SEED SWAPS l Naturaly Awakenings Chicago magazine has a detailed article about the seed saving culture, which is celebrated January 31 on National Seed Swap Day...

SEED SWAPS l It's a fair guess that most readers of Local Food Forum believe in sustainability. But there is sustainability, and there is seed-swap sustainability

SUSTAINABILITY l Alex Frantz and Jodi Fyfe, two powerful advocates in Chicago's local food community, are among Crain's Chicago Notable Leaders in Sustainability...

ORGANIC GRAIN l A major winter organic grain conference presented by UWisconsin's OGRAIN program will be held in Madison Jan. 23-24 with Artisan Grain Collaborative.

SOIL HEALTH l Illinois Stewardship Alliance has set March 2 to 8 for its 2026 Soil Health Week. Applications for live or online program segments are due by Feb. 9...

FOOD COMPOSTING l Longtime leaders in metro Chicago composting efforts, The Urban Canopy and Collective Resource Collective, now are merging their efforts...

ORGANIC FARMING l The Experimental Station non-profit is hosting a screening of Organic Rising, a film that clarifies what organic ag means and why it is better...

URBAN FARMING l The Talking Farm is located just north of the Chicago city line. They held a fundraiser with fun, food and drink, and beautiful things growing...

REMEMBERING A LEADER l Part II of a tribute to Fred Kirschenmann, who gave up academia in 1976 to convert his family farm to organic. He became a visionary thinker.

REMEMBERING A VISIONARY l Fred Kirschenmann gave up an academic career to convert his North Dakota family farm to organic. He became a thoughtful, visionary leader..