Stories

Learning Center launches rotational grazing operation

Mai and Maizy explore their new home, Highland FieldMai and Maizy explore their new home, Highland Field. 

Did you know that grass-fed beef contains fewer calories, more heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, and more nutrients than grain-fed beef?  And that animals raised in rotations on pastures have dramatically lower counts of bacterial pathogens that can harm human beings? 

 

We did it! The 70 is saved!

Save the 70 Campaign

The Learning Center is excited to announce we have completed the Save the 70 campaign, and have raised the funds needed to purchase the 70 acres of beautiful wild space and farmland known as Kinnikinnick Fields. We are both jubilant and sincerely grateful to the hundreds of supporters who contributed to Save the 70. Thank you!   

First Kids of the Year!

First Kids of the Year

First time goat mom, Esmay, gave birth on Sunday, March 18 to beautiful twins, a boy (white) and girl (brown). Nine more pregnant does wait in the goat yard, ready to give birth.

 

 

Join us for goat programs over the coming weeks to meet the twins, plus the other babies yet to be born. Programs include family Kidwatch (Saturday, March 24), our unique Kids with Kids Day Camps (March 26 to 28, April 2 to 4, and April 9 to 11), plus Get Your Goat, a workshop for potential goat owners. 

AOLC Eco-Advocate accepts award for urban agriculture work in Rockford

AOLC and partners accept Winnebago County Soil and Water Conservation District's Chairman's Special Award

Congratulations to our Rockford partners! On January 27, the Winnebago County Soil and Water Conservation District awarded the Chairman’s Special award to AOLC partner Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum & Gardens, for its Kent Creek restoration project and urban farming projects located on the Tinker Swiss grounds.

Stateline Farm Beginnings - 2011/2012, Applications are now closed

2010-2011 Stateline Farm Beginnings

 

Update: Applications are now closed for the 2011-2012 program. Please consider appying next year. Best of success to the new Stateline Farm Begginings® class!

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Previous Post: Applications for the 2011-2012 Stateline Farm Beginnings® program are open for submission.

 

Calf Naming Contest: "Bisbi" is the newest member of the farm

Maizy and baby calfMaizy and her baby calf, July 1 2011

Our four year-old cow Maizy gave birth on Thursday, June 30th to a bull calf. Mom and baby are both doing well. We are taking suggestions for names now through July 31st.

 

Update: "Bisbi" has been named. Congratulations to the winner of the calf naming contest. We hope you enjoy your home made pie!

The Learning Center featured in new book "Farm Together Now”

Farm Together NowFarm Together Now

Angelic Organics Learning Center is one of twenty small farms across America featured in a new book, Farm Together Now: A Portrait of People, Places and Ideas for a New Food Movement by Amy Franceschini and Daniel Tucker. Farm Together Now explores the current state of grassroots farming in the U.S. The authors visited small farms across America, talking to farmers about their engagement in producing sustainable food, challenging public policy, and developing community organizing efforts.

Policy and Practice: Chicago Chicken Enthusiasts

The Learning Center's Martha Boyd organized a screening of the film "Mad City Chickens" in September 2009At a screening of "Mad City Chickens" in September 2009: Martha Boyd, Producer/Directors Robert and Tarshai, and two Chicago chicken keepers, Shawnecee and Drew

Backyard chicken care in Chicago, and the Learning Center’s role in promoting this aspect of urban agriculture, is currently featured in the November 2010 cover story of Mindful Metropolis. Download or pick up a copy to read the story "Thank You for Being a Hen; Chicken enthusiasts take roost in Chicago.”

 

18 New Learning Center Graduates Prepare to Launch Sustainable Farm Businesses

Image2009-2010 Stateline Farm Beginnings Graduates

 

September each year marks the graduation of a new crop of farm families from our year-long Stateline Farm Beginnings® Farmer Training program. Designed to help new farmers launch a sustainable farm enterprise, the year-long program includes classes, field days, and one-on-one mentoring for beginning and transitioning farmers. This month, 18 new farm families graduated, many of whom are already hitting the ground running with their new farm enterprises.

 

Teen Youth Educate Peers in Creating a Healthy Food System

imageChute Middle School Peer Leaders

This year, the Learning Center received a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a new program to encourage environmental stewardship amongst teen youth who participate in our on-farm programs. As a result, we have a new crop of leadership for our On-Farm programs this spring.  Two groups of teens from 10 schools ranging geographically from rural Wisconsin to south Chicago attended leadership training days this year, and have since returned to the farm to serve as peer educators to other students from their schools.