McLean county small farm uses systems-level thinking, small town advocacy, farm business synergy to drive positive change in local food system Sometimes it is good to take a step back and look at things from the 30,000-foot view, as the saying goes. If we allow ourselves (as farmers, technical...

A cacophony of duck quacks, chicken clucks, and goose honks announced my arrival at the Little Farm at Weldon Springs, a quarter mile down the road from Weldon Springs State Park. Poultry Manager Anna Morell chased a basset hound named Roux around the yard while Rue tried in vain to catch...

When “farming” is invoked in Illinois, thoughts typically gravitate toward corn and soybeans. When “small farmers” are mentioned, one imagines those who grow vegetables and fruits or raise livestock for regional markets. But when I came across the term “farmer-florist”, I was unsure what to think...

Milk is one of the most ordinary grocery store items in the United States. An entire industry is based around this liquid commodity, with tens of thousands of farms across the country that feed into it. Used for everything from cereal to pancakes, protein shakes, and lattes, many people enjoy milk...

It was a strangely mild, pleasant, and cloudy day in early July when I visited with Jeremy Zobrist of Rock Creek Farms and sister company, Top Fox Snacks, based in Danvers, IL, west of Bloomington-Normal. The topography while approaching the Mackinaw River...