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Stay connected with local happenings in food and agriculture

Announcements

Free Seed Swap

Event to be held at Ginger Creek Community Church on Sunday, March 5th

The first Annual Seed Swap will be held at Ginger Creek Community Church on Sunday, March 5, 2023. The church is located at 2850 Ginger Woods Parkway, Aurora, Il (off of Butterfield Road). The event will include a FREE drawing for a special gift.

Anyone with seeds to donate or questions about the event may contact Michelle DeRaedt at 630-318-0214. For complete details on the event, visit the program page on Facebook.

Funding Opportunities

Partners for Conservation Program

Cost-share program provides funding to implement conservation best management practices

The Kane-DuPage Soil & Water Conservation District (KDSWCD) is accepting applications for their Partners for Conservation cost-share program. Projects eligible for funding include best management practices, such as; cover crops, no-till/strip till, conservation cover, critical areas planting, grassed/rock-lined waterways, grade stabilization structures, pollinator habitats, constructed wetlands, raingardens and much more.

The program pays for up to 75% of a projects total cost or the state average cost (whichever is lower). The project must not have started work, and must be complete by December 31, 2023. Projects are not eligible for PFC if other cost-share dollars are being received.

Applicants should email patrick.mcpartlan@kanedupageswcd.org for the application form and state average costs for each practice. The application deadline is April 15th. Complete details and application forms are also available for download on the program webpage.

Learning Opportunities

Soil Health Week

Virtual and in-person sessions to offer expert insights for protecting soil

The health of our soils impacts everything from the health of the food you eat, the wealth of local economies, help keep waterways clean, and even store climate-warming carbon. And our state is lucky to have some of the best soil in the world!

Now you can join the Illinois Stewardship Alliance in celebrating and protecting this extraordinary natural resource:

Mark your calendar for Soil Health Week - March 6-12, 2023

During this week-long celebration of soil, you’ll have the opportunity to: 

• Tune into virtual and in-person presentations from leading farmers, conservationists, scientists, advocates, composters, and gardeners. 
• Educate policymakers in Springfield at Soil Health Advocacy Day to raise awareness of soil health issues and share with your lawmaker why healthy soil is important to you.

Visit the program page to view the calendar of Soil Health Week events and to register for sessions.

WCFA Online Curriculum

Online resource for women exploring careers in agriculture

Illinois Agri-Women present the Women Changing the Face of Agriculture’s (WCFA) Online Curriculum. This outreach project gives all women the avenue to explore different career paths offered in the agriculture sector. The online curriculum provides an opportunity to be inspired by keynote speakers and view career exploration videos from the virtual classroom.

Keynote Speakers

Listen to successful women and their stories of resilience, strength, dealing with hardships, and becoming a stronger woman in agriculture!

Scholarships

Women Changing the Face of Agriculture, a project of the Illinois Agri-Women, is once again offering four scholarships for females studying agriculture.

Visit the WCFA Online Curriculum page to watch recorded keynote presentations, explore career resources, scholarships, and more.

About this newsletter

This periodic newsletter was created to share resources with the community of local growers and food system advocates including trainings, funding sources, market opportunities, and other program announcements. The Growing for Kane Program and Report direct County policy and resources to support increased local food production, benefiting farmers and supporting networks providing healthy food options. If you would like to submit news, events or other resources for a future publication, you may forward the information to tansleymatthew@co.kane.il.us. You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of the page.

Matt Tansley, Planner

Kane County Planning Division 

630-232-3493 

tansleymatthew@co.kane.il.us

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