Workshop Opportunities!

Suburban Homesteading Workshop Series:

Including a Backyard Chicken Workshop!
by Sharon Gaughan, PCLF Education Program Director

The urban and suburban homesteading movement has gained momentum in recent years.  Increasing numbers of urban and suburban folks are striving toward a more self-sufficient and sustainable lifestyle – growing more of their own food (and in some cases their own small livestock, such as chickens and bees), as well as preparing more of their food, fiber, and other items from scratch. 

Greater numbers of suburban homesteaders are practicing small-scale farming in their suburban-sized backyards – and sometimes in their front yards, as well.

 

Our Learning Farm staff share a love of this homesteading lifestyle.  We live in the suburbs and we work on a suburban farm – we practice suburban homesteading both on the farm, in our own homes, and in our yards every day in a variety of ways.  We each have our areas of interest and expertise – and taken together the Learning Farm staff holds a wealth of knowledge and experience for the suburban homesteader.  Through these workshops, we can share our passion with those seeking a similar lifestyle.

The idea to start this fall Suburban Homesteading Workshop Series came to me while attending a presentation on backyard chickens earlier this year.  As a farm set in the suburbs, Prairie Crossing Learning Farm is uniquely positioned to serve as a resource for new suburban homesteaders – those looking to explore new homesteading topics or to further hone their existing skills.  My hope is that we will be able offer a new set of workshops each season throughout the year, moving the Learning Farm toward becoming a center for suburban homesteading.

Here are the workshops that we’ll be offering this fall (note that the first workshop date is this Saturday!):

 

·         Preserving the Harvest -> August 24

·         World Grains – Growing & Using -> September 14

·         Small-scale Composting -> October 5

·         Backyard Chickens -> October 26

·         Homemade Yogurt & Granola -> November 16

 

Visit our website for more information and to register!