Field Trip – Sustainable Agriculture Field trip to Freeport Student Garden & Composting site

Sustainable Agriculture Field trip to Freeport Student Garden & Composting site

Tuesday, July 23
8am to approximately 11am

The garden is located south of the Locust Ave and Empire St intersection in Freeport.
Coordinator: Juliet Moderow 201-233-0946

Join us for a tour of the Freeport Student Garden (FSG). The FSG is designed to provide students with a unique opportunity to develop agricultural and career skills through the production, harvest, and sale of locally grown fruits and vegetables. Ben Skipor, Freeport High School agriculture teacher and garden coordinator, and his students will lead a tour of the garden and composting site that our chapter has supported over recent years. There are two Urban Agriculture classes that have 55-60 students a year, 15-20 student workers each season, 10-15 volunteers from SITE each season, and six members of the Chicken Crew.

The FSG is a 0.5-acre market farm that grows over 55 vegetables, fruits and herb varieties. They also have 24 laying hens, 120 meat chickens, and 8 meat turkeys. The garden is very community-driven. They have a booth at the Stephenson County Farmers Market most Saturdays of the season, have a self-service farm stand as well, and sells Community-supported Agriculture Shares. They also work with the SSM Health Group to develop a Feeding Families Garden designed to provide fresh, healthy produce to families of need within the school district while also showcasing sustainable agriculture practices.

Finally, the FSG continues to grow their community composting program in conjunction with the Environmental Study Group, University of Illinois Extension, and our chapter.

We hope you can join us!