Dave Bishop of PrairiErth Farm delivers a presentation on the importance of diversity in organic farming systems.
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Land Purchase and Sales Guide
Are you looking for farmland? learn the pros/cons of leasing and buying discover creative ways to find the right property get lists of helpful resources and step-by-step suggestions Are you a landowner? learn about all your options: long-term lease, sell with easement, and many more maintain income and flexibility for you or your estate find […]
Guide to Transitioning to Organic Grain Production in Illinois
Introduction Illinois is known for its soil, and the swath of drummer silty clay loam, or black dirt, running across central Illinois, is considered some of the most fertile in the world. Despite the exceptionally productive soil, most farmers use conventional methods that employ synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides. Those methods, coupled with plowing, […]
Season Extension: Marty Gray
Marty Gray is the co-owner of Gray Farms Produce in Watseka, IL. We interviewed him on an icy day in February 2015, just as his protected crops were beginning to put on new growth with the lengthening days. Marty took us through his high tunnels and indicated the many pieces of equipment and infrastructure that […]
Season Extension: Blue Moon Farm
Lorien Carsey is the farm manager and winter farmer at Blue Moon Farm in Urbana, IL. Signs of spring were just beginning to show when we interviewed Lorien in late March 2015. Lorien gave us a tour of the farm’s ten high tunnels and explained their extensive production system, which grows a variety of crops […]
Season Extension: Alisa Demarco
Alisa DeMarco is the executive chef at Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery in Champaign, IL. On a sunny day at the end of July 2015, we interviewed Alisa about the work she does to extend the season at the farm. The peach harvest was getting into full swing and pick-your-own customers had just left the […]
