BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — Have an acre of land and want to make an extra $1,000 or more? When it comes to farming, it turns out that small isn’t only beautiful – small is also sustainable, manageable, and productive.
Are you dreaming of becoming self-sufficient? It is highly unlikely that any two 1-acre farms will follow the same approach, but we will discuss the possibilities. In this four-part series of classes, we will explore farming or gardening for profit (and not necessarily enough to live on) as a business enterprise. Then, set your dreams on the right track with tips and resources for planning your own compact farm.
Allow us to inspire you through the following topics:
- pasturing poultry (hatching eggs, broilers, turkey)
- asparagus (growing and marketing)
- heirloom tomatoes (growing, varieties and marketing)
- beekeeping, and what’s next
There are many alternatives out there; within the time frame allotted to this series, more options will be discussed, or classes planned later to address other options.
Classes will be held online on Monday evenings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. via Zoom on March 15, March 16, March 17 and March 18 (Monday to Thursday).
The fee for the entire course is $50 per person, or $15 for select classes. To register, visit https://extension.illinois.edu/gkw to reserve your spot by March 9. If you need more information, call 815-933-8337 or email froning@illinois.edu.
— James Theuri & Holly Froning, Agriculture & Natural Resources
University of Illinois Extension, Serving Grundy, Kankakee and Will Counties
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