The LLCC Green Center is proud to support the expansion of a local food economy in the Lincoln Land district. Thanks to funding provided by the Illinois Community College Board and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), LLCC has undertaken a variety of exciting initiatives related to local food, including:
- Completing two local food shows (one on canning and preserving and one on organic farming) with the local Springfield PBS station - click here for recipes from the shows
- Sponsoring and hosting the Sangamon Area Farm to School Summit with the Springfield Area Local Food Task Force, scheduled for Nov. 5, 2011
- Sponsoring and hosting the 2011 Central Illinois Composting Symposium and the 2012 Central Illinois Composting Symposium, scheduled for Feb. 15, 2012
- Working with the Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN) to publish a white paper: "The Role of Community Colleges in Developing the Illinois Local Food System"
- Hosting the 2011 Illinois State Fair Wine Competition
- Developing new and revised courses related to local food for the culinary arts and horticulture programs
- Expanding our on-campus community garden project
- Starting school garden projects at Black Hawk and Feitshans elementary schools and supported numerous other school and community garden projects
- Offering spring and summer Community Education classes on topics including Composting for Your Food Garden, Food Preservation, Green Your Restaurant, and Farm to Fork dinners
- Reaching more than 2,000 elementary students and parents at genH local food cooking demonstrations
- Co-sponsoring “The Economics of Eating: How Local Food Can Boost Economic Development” at the Governor’s Mansion
- Hosting Salvation Army “Cooking with Local Foods” cooking classes for homeless veterans
- Developing an organic gardening workshop series
- Purchasing high tunnels and a composting system for use on the main Lincoln Land campus
- Developing a Cooking with Kids cookbook
- And more!