Check Out LFF in Mike Nowak Show Video
Also, put a Perennial Cocktail Class and Food Waste Compost dropoffs on your calendar
Check Out Video of LFF on Mike Nowak Show
Okay, so did you all rush to your computers Sunday morning to watch my segment on The Mike Nowak Show with Peggy Malecki? What, you didn’t?! I am hurt.
But here’s a chance for you to ease my pain. The video of the segment is up on The Mike Nowak Show site. Mike, Peggy and I discussed Local Food Forum (my favorite subject), the earlier-than-ever start to our outdoor farmers market season (with Green City Market opening this Saturday), and the amazing Chicago Chefs Cook for Ukraine fundraiser than I had the honor to cover on March 16.
Whatever your other takeaways, it should be clear that I totally love my work.
Click below to watch the video.
Cocktail Making with Perennial Plants Class
Now here’s an online event you can warm up to (or with). The Land Connection, in the next installment of its Perennial Crop Cooking Series, is presenting “Perennial Cocktails and Simple Syrups” on Saturday, April 23 at 2 p.m. central.
Up your mixology skills by learning to make a fennel simple syrup, blackberry rosemary shrub, and lavender rose bitters (described below in The Land Connection’s release). The virtual event is free. Folks living in the Champaign-Urbana area can purchase a kit of ingredients for $25 from the Common Ground Food Co-op; the rest of us should have no problem finding the recipe ingredients on our own.
Read more about it below and click the button to register.
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Join Liz Sands for our next Perennial Crop Cooking Class! This month our focus is Perennial Cocktails: Simple Syrup, Shrub & Bitters!
In the class, you will learn different methods to take your cocktails to the next level using homemade mixers featuring perennial herbs and plants. The menu includes:
Fennel simple syrup - a thick sweet liquid made by dissolving sugar in water used to sweeten drinks
Blackberry rosemary shrub - a concentrated syrup that combines fruit, sugar and vinegar
Lavender rose bitters - a concentrated blend of spices and dried herbs in an alcohol base
The class is free to attend, with the option of a $25 kit that includes all of the ingredients needed to make the mixers.
Participants also have the option of adding a bottle of local Down East Wheat Vodka [made from wheat grown near Paxton, Illinois]! Vodka is needed to make the bitters, as well as a cocktail featuring the fennel simple syrup that will be made during the class.
If you do not wish to add the Down East vodka but plan on making the mixers, please make sure to have at least a cup of vodka for the bitters and 1 1/2 ounces for the cocktail. The shrub and bitters require time to sit, but cocktail recipes will be included for when they are ready!
Note: if ordering a kit be sure to save the date of Friday, April 22 from 4-6 p.m. to pick up your kit at Common Ground Food Co-op.
IL Extension to Host Chicago Waste Collections 4/16
University of Illinois Extension in Cook County is holding two kitchen waste drops for composting on Saturday, April 16 at two locations right here in Chicago: Garfield Park Conservatory (300 N. Central Park Avenue) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Plant Chicago (4459 S. Marshfield) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Read more below about what kinds of household waste will be accepted. Participants can also take home a bucket of finished compost to aid in their home gardening.
Also note that IL Extension has a job opening, also noted below.
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Garfield Park Conservatory
Sat April 16, 10 am – 2 pm
300 N Central Park Ave, South Parking Lot, Chicago
Plant Chicago
Saturday April 16, 11 am – 3 pm
4459 S Marshfield, Chicago
Residents can drop off kitchen waste to be composted and pick up a bucket of finished compost. Please BYOB (bring your own bucket). Finished compost is first come, first served. You can also pick up free plant starts donated by Gotham Greens, tour each site, learn more about how to compost at home, see a worm bin in action, and talk to an Illinois Extension Master Gardener or Compost Ambassador.
Accepted Materials: all plant matter (leaves, stems, cores, old produce), seeds/pits, husks/shells, peels, bread & baked goods, coffee & paper coffee filters, tea & paper tea bags (without staples), dairy, meats, bones leftover from cooking, eggs & egg shells, and cooked/frozen food.
And Cook County Extension is still seeking a Horticulture Educator to serve the N/NW suburbs. Apply by 4/18. https://go.illinois.edu/159933