SPRING COLORS l Spring foliage got off to a slow start in Chicago because of the chilly weather. But it didn't take much of a warmup for the beauty of spring to pop

YOUNG FARMERS l Northern Illinois Young Farmers Coalition is celebrating spring and community with a May 24 potluck dinner and barn dance that promises relaxation and fun

URBAN FARMING l Just Roots, an urban farming non-profit with a mission to combat food insecurity, is holding season kickoff events in June on their farms in Chicago and in the south suburbs

FOOD NON-PROFITS l There's a virtuous reason to attend the Farmers Rising non-profit's Barnyard Blues concert, as it's a fundraiser for the organization. But it's going to be a lot of fun, too

FARM DINNERS l Village Farmstand, a farmer-owner e-commerce local food retailer, is launching a series of "farm" dinners on May 22 in Evanston, just outside Chicago