A southern Illinois group that provides support to small farms is receiving some financial help from the state.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is providing Food Works with a six-thousand dollar grant to help provide scholarships for the 2012-13 Southern Illinois Farm beginnings course. Dayna Conner is the executive director of Food Works. She says the program gives participants the opportunity to learn from established growers and regional agriculture about all aspects of owning and operating a farm. The year long course includes field work as well as classroom instruction. The program is part of the Farm Beginnings program that operates through out the US.
Food Works is a non-profit organization providing training and support for small farms in southern Illinois. The application deadline has been extended. Printable application packets and scholarship forms can be downloaded at eatsouthernillinois.org. For more information contact Dayna Conner at dayna@eatsouthernillinois.org.
