Local agriculture is strong in Kane County — with 590 farms on more than 168,500 acres of farmland, so it makes sense that the Illinois Farm to School program has been ramping up in our area.

The Illinois Farm to School Network now wants to share its local successes with the community with an evening celebrating local food and agricultural education at the Farmhouse Fete.

Join the network from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, March 3, at the Northern Illinois Food Bank in Geneva. Nibble local gourmet food from Paramount Catering, and try an organic cupcake or two. Eat, mingle, and get to know the movement to bring more healthy, local foods to our schools.

Come learn about the power of school gardens to increase wellness and promote healing from featured speaker Shawna Coronado, a wellness lifestyle advocate, gardener and author.

Diane Chapeta, coordinator for the Illinois Farm to School Network at Seven Generations Ahead says Coronado is a terrific speaker, well known as an author and through her popular Ted Talks.

“We’re delighted to have Shawna on the program,” Chapeta said. “She will share her personal story of how she solved her health issues by planting and using fresh garden veggies from her own yard.”

Get more information about the Farmhouse Fete and reserve your tickets online here.

SOURCE: Kane County Division of Environmental and Water Resources, Illinois Farm to School Network

About the Farm to School Network

Farm to School is more than a program – it is a people-powered movement that seeks to teach students where food comes from and how delicious it can taste when eaten in season. There are three basic elements to farm to school:

1. Local food procurement
2. School gardens
3. Food and nutrition education (including farm field trips)

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE!

SOURCE: Farm to School Network website