Participate in second annual seed swap!

Last year's seed swap at the conference was so successful that we decided to do it again this year. How does it work?

If you have a few too many seeds of a particular variety, or if you just want to share one of your favorites, bring them with you to the conference. We will have a table set aside where you can leave them in the morning. As the day goes on, check back to see what seeds others have left. Feel free to take seeds that you want. You can bring seeds in their original packets, or if you'd like to spread the joy, you can put a few in envelopes that are clearly marked with the variety and the year they were harvested, as well as any notes you want to include on growing, harvesting, or other tips for success. You might also want to bring a few empty envelopes in case you only want to take a few seeds from a particular packet.

Buying, selling, and everything in between

Want to purchase your own farm property, but don’t know what to look for? Or perhaps you’re ready to begin selling produce, or expanding your homestead to include sheep and want to get the best information to be profitable? Donna Z. Lehrer is a former environmental specialist for the oil industry turned sustainable small farmer, with a wealth of knowledge to share. And, lucky us, she’s doing just that at this year’s conference! 

Donna will be presenting four sessions that take you from soil to market, covering sustainable gardening, sheep farming, and the issues you need to consider before purchasing a homestead property. Her tips will help you develop your farm’s unique identity, source heirloom seeds, design pastures, and evaluate land for sustainable farming potential.

Donna’s unique blend of professional expertise and years of hands-on experience will offer tools and resources to attendees at every stage in the homesteading process. In addition to her environment training, she is a Kane County Farm Bureau Board of Director and former member to the Illinois Governor’s Local Food and Farm Product Task Force. You can find more information about Donna and her homestead, Lamb of God farm, on her facebook page, and Esther’s Place, the project of Donna’s equally intrepid daughter Natasha.