Learning the Farm Business

A  Farm in  Jo Daviess County

I thought I would share a list of what I've done these past years to prepare me for farming.  I just wanted to lay it out and to also show myself - Do I have what it takes to run a farm? 

I'll never stop learning or volunteering. 

Garden/Farm Ventures:

            Kautz Family Farm

            2014 – Present

Kautz Farm organic garden & kitchen.

Assisting in the Kautz vision of organically grown food and beverage breakout brand.

Managing and forming the structure of buyers from local restaurants. Spreading the word on naturally grown and supporting the feeding of the less fortunate.

Community Nursing Home

2009 – Present
Acre Garden Plot - Grow vegetables and flowers

Fundraising and obtain donations yearly

Farmers Market with excess - all proceeds go to the residents

             Downers Grove Park District           

             Instructor

 8 workshops                   Canning and Preserves

Naperville West Street Park District Community Garden

2004 – 2008

2006 - Winner - 2^nd Place Flower Division

Membership/Organizations

Member of CRAFT – (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) IL/WI Area
           Farms work/learn workshops

Member of MOSES – Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service

Member of The Livestock Conservancy

Member of Seed Savers

Food Education

College of DuPage

ServSafe Food Safety Manager Certificate

December 2014 – March 2015

The University of Illinois Extension Program

“Growing a New Generation of Illinois Fruit and Vegetable Farmers”

University of Illinois Extension Office, St. Charles, IL

December 2013 – November 2014

Class included this list and oh so much more! I wish I could take it over again!

•land acquisition and transfer                        
•cover crops and tillage
•business planning                                       
•variety evaluations
•legal issues                                                 
•pest and disease scouting
•insurance                                                    
•integrated pest management
•marketing                                                  
•pesticide application
•farm safety                                                
•pruning and thinning
•food safety                                                
•postharvest handling
•Farm to School                                         
•harvest practices
•equipment operation & safety                     
•visits to established produce farms
•conventional and organic production methods
•transplant production                                  
•irrigation
•high tunnel construction and operation         
•access to incubator plots
•discussions with experienced farmers           
•soils and soil testing 

Farm Events/Workshops/Share Labor 

Hoop Houses Installation                              
Farm Machinery

Beekeeping                                                  
Composting

Mint Creek Farm Tour/Dinner                       
Garlic Planting - Acres of it!

Celery Harvest and Preparation                    
Chicken Raising

Chicken Butchering and processing                
Draft Horse – No Tractors

Butcher Beef and processing         
Organic Grain

Goat Keeping                                               
Goat Milking
Cheese Making                                              
Organic Vegetables

USDA Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food, Know Your Food Bill

Some extra things I thought of that makes me think of my sustainable practices.

Grew and processed Rye grass – 14 pounds ground into flour used to bake Cinnamon rolls for Residents

Tomatoes – processed into Sauce, ketchup, salsa

Canned and preserved food -  pickles, pickled beets, pickled hot peppers, spaghetti sauce, whole tomatoes and various jellies, including a crab apple jelly.