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20% of Proceeds to Support Pediatric Cancer Care
I’ve had a lot to celebrate lately. In September, I launched the new, complementary Local Food Forum website, and I attended the inspiring Farm Aid Festival in Indiana. In October, I’ve attended a series of events that underscored the amazing generosity and collaborative spirit of Chicago’s culinary community. In November, I’ll celebrate another birthday as well as Thanksgiving (always my favorite holiday because it’s pretty much all about food).
But I am also celebrating the one thing without which none of this would be possible: This is my 20th anniversary as a cancer survivor.
In October 2003, at the ripe old age of 47, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. It was a nasty bit of business and the prognosis initially was frightening, but thanks to a very good surgeon and maybe some good fortune, they got it all out. While I still have to get precautionary treatments three times a year, so far we’ve been able to keep the monster at bay.
To mark this occasion, I am today launching a new paid subscription campaign, and I am pledging to donate 20 percent of the proceeds to Lurie Children’s Hospital and its pediatric cancer care. Any cancer is terrible — I’ve lost several friends way too soon to this awful disease — but it’s absolutely heart-rending to see children, many too young to understand what is happening to them, have to fight for their lives to beat cancer.
This campaign will run at least until December 10, the actual anniversary of the surgery that saved my life. Over the next few weeks, I’ll elaborate on the new benefits for paid subscribers that we’re going to introduce, and why Local Food Forum needs your financial support to become more self-sustaining.
For now, I’ll keep it simple… get a new paid subscription and 20 percent of the proceeds will go to combatting childhood cancer. [Note: I have chosen Lurie independently and the hospital is not involved in and has not authorized this fundraiser.]
Saturday: Do The Eco-Friendly Pumpkin Smash
Do you have a jack-o’-lantern that will lose its charm after Halloween? Then don’t trash it — smash it this Saturday (November 4) at the annual Pumpkin Smash, organized by University of Illinois Extension, the SCARCE environmental organization and City of Chicago Streets and Sanitation Department.
Take your over-the-hill gourd to one of the 12 Cook County locations shown in the graphic above. Here’s how Illinois Extension describes the event:
Don't trash it, smash it!
Jack-o’-lanterns live a short, scary life. That is unless they are catapulted, hurled, or whacked into a compost pile after spooky season is over! Green your Halloween by recycling pumpkins into compost at a free, outdoor Pumpkin Smash offered around Illinois in early November.
Be part of the solution. You can help fight climate change
Organic food waste like pumpkins create the potent greenhouse gas methane as they decompose without oxygen in landfills. Since 2019, when Illinois Extension hosted its first Pumpkin Smash, 46 tons of compostable waste have been kept out of landfills, preventing the release of 22 tons of carbon dioxide.
This project is done in collaboration with SCARCE, an Illinois environmental non-profit that started Pumpkin Smashes in 2014. Find a full map of Pumpkin Smashes on their website at SCARCE.org/Pumpkins.
Smash Instructions
Collect pumpkins from your home, neighborhood, school, or workplace.
Remove candles, ribbons, and any other non-organic materials.
Drop off pumpkins at a smash site and they will be transported to a composting facility.
Mentorship for Organic Grain Growing Transition
The Land Connection has created a Organic Grain Mentorship Program, which is scheduled to begin in late fall. The purpose of the program is to support seasoned conventional farmers as they transition portions of their acreage into organic production.
The goal is to connect conventional growers with other experienced organic farmers who have previously transitioned some of their land into organic practices who can act as mentors and support for farmers so they don't need to go on this journey alone.
According to the organization, here is what you can expect from the program:
Free attendance to both the OGRAIN Conference in Madison, Wisconsin and The Land Connection’s Organic Grain Conference in Champaign, Illinois
Online modules led by experts on topics including Whole Farm Planning, Financial Planning, Marketing, and Business Planning and Management
Seasonal check-ins between mentors and mentees
Regular opportunities for evaluation and feedback
Digital resources related to organics and organic transition
Seasonal events and field days related to organic production practices
Cost is free to mentees and a generous stipend is available for mentors
And much more!
For more information or questions, reach out to Jesse Schaffer, Farmer Training Coordinator, at jesse@thelandconnection.org or 217-840-2128 ext. 51. Jesse says If you know organic grain farmers looking to mentor conventional producers or row croppers looking to transition some of their acreage to organic, send them his way.
This Beautiful Herb Farm is for Sale
This one is for you if you are looking for a turnkey farming operation that also is an awarded agritourism site.
Wind Ridge Farm is located in Caledonia in north-central Illinois, near Rockford. The town also is home to Angelic Organics, a pioneering sustainable farm with a popular CSA, and the adjacent Angelic Organics Learning Center.
I am happy to share this because I have known owners Liz and Tony Fiorenza. We met when I worked for FamilyFarmed and they participated in the organization’s Good Food Accelerator program. They have done a beautiful job with the farm and with their AirB&B/VRBO accommodations, but are selling because they are seeking to retire.
Thanks to Joe Eurek, their Realtor, for sharing the following details:
Farm for sale!
466 Quail Trap Road
New improved price - $1,200,000
*Beautifully maintained country living experience.
*Rare historical gem with local ties dating back to 1889.
*Incredible revenue generating opportunities.
-The Wind Ridge Herb Farm is currently on the market and looking for a new owner!
-The main Victorian home was built in 1889 by the Ralston family, a name well known throughout Caledonia, with the intentions of being the finest home in the area! Offering 4100 square feet of living space with 4 beds, 2 full baths, a bonus room/possible 5th bedroom and spacious 2 car attached garage.
-A secondary home nestled near the back of the property is perfect for in-law accommodations and currently operates as an Airbnb/VRBO with steady bookings throughout the year (currently booked at 90% of availability.)
-Property provides plenty of income potential after 23 years of operating as an organic herb and plant production and sales business. Other ventures include a wedding venue and wine tasting/food pairing event location. A 60x90 riding arena/storage building easily usable for winter storage of RVs and other vehicles.
-Property also provides options for boarding horses and other animal uses. Surrounded with mature trees, beautiful, blossoming gardens and no neighbors in sight. Sitting on 7.54 acres, the Wind Ridge Herb Farm has been recognized by the state of Illinois for "Excellence in Agri-Tourism" and has earned rave reviews on various vacation rental sites. Click the link to learn more information about this great property or contact me for more info.
Joe Eurek
Dickerson and Nieman Realtors
joeeurek@dickersonnieman.com
815-566-7419