Neighborhood Co-op Grocery to host Virtual Farm Crawl October 5-9, 2020

Neighborhood Co-op Grocery to host Virtual Farm Crawl October 5-9, 2020

Proceeds to Benefit Regional Non-Profit, Food Works

Carbondale, Ill. – The Co-op Farm Crawl has always been a popular event that draws many throughout Southern Illinois and beyond. In light of this pandemic we find ourselves challenged with adapting many of our events and fundraisers. This year’s crawl will be adapted to a virtual format! We are excited to continue the tradition of educating our consumers about our local food sources while raising much needed funds for Food Works! The week-long virtual crawl is scheduled for October 5th – 9th, from 6:30 – 7:30pm each day.

Sponsors include AES Solar, Pasture Project,  Little Egypt Alliance of Farmers (LEAF), Illinois Stewardship Alliance.

Presented by the Neighborhood Co-op and Food Works, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization facilitating the development of a regional food economy in Southern Illinois, this year’s Farm Crawl gives people the opportunity to learn how high-quality, locally-grown and locally-sourced products make it from farm to market, and learn the importance of supporting a local food economy. Below is a list of speakers. Each day viewers will hear a presentation and will have an opportunity to chat live during a Q&A.

 

Monday Oct. 5 – Regenerative Grazing

Speakers: Mallory Kreiger, Terra Elossa & consultant to The Pasture Project; Grant & Casey Bauman, Bauman Farm

 

Tuesday Oct. 6 – Plant Based Eating

Speakers: Leslie Duram, Professor and Director of the Environmental Studies Program at Southern Illinois University, Fulbright Scholar; Maryanne and Bruce Chrisman, Countrysprout Organics

 

Wednesday Oct. 7 – Pasture Raised Pork & On Farm Food Hub Store

Speakers: Roger & Tina Schuttek, Big Muddy Hogs

 

Thursday Oct. 7 – Southern Illinois Farm Beginnings: 3 Farmers Share their Stories

Speakers: Meghan DeGroot, Simple Gifts; Mike Hatfield, Flyway Family Farm; Angela Batson, Envi Botanicals

 

Friday Oct. 7 – Rooted in Foods

Speakers: Dr. Niki Davis, Professor of Practice in Hospitality, Tourism, and Event Management at Southern Illinois University

The Farm Crawl is free to anyone who signs up online. This is a fundraising event; in lieu of ticket sales you can support Food Works by making a direct donation; purchase, for a limited time, event shirt; or purchase Meal kits.

We have partnered with the online farmers market LEAF to bring a taste of Southern Illinois straight to your home with Local Food Meal Kits. Expand your cooking horizons with recipes created by local food personality Dr. Niki Davis featuring seasonal, unique foods produced by small scale, sustainable family farmers.  We’ve gathered together the local farm fresh ingredients for each recipe- just add a few pantry ingredients and get cooking! Each kit comes with a recipe card and a link to a video cooking demonstration. Order period ends Thursday, October 1st at noon. Pick up your kit on Thursday, October 8th between 4-6pm from the LEAF farmers in front of  the Neighborhood Co-op Grocery or at All Seasons Farm in Cobden.

All proceeds will benefit Food Works.

Participating farms and speakers include Bauman Farms, Big Muddy Hogs, Countrysprout Organics, Envi Botanicals, Flora Bay Farm, Flyway Family Farm, Leslie Duram, Mallory Krieger, Rooted in Foods, Simple Gifts.

 About Neighborhood Co-Op Grocery

The mission of the Neighborhood Co-op Grocery is to serve the needs of owners and patrons by providing wholesome foods economically in the cooperative tradition, in ways that best promote the health of the individual, the community, and the earth. Learn more at www.neighborhood.coop.

 

About Food Works

Food Works is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to creating a sustainable food economy in Southern Illinois. Through farmer training and consumer education, Food Works promotes long-term farming networks that create healthy soils, healthy food, and healthy communities in the 23 counties that make up Southern Illinois. 

Programs include the winter Community Farmers Market in Carbondale, Southern Illinois Farm Beginnings, the Southern Illinois Farming Alliance network of sustainable farmers, and SNAP & Link Match in farmers markets.  

Food Works envisions a region where:

• Local farmers have access to education they need to be economically, ecologically, and socially sustainable.
• The community has equitable access to food that is grown on sustainable farms in Southern Illinois.
• Community members value locally grown food for its contributions to our health, our environment and our economy.

Learn more at fwsoil.org