Dan Doeing, Agricultural Educator, Urbana High School I’m willing to admit that I don’t often think about where my food is grown. Even as the agricultural educator and FFA advisor at Urbana High School, considering where food is grown and how it got to my plate is typically not my first thought going into […]
Field Notes: Introduction
Hello! My name is Dale Mize, I am a second-year Ph.D. student in the history department at UIUC, and this summer the Humanities Research Institute Summer Bridge Program and The Land Connection have partnered up to allow me to develop a project as a venue for farmers to share their stories and experiences.
Field Notes: Part One – Savannah Ridge Farms
While driving through the country roads just south of Indianola, there are some common sights: rows and rows of corn and soybeans, land so flat you can see the curvature of the earth, and perhaps an occasional coyote, turkey, or deer loitering in the fields. But, if you take those one-track dirt roads far enough, you may eventually come across an unusual creature snacking in the fields of eastern Illinois, yaks. At this point, you will know you have come across Savannah Ridge Farms, a first-generation family farm owned and operated by Ron Bailey and his two sons, Shane and Colin.
Field Notes: Part Three – Crider Farms
After a quick stint on the interstate, I take Exit 159 toward Gibson City and drive among the corn and soybeans for a bit. Before too long, just off Route 54, I find one branch of Crider Farms, the sheep operation. This branch of the farm is run by Chris Crider, his wife Erin, and their two boys.
