FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 4, 2016
Contact: Alana Reynolds, alana@ilstewards.org, 528-1563
Grow Springfield to Host Homegrown Fest on March 19th
Registrations being accepted now
SPRINGFIELD–Grow Springfield is hosting Homegrown Fest: Urban Ag and Local Food Workshop Day on March 19th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Workforce Careers Center on the Lincoln Land Community College (LLCC) Springfield campus, 5250 Shepherd Road. Registrations are being accepted now.
Homegrown Fest, an Urban Ag and Local Food Workshop Day, will bring together community members to explore and develop local food, agriculture, gardening, and homesteading knowledge and skills, grow and pass on knowledge related to food traditions and culture, and reconnect the community to sustainable and holistic lifestyles for the 21st century. "Our current food system is under scrutiny right now and a there is movement to make positive, lasting changes to the system", says Alana Reynolds, Garden Coordinator for Grow Springfield. "Events like Homegrown Fest and the Composting Symposium are important because they provide our community members with more opportunities to get involved."
Grow Springfield and Illinois Stewardship Alliance staff will give a welcome presentation at 9:00 a.m., with sixteen different 25 minute workshop sessions beginning at 10:00 a.m and ending at 12 noon. This event will offer four tracks: Gardening, Cooking/Food, Kids, and Urban Homesteading. Attendees will have the option to choose the classes that most interest them in each of the four tracks. Presenters include chefs, farmers, beekeepers, home cooks, gardeners, and kids.
The 13th annual Composting Symposium will follow Homegrown Fest from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. This year’s symposium will target beginning and experienced backyard and small-scale composters. Experienced presenters from genHkids, Illinois Recycling Association, Small Axe Market Gardens, and University of Illinois Extension will share information about how to start composting, compost container options, best practices for using compost, and determining calculations for making compost. The event will also feature special children’s programming.
Registration is $20 for both events if purchased in advance or $30 at the door. Individuals can attend one event for $10 in advance or $15 at the door. The build your own bin vermicompost session is $20. Lunch will be available from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. for a suggested donation of $5.
Businesses or organizations related to urban agriculture, gardening, and local food are invited to exhibit at this event. Exhibitor space is $25.
Homegrown Fest is sponsored by Grow Springfield, Illinois Stewardship Alliance, LLCC, and genHkids.
Grow Springfield is a network of organizations committed to increasing access to fresh, locally grown food throughout Springfield and the surrounding areas by linking individuals to community gardens, encouraging urban farming and re-connecting individuals with the land, their heritage and their communities.
For additional information, call 528-1563 or email alana@ilstewards.org. To register, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/homegrown-fest-and-composting-symposium-tickets-20066451296