In this full-day workshop-style event, participants built their knowledge of weed management systems, viewed and tried a wide variety of tools, and learned from a weed management expert and experienced farmer peers right in the field. Attendees left with the strategies they needed to develop a detailed, comprehensive, and actionable plan for managing weeds on their farms.

As part of the modern homesteading series, Food Works of Southern Illinois teamed up with Illinois Extension to offer a beekeeping 101 course. This field day highlighted beekeeping as a multifaceted practice that offers numerous benefits to individuals, communities, and the environment. Participants learned about the valuable role bees play and the foundational knowledge needed for this rewarding practice.

Our community gathered for a free event at Main Street Pastures in St. Rose, IL, to learn about multi-species grazing and direct meat marketing. Attendees were educated on sustainable farming practices, the integration of different animal species into the grazing system, and the benefits of direct meat marketing. This event highlighted the importance of supporting local food systems and the positive impact of buying meat directly from small-scale farmers.

Noah Scalero from Beet Root Farm generously hosted a tour for our community, demonstrating his successful no-till methods for managing acreage and discussing how his team used crop planning to grow intensively for profit on a small scale. Attendees also learned from his experience in starting a farm from raw land. The event highlighted how farms like Beet Root, which provides over 30 varieties of produce to CSA members and local markets, are vital to our local food economy.

In addition, Food Works' own Ellen Esling was there to introduce the new Food Works Mobile Farmers Market. This new program was created to connect communities in the southern 13 counties with locally sourced, fresh foods, offering a crucial sales platform for local farmers while providing access to nutrient-dense food for communities with limited options.

Our community was grateful for the apple tree grafting workshop led by One Circle-Eco Farm and Scratch Brewery. It was a great learning experience where participants got the opportunity to discover the history and benefits of grafting, as well as watch demonstrations of several types of grafts.

During the workshop, we discussed how to cut scion wood, grow your own rootstock, and graft other types of fruit trees. It was an exciting day where we shared our love for apple trees and learned how to propagate them to access bio-regionally adapted apple genetics. Thank you to everyone who made it such a successful event!