The Chicago Community Trust’s Post

The BIPOC Food and Farming Network is passionately advancing in the field of regenerative agriculture while creating an empowering support system within its community. Formed by Black farmers in Ohio, the network’s efforts range from combating food deserts to organizing annual Black farming conferences and policy fellowships. They are making significant changes in rural and urban settings and are a testament to the power of a shared vision and collective effort. #Blackfarmers #regenerativeagriculture #foodsecurity https://loom.ly/1anwg44

Retired farmers in aged care + students + community gardens = next generation of farmers + better quality of life for seniors + social cohesion ("It takes a village"). With the help of a grant, a local school is establishing a community agriculture club in partnership with a local aged care facility where many of the residents come from farming and agricultural backgrounds. The grant will be used to build another nine raised garden beds at the facility. The aged care residents will help students grow produce and pass on their expertise and knowledge to the next generation, aiding in the sustainability and future of Australian agriculture. Future iterations of the program aim to involve small animals, including bees and chickens, to enrich the learning experience of students and provide valuable lessons in animal and environmental stewardship. I love how this approach extends the concept of community gardens and can only imagine the joy and fulfillment engaging with young people will bring people who have spent their lives on the land. This approach is so simple, easily replicable, and cheap. Thanks to the Elders employees who voted to allocate a grant from the Elders Community Giving Project to this initiative but lets hope it doesn't stop there. Skills Insight #vocationaleducation #agedcare #students #learningexperiences #communitygardens #ittakesavillage #sustainability #seniors #education #agriculture #farming #retiredfarmers #qualityoflife #retirees #youngpeople #agriculturecareers https://lnkd.in/gDEAbNPZ

The 65th Annual Rural Life Conference is set for Friday, March 15, at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s (UAPB) Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) Complex, 1204 L.A. “Prexy” Davis Drive. A previous press release stated the conference would be held at the Pine Bluff Convention Center; however, the location has been changed due to scheduling conflicts. Conference attendees will be able to attend a wide variety of workshops on trending topics in agriculture and family and consumer sciences. This year’s workshop topics include aquaponics, which is the combined growing of fish and plants, as well as forestry and beekeeping. A session titled “Plan. Produce. Profit.” will educate specialty crop producers on how to operate under the Arkansas Food Freedom Act. One timely workshop will provide an update on the Farm Bill. Another highlights the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service programs such as the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Producers will also be able to learn about the USDA Farm Service Agency’s conservation and loan programs. Other topics include beef cattle production, small pond management, growing produce with high tunnels, agricultural risk management, the use of drones in agriculture, mushroom and herb production, and the use of the biochar soil additive to increase production. Several workshops aim to strengthen local individuals, families and communities. Some of these include crafting local food systems that benefit all, emerging trends in rural development, stretching food dollars, maximizing tax returns, creating efficient business structures, and ensuring mental wellness. During a will-writing clinic, personnel from five different law firms will be providing help writing wills and offering legal and technical support. One workshop highlights a local initiative that helps grandparents and their grandchildren bond through gardening. An open forum for high school students will also be featured. #RuralLife #Conference #Agriculture #Arkansas #Event #Community #Extension #4H

📢 We’re calling on industry partners to help promote these events. Please share with your network and help us support farmers who could benefit from this opportunity 🙏 With the decline of #BPS, succession planning is becoming more urgent, yet many farmers still don’t know how to start these conversations. That’s where Elaine’s world-renowned workshop, Discuss the Undiscussabull™, comes in. This October, AHDB - Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board is offering five regional workshops to help you and your team build the communication skills needed to tackle tough conversations and secure your farm’s future. Whether it’s family members or staff, everyone will benefit from learning: - How age impacts communication and frustrations - How to identify difficult topics and approach them - What your conflict style is and how to manage it - Key communication styles and how to maximise their impact This is a first-time opportunity in the UK, and we need your help to spread the word. Please reshare this post and help us reach those in the farming community who need this support. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eNpGvh_T #SuccessionPlanning #FarmTransition #FarmingFuture #Communication #Agriculture #FarmingUK #Livestock #Arable #FarmResilience #Agriculture #FarmConsultant Amy Hughes Sam Charlton Karl Pendlebury Izak van Heerden Paul Flanagan Mike Gooding Graham Wilkinson Emma Willis Amanda Bennett Steve West Leah Shanks Emma Barrett Emily Symonds Emily Collins Nic Parsons Karl Pendlebury Mark Campbell Delyth Lewis-Jones Gemma Stanford David Hunter Ana Reynolds Oliver Johnson David Ball The Farming Community Network ADAS FarmED - The Centre for Farm and Food Education Tenant Farmers Association The National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs Laura Awdry Jo Speed Heather Wildman Sophie Gregory colin bateman Regenerate Outcomes Liz Genever Kite Consulting Kingshay Farming Promar International Brown&Co LLP

