Events and Highlights
Cottage Food Sellers | Illinois requirements
Whether for a hobby or as a career, selling food grown or made in your home carries endless possibilities for enjoyment and profit. It also carries substantial responsibilities for the public's safety who purchase and consume your food products. Major changes took effect January 1, 2022 in the Cottage Food Operation Law's Home-to-Market Act. Illinois Extension is your guide to operating within the new regulations. Outshine the rest and grow your home-based business. Check it out here.
Food Preservation
Preserving food at home lets us enjoy homegrown, locally purchased, or seasonal foods throughout the year. Safe food preservation methods stop or slow the natural spoilage process to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria while preserving the nutritional value, taste, color, and texture of some of our favorite foods. These processes can help make the most of a bountiful harvest, provide individuals and families with access to seasonal food in off-seasons, support local producers, and prevent excess food from going to landfills. Learn more here.
Dial-Gauge Pressure Canner Testing Clinics | Free!
Free testing clinics take place in Boone, DeKalb, and Ogle counties. No appointment is necessary from 9 am to 3 pm, just show up at your nearest Extension office on these days: DeKalb-July 21 & Aug. 4; Boone-July 25 & Aug. 8; and Ogle-July 28 & Aug. 11. Canners should be tested yearly. Call 815-544-3710 with any questions.
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URGENT: Be part of the solution
Help collect ticks from humans, pets, and livestock in your area. We are studying the movement of ticks, tick-borne diseases, and their impact. Your contribution provides vital data to enhance our understanding of ticks and disease prevention, helping to protect humans, pets, and livestock. Ticks are on the move, increasing the risk of diseases such as Lyme disease and Alpha-gal syndrome in humans, as well as Anaplasmosis in livestock.
DeKalb County Garden Walk | July 12 | 9am-3pm
Ogle County Farm Stroll | Oct. 12 | SAVE THE DATE
Save the Date: Oct. 12 from 11 am to 4 pm, take part in a self-guided tour of Ogle County's diversified family farms. There is no beginning or end, just choose which farms to see and hit the road! Rain or shine, there are ten farms participating this year. Call 815-732-2191 for more information or see more here.
Farmers: receive free mental healthcare
The Illinois Agricultural Mental Health Voucher Program connects agricultural producers and their families with local mental health professionals. This program would enable producers to seek mental health services at no cost to the producer and their family. From this program, we hope to broaden mental health access for agricultural producers and their families. Request a voucher here.
Camp Russell | Genoa
Camps fill quickly and space is limited, so register your child today! Choose from four weeklong programs, each with a different theme. The camp will run from 9 am to 3 pm each day at the Natural Resource Education Center inside Russell Woods Forest Preserve. Children will have fun learning about nature through hands‐on activities, games, and nature awareness. For more information on registering your child, call 815-758-8194. For information about the camp, call 815-784-2000.
4-H Clubs
Agriculture
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Explore Youth Programs
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Master Gardeners
Master Naturalists
Natural Resource Education Center
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Youth Camps