The Bi-State Homesteading Conference will take place Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET in the Beef House Oak Room, offering hands-on, research-based education for individuals interested in homesteading, food production, and sustainable living.
Chaired by Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy Extension Educator Karla Griesbaum, the one-day conference will feature expert-led sessions on backyard maple syrup production, composting, and sourdough breadmaking. The event brings together Extension educators and specialists from Purdue and University of Illinois to provide practical skills participants can use at home.
Registration opens at 9:30 a.m., followed by a welcome at 10 a.m. The morning program begins with “Backyard Sugaring for Beginners,” presented by Kurt Lanzone, Purdue University Extension agriculture and natural resources educator. A long-time maple syrup tapper, Lanzone will guide participants through the basics of tapping trees and producing maple syrup at home, drawing on his work with a USDA-funded Extension initiative that supports maple syrup producers and beginners.
From 11 a.m. to noon, Sue Gasper and Gemini Bhalsod will present “The Science of Composting.” Gasper works with residents throughout Cook County to increase science literacy with an emphasis on chemistry, while Bhalsod provides horticulture education focused on plants, environmental stewardship, and gardening. Their session will explain the science behind successful aerobic composting, including the reasoning behind common composting guidelines such as browns-to-greens ratios, and how to build an effective outdoor compost pile.
Following a lunch break from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., the afternoon session will focus on sourdough breadmaking. Illinois Extension nutrition and wellness educator Rachel Mannen will lead an introductory class on creating and maintaining a sourdough starter. Mannen, a registered dietitian nutritionist, will cover the science behind sourdough fermentation, proper feeding and care techniques, and participants will take home their own sourdough starter.
The cost to attend is $35, which includes lunch and is payable by cash or check at the door. For more information or to get registered, visit go.illinois.edu/BiStateHomesteading.