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When it comes to addressing food insecurity, hydroponics offers several advantages that can make it an attractive option for nonprofits. Learn more about why hydroponic farming is a good idea for nonprofits in our blog post! https://hubs.li/Q02dvTKR0

Urban Farms are a Lifeline for Food-Insecure Residents. Will New Jersey Finally Make Them Permanent? “Our zoning is different here. Our density is different. When you combine that with the fact that we lack a cohesive urban agriculture policy at the local level...it’s very hard for a farmer or farmer’s market to maintain land over time an build infrastructure on it. Farming is hard in general, but urban farming when there’s not necessarily a real city system for it…it’s almost set up to not work [and] to really undermine you.” – Emilio Panasci, co-founder and executive director, Urban Agriculture Cooperative In the past few years, several bills have been introduced aimed at formalizing urban agriculture policies and sustaining the sector. In January 2024, Assemblywoman Annette Quijano reintroduced a bill to establish an urban farming pilot program for emerging urban farms. Senator Teresa Ruiz and Senator Nellie Pou also reintroduced a bill that would establish an urban farming grant and loan program. [But] neither bill has made it out of committee for further consideration. https://lnkd.in/esTtKFsp

🌿 GoodLeaf Farms, the largest vertical farming company in Canada. Vertical farming is a method of cultivating plants in vertical racks, allowing for year-round crop production in a controlled environment. GoodLeaf Farms plans to: ✔️ Increase leafy greens production: New farms will enable the company to ramp up leafy greens production, meeting the growing demand for fresh and locally sourced food products. ✔️ Strengthen market leadership: Investments will allow GoodLeaf Farms to fortify its leadership in the Canadian vertical farming market, becoming the sole provider of pesticide-free and nutrient-rich leafy vegetables and microgreens nationwide. ✔️ Make vertical farming more accessible: Expansion will enable GoodLeaf Farms to lower the price of its produce, making vertical farming more accessible to consumers. 💵 The company has secured $78 million to expand its production facilities. This will allow them to open new farms in Calgary and Montreal, increasing the total area by 200,000 square feet. GoodLeaf Farms plays a crucial role in promoting this innovative technology and its potential to provide consumers with fresh and high-quality food products year-round. https://lnkd.in/eFUJJz7g #VerticalFarming #SustainableAgriculture #LocalProduce #ProductionExpansion

Lessons from Winston-Salem’s Controversial Hydroponic Farm: Issues and Community Impact Winston-Salem’s $2.5 million investment in a hydroponic farm to address food insecurity has been fraught with problems. Originally scheduled to open in 2018, the project faced delays and cost overruns and eventually opened in 2022 under the management of local nonprofit H.O.P.E. Despite growing lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes, the farm struggles to achieve its original goal of providing enough food for the population. A hydroponic farm in Kimberley Park run by H.O.P.E. (Help Our People Eat), based in Winston-Salem, has shifted its mission from selling microgreens to upscale restaurants to distributing meals to food-insecure residents. However, farm productivity remains insufficient, forcing H.O.P.E. supplement your supplies with purchases from other sources. Critics, including city council members and local residents, have raised concerns about the project’s efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Despite these challenges, the initiative highlights ongoing efforts to innovate urban agriculture and meet the nutritional needs of underserved communities. Winston-Salem’s experience with a hydroponic farm highlights the difficulty of implementing large-scale urban agricultural projects. While ...

🌱 Farmer Spotlight 🌱 Meet Cindy and Steven Scott, the faces behind Glen Elgin, a property in the Lower Slopes region of the Riverina. They manage a number of properties in the Lower Slopes region of the Riverina, and the majority of their income is from cattle, particularly the sale of seedstock breeding cattle. Their home property is Glen Elgin with others close by at Henty and Munyabla. The Scotts face challenges of erosion from previous extensive clearing on the farm, as well as severe droughts. To achieve a sustainable business in these conditions, they manage stocking rates to reduce pressure on the land, and undertaking practices to increase landscape rehydration, such as planting trees. As part of the Riverina project, they are planting native shelterbelts with a mix of trees and shrubs across the farm. Beyond the aesthetic contribution to the farm, they have chosen this practice to offer sun and shade protection to their Angus cattle, create extensive wildlife habitat, and provide erosion control. Joining the Riverina Drought Resilient Soils and Landscapes projet is helping them to achieve their commitment to 10% revegetation and a diverse farm ecosystem. As part of the project, they are also implementing a soil monitoring program and making in-field observations to track changes over time. Read their story https://loom.ly/7WofUJs And subscribe to our newsletter to stay tuned as Bert and Liz share more about their progress and insights in early 2024! This project has received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Local Land Services NSW Sustainable Farms #FutureDroughtFund #regenerative #riverina #soils #farming #soilhealth #soilsforlife