Help Me Qualify for a Fellowship?
A handful of new subscriptions (free or paid) will meet Substack's threshold
I have a big favor to ask.
Substack (the platform on which Local Food Forum is published) announced last week that it has created a food writers intensive and will select 10 food writers to participate in this fellowship program.
Fellows will receive a suite of services, mentorship, and coaching from the Substack team to accelerate their newsletters, build audience and increase their business savvy. There is also a nice stipend that would truly help my bottom line if I am accepted into the program.
There’s a little hitch, though. There are several eligibility requirements, and I meet all of them… except one: Applicants must have at least 500 subscribers to apply. I currently have 452, which has impressed some people I’ve told, seeing as I’m a one-man show who has been at this for less than a year and has no marketing budget. But I have three weeks (before the February 28 deadline) to get to 500.
So here is the favor:
• If you are not yet a Local Food Forum subscriber, please click the Subscribe Now button. There is a clearly indicated “Free” option and the process will take about a minute.
• Presumably, though, most people reading this are already subscribers. In that case, it would be a huge mitzvah if you would share this information with your friends and social networks and followers. Unleash your inner influencer!
• I’d be remiss if I failed to mention that there is also a paid subscription for the low, low price of $50 a year or $5 a month. All subscriptions count toward that 500 threshold, so paid is totally optional… but it sure would help this spunky little startup.
You know I love you all, so thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
— Bob
Chicago City Markets Vendor Application Open
Chicago City Markets — run by the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events — has opened its vendor application for the 2022 outdoor farmers market season. If you are a farmer, food entrepreneur and/or artisan, don’t miss this opportunity to sell your produce and locally sourced and made food products and goods at Chicago City Markets.
Best known for its Daley Plaza flagship market in the heart of the Loop, Chicago City Markets also runs the Division Street Market in Near North and several markets serving under-resourced communities on the city’s South and West sides.
Applications from current vendors are due by March 4; new vendor applications are due by March 18. Click the button below to access the application.
Organic Grain Conference Registration Deadline
The rising interest in better grain — among farmers, bakers, and consumers alike — is one of the most important developments in our local food community. A reminder to those with a strong interest in this area that the Organic Grain Conference & Trade Show takes place in Champaign this Wednesday and Thursday.
The registration deadline is TOMORROW (February 8). Click the button after the information below (provided by the event’s producers) to register.
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Don't miss out on:
🌾 Workshops for organic success in: certification, rotation, and tillage
🌾 More than a dozen presentations from farmers, researchers, and industry professionals on topics ranging from small grains and livestock to markets and conservation
🌾 Keynote address from local organic farmer and miller, Harold Wilken
🌾 One-on-one advice in organic troubleshooting, conservation opportunities, and funding assistance
🌾 Visiting with exhibitors in the Trade Show
🌾 A chance to reconnect with all of your friends!!
Learn more and register…