Planting For Growth
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Farming has always been about neighbors helping neighbors. I grew up on a farm and I love agriculture. I know the magic of working with nature to raise food takes a lot of people working hand in hand. My name is Todd Price and I’d like to share a farming project I’m working on and passionate about in hopes that you will contribute to it’s success.
Farm Foundation recently purchased a centennial farm In Libertyville, Illinois, to be the future home of our Innovation and Education Campus. This will be a place of collaboration and innovation as we bring the discussion back to where all agriculture starts: the soil. We plan to nurture the fields, which have been fallow for several years, back to productive life. These fields will serve as a living educational experience. However, if we don’t get the necessary groundwork done now, we risk losing an entire year of restoring the working fields. And because farming has always been about neighbors helping neighbors, we need a little bit of your help.
To be ready for spring planting, the following work needs to be done in the next few weeks on the fields, the barn, and the farmhouse.
Fields: To launch our field plan we need to start with the integration of cover crops this fall. The cover crops will help us showcase not only the soil health benefits of fall planting, but also the wide variety of possibilities as farmers look to alternative and high value crop options. The amount needed to complete the work this fall is $5,190.
Barn: Built at the same time as the house, the barn is the current focal point of the site and will serve as a classroom and gathering area. It is beautiful and iconic, but recent storm damage to the roof created leaks which risk damaging the structure. Timely repair will cost $5,000 and will protect this historic building that is much loved by the community.
1860’s Farmhouse: With a little bit of work, the historic farmhouse will transform into the support hub of the new programs and initiatives on the site. Despite its age, the house has good bones. Fixing the bathroom and other modest remodeling would make it fit to welcome guests to the farm. This work is projected to cost $19,810.
Farming faces big challenges in feeding a growing world population while also protecting the planet’s soil, water, and other natural resources. For 90 years, Farm Foundation has been a trusted partner in our mission of building trust and understanding at the intersection of agriculture and society. The Innovation and Education Campus is a critical new step on this path.
We hope that you will consider supporting our work in Libertyville and help us take our first steps at the Innovation and Education Campus by making a donation. We also ask that you share this request with your friends and neighbors, too. Together, we can fulfill our vision of building a future for farmers, our communities and our world.
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Farm Foundation
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