Green City Needs Help to Open Early
Also, reminders re: Soil Health Week & Frontera Grants, and Stand With Ukraine
Let’s Go Crazy Outside on Saturday
OK, so the equinox doesn’t happen until the 20th, but scientists say we’re already in meteorological spring. And tomorrow (Saturday) the forecast high temperature is in the mid-60s.
Let’s not get too carried away, the forecast for Monday is back down in the 30s with some wintry mix. But it does feel like we’ve turned the corner. Bring on some green!
Green City Wants to Open Early… With a Little Help
If we’re talking about spring, we have to be talking about farmers markets. And yesterday’s social media brought the exciting news that Green City Market may be opening their outdoor season as early as April 2 at their Lincoln Park flagship location and as early as May 7 in the West Loop. Both of these dates would be a month or more before their traditional opening dates.
But they need some help. As the message from Green City copied below notes, with added dates come added expenses for this nonprofit organization. So they are asking fans to commit to monthly donations by March 31 in order to make this magic happen.
Wouldn’t it be great to have a few extra weeks of farmers market fun? Check out the following and consider making a donation.
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Y’ALL. We just received word that Green City Market has the opportunity to open our 2022 outdoor market season early — but we need your help.
We have secured the required permits and are prepared to extend our regular market season from 73 dates to 88 — opening our Lincoln Park market as soon as April 2 and opening our West Loop market as soon as May 7.
But with a longer season comes higher operating costs, and Green City Market needs sustained support to give local farmers the opportunity to nourish our community and steward our land for generations to come.
We need at least 50 people to commit to monthly donations by March 31, 2022 in order to open the season early and provide a vibrant marketplace for our local, sustainable farmers and food businesses. Take action today — set up a monthly donation or give a one-time gift today by clicking below.
Reminder: Soil Health Week Starts Monday
Make sure to catch at least some of the online Soil Health Week programming next week (March 7-11), which is organized by the Illinois Stewardship Alliance. The highlight will be the Soil Health Summit on March 9, designated as Soil Health Day.
Building and reviving the health and vitality of our soils is the foundation of sustainable/organic/regenerative farming, amid abundant scientific evidence of the connections between good soil, good food and good health. Whether you are a farmer who wants insights about best practices in improving soil health, or an eater who wants to learn more about this important topic, this event is highly recommended.
To learn more about the event and for free registration for individual presentations, click the button below.
Frontera Farmer Foundation Grant Apps Due 3/13
Also, a reminder to farmers that the deadline to apply for this year’s Frontera Farmer Foundation grants is coming up quickly on March 13 (a week from Sunday).
The Foundation is the nonprofit created in 2003 by Chef Rick Bayless, who has been a champion of local farmers since he opened Chicago’s Frontera Grill in 1987 and was a founding Board member of Green City Market. Over the past 18 years, the Foundation has provided a total of more than $2 million in outright grants for capital improvement projects — in increments of up to $12,000 per farm — to small farmers in Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana who produce using sustainable practices and sell into the Chicago market.
The following is the verbiage from Frontera Farmer Foundation about this year’s program. Click the button below for eligibility requirements and to apply.
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The Frontera Farmer Foundation is committed to promoting small, sustainable Midwestern farms serving the Chicago area, by providing them with capital development grants. Small local farms, which often struggle financially, are more likely to promote biodiversity by planting a wide range of produce and operate using organic practices. By their artisanal approach to agriculture, the freshness of their product and the variety of their offerings, these farmers insure the highest quality food while they add immeasurably to the fabric of their local rural community.
Eligibility requirements:
Frontera Farmer Foundation will award grants for capital improvements of up to $12,000 to small and mid-size farmers in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin that sell their food products to customers in the Chicago area at farmers markets and otherwise. Farmers must have been in business for at least three years and must demonstrate how the grant will improve both their farm’s viability and the availability of locally grown food products in the Chicago area. Farms that have been awarded grants will be eligible every other year.
Nonprofit farms & farms connected to nonprofit organizations are not eligible for grants.
Grant applicants will be judged on the basis of demonstrated need, long-term dedication to sustainable farming, creative and business acumen, and commitment to sustainability. Applicants will also be judged on their past history with the foundation. Additional grants will be approved only after a farm has demonstrated the initial grant had a measurable impact on the farms infrastructure and ability to provide locally grown food to the Chicago area.
I Stand With Ukraine
I rarely get political in Local Food Forum outside of supporting public policy that promotes a better food system. But in solidarity with the brave people of Ukraine, and to honor the memories of my own Eastern European forebears, I feel I must make this exception.