The Refuge Food Forest is quiet. The hum of summer insects among the fruit trees has disappeared, the leaves have all fallen, and their dormant branches stand bare against a cold blue sky. Now is the time for careful pruning with sharp shears and keen eyes. Snip. A twig from an apple tree drops to...

What do cover cropping in garden beds, companion planting of corn, beans, and squash, crafting herbal gifts at home, DIY sausage making, and sourdough bread making all have in common? Each of these practices empowers community members to boost self-sufficiency, enhance household resilience, and...

U of I Extension, Rader Family Farms to host 2nd McLean Co. Pumpkin Smash to combat climate changeHalloween night may be filled with frights, but garbage day is where the real horror lurks. Discarded by the 1,000s, decaying jack-o-lanterns and rotting pumpkins are hauled off to...

As we head into the end of the growing and gardening season, it’s important to show your garden some love after it has provided all season long for you and yours. My preferred cover crop mix is oats, field peas, and tillage radish – seeded in late August or early September. But whether you missed...

Central IL Modern Homesteading and Self-Sufficiency Series ContinuesThe "Modern Homesteading & Self-Sufficiency" workshop series was launched by the University of Illinois Extension staff in Bloomington, Illinois on Wednesday, August 21st, from 5:00-7:30 PM at the McLean County...

The next installment of my tri-county farmer interview series brought me to Panter Ridge Farms, owned and operated by Ashley and Nathan Hodel. Their farm, in El Paso, IL, spans 23 acres and is surrounded by the rolling hills and valleys of the Mackinaw River watershed.   Ashley and...

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The next stop in my tri-county farmer interview series brought me to Garden Gate Farm in Fairbury, Illinois, to talk to the Rinkenberger family. On the way up the driveway, I smelled freshly blooming lilacs, saw a handful of pigs in their pen, witnessed many vegetable...

  Shiitake mushrooms are a world-renowned delicacy that are beloved by food enthusiasts. Their rich, earthy, umami flavor and meaty texture make them a sought-after ingredient in countless dishes. But did you know that you can easily cultivate these gourmet mushrooms in your...

Milk is so synonymous with a grocery store visit; it is permanently printed on your shopping list notepad. With an entire industry supporting this staple item, there are tens of thousands of farms across the country that feed into it. However, few consumers rarely give credit to the work vested in...

Gardening enthusiasts on the lookout for unique garden additions should make space for red and white currant shrubs. Incorporation of perennial fruits in the garden is trendy and smart – they provide both ornamental value and food. With the addition of white currant (Ribes sativum) and red currant...