Local Foods Cook County

Providing programming in Local Food Systems and Small Farms in Cook County and Chicagoland

[Local Foods Cook County @lfssf_cook]

Master Urban Farmer Training Program 2025 
Mondays Sept 22 - Dec 8, 6 - 8 pm on Zoom
In person Field Day Sat. Sept 27 in Matteson, IL 
$150
Apply Now - Aug 14
https://t.co/DPUFN1xqEM

[Local Foods Cook County @lfssf_cook]

@agronomistag Not a replacement for compost testing and nutrient budgeting. More applicable for home gardeners.

[Local Foods Cook County @lfssf_cook]

@agronomistag https://t.co/4R2aOOOA3v

It’s not perfect, but it should help curtail blanket recommendations and get them to start thinking about matching compost type with end use.

[Local Foods Cook County @lfssf_cook]

@agronomistag We developed a University of Illinois Extension fact sheet to help combat this. That 2000 lbs of N is likely only giving 10% up to mineralization, which 200 lbs N per acre is more reasonable. Still, the inefficiency, uncertainty, excessive P potential all make this an issue still

[Local Foods Cook County @lfssf_cook]

Organic Certification Field Day + Spotted Lanternfly Alert
August 20:  5-7 PM 
Growing Home, 5814 S Wood, Chicago 
Free to Attend.
https://t.co/2Vg21rRc0E
#IPM #InvasiveSpecies #UrbanAg
@AUAChicago @grow_greater @USDA_NRCS

[Local Foods Cook County @lfssf_cook]

@agronomistag We tried to combat some of the anecdotal compost recommendations in a newer fact sheet. Not perfect, part 2 will cover using compost test data to better target compost use to minimize overapplication. https://t.co/VEZy4tZSfI

[Local Foods Cook County @lfssf_cook]

Four Seasons #Gardening Series
Tuesdays at 1:30 pm on Zoom
April 29 - Impact of Invasive Plants
May 20 - Managing Common Squash and Pumpkin Pests
https://t.co/XxFAM2XJe6

[Local Foods Cook County @lfssf_cook]

Cook County Compost Ambassador Program 
Five Wednesdays April 2 - 30,  6- 8 pm on Zoom 
+ Field Day Saturday May 3 in Matteson, IL 
$40 Register at https://t.co/UuEkJ5iwow

[Local Foods Cook County @lfssf_cook]

Seed Swaps This Weekend:
@chipublib - West Belmont Branch
@MortonArboretum
@WhiteOakLibrary - Lockport Branch
@gailbrdnlibrary
@mcc_edu
Full #SeedSwap list at https://t.co/XeNVYtIXen

[Local Foods Cook County @lfssf_cook]

Registration is now open for the #UrbanAg Resources Winter Workshop
2/5/25
with @usdaFSA @USDA_NRCS
@AUAChicago and other agencies.
https://t.co/XB6aCUVu9H

[Local Foods Cook County @lfssf_cook]

Applications are being accepted now through Jan 20 for our Master Naturalist program.
https://t.co/vbzVzU6JnE

[Local Foods Cook County @lfssf_cook]

The Jan 15 Production Planning webinar has been rescheduled for Tuesday Jan 21. Space is still available at https://t.co/dHHOR9Rl6R

[Local Foods Cook County @lfssf_cook]

The next session of
Digging Deep Into Data!
Production Planning and Cashflow Worksheets
Free Webinars:
Wed's 6:30 - 8 pm CST
Jan 15: Vegetable Production Planning
Jan 22: Cash Flow
+ an in-person workshop Jan 24 if you're in Chicago.
https://t.co/QUx1oFtmV4
#FarmManagement

[Local Foods Cook County @lfssf_cook]

@cookcountyext Staff will be at @chipublib Woodson branch Community Resource Fair
Wed 1/15, noon - 2 pm
to learn more about
Urban Farmer Training
@Illinois4H youth programs
Community Health
Jr. Master Gardeners
Native Landscape Design
School Gardens
https://t.co/1y2aAj6fD7

[Local Foods Cook County @lfssf_cook]

Still time to register for Wednesday's Vegetable Production Planning #SmallFarm Webinar
https://t.co/njs4aPgEyz

[Local Foods Cook County @lfssf_cook]

The next session of
Digging Deep Into Data!
Production Planning and Cashflow Worksheets
Free Webinars:
Wed's 6:30 - 8 pm CST
Jan 15: Vegetable Production Planning
Jan 22: Cash Flow
+ an in-person workshop Jan 24 if you're in Chicago.
https://t.co/QUx1oFtmV4
#FarmManagement

[Local Foods Cook County @lfssf_cook]

Our December Urban Ag Connect Newsletter https://t.co/fnnhpwNnb1
feat. Master Naturalist Training
Jr. Master Gardener Facilitator Training
School and Community Garden Training
FSA Open Office Hours
to subscribe: https://t.co/olR30gcmB9

[Local Foods Cook County @lfssf_cook]

FSA - Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) – Open Office Hours
January 2, 2025 from 9am – 4pm.
at @cookcountyext 8753 S Greenwood, #100, Chicago.
#UrbanAg County Exec. Dir. Jacey Fears will be avail to collect MASC program apps. Walk-Ins Welcome. [email protected]

[Local Foods Cook County @lfssf_cook]

Our First draft of the 2025 Chicagoland #SeedSwap Map is published. https://t.co/E8UnoOhOqF
If you have a Swap to add, please email me the deets: [email protected]

[Local Foods Cook County @lfssf_cook]

Cook County Extension offices will be closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving Holiday. We'll return on Monday December 2.

[Local Foods Cook County @lfssf_cook]

The next session of
Digging Deep Into Data!
Production Planning and Cashflow Worksheets
Free Webinars:
Wed's 6:30 - 8 pm CST
Jan 15: Vegetable Production Planning
Jan 22: Cash Flow
+ an in-person workshop Jan 24 if you're in Chicago.
https://t.co/QUx1oFtmV4
#FarmManagement

[Local Foods Cook County @lfssf_cook]

Find a Pumpkin Smash Near You
https://t.co/DvAYyzkCGM
#Compost #GreenYourHalloween
More locations at https://t.co/mGxiQfEC4C