The Prairie Crossing Learning Farm
Overview | Sandhill Organics | The Learning Farm | Farm Market
Children's Farm Camp Registration Now Open...see below. Sign up today for the Prairie Farm Corps CSA...information below.
Welcome to the Learning Farm
ABOUT US
The mission of the Prairie Crossing Learning Farm is to educate and inspire people to value healthy food, land and community through experiences on our farm. The Learning Farm is the only modern, working, organic farm in Lake County that offers educational opportunities to children. It uses three acres of land, several greenhouses, a children's garden, a hen house and a fruit orchard as outdoor classrooms. Learning Farm education programs rely on staff who have expertise in both agriculture and teaching.
The Learning Farm is an educational, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. It is part of the Liberty Prairie Foundation whose mission is to promote the integration of healthy ecosystems and the vibrant human communities they support. It is located within Prairie Crossing, a conservation community in Grayslake, Illinois, widely recognized for combining the preservation of open land with sustainable agriculture.
PROGRAMS
Farm-based education
The Learning Farm works with 375 students from two local schools: the Prairie Crossing Charter School (grades K - 8) and the Adolescent Program of the Montessori School of Lake Forest (grades 7 - 9). Students from both schools are engaged and excited about their on-farm lessons and work experiences that integrate agriculture with science, math, language, nutrition, social studies, and economics.
Prairie Farm Corps
This ten-week summer program enables young adults ages 16 - 18 to learn about and experience working on an organic farm. They plant and grow crops, help care for a flock of chickens, harvest crops and eggs, and prepare and sell them at market. They also participate in daily team building activities to plan and organize their work, and they cook weekly farm fresh meals together. The program also includes off-site visits to local farms, food pantries and a college. Prairie Farm Corps increases work opportunities and job skills training for young adults in central Lake County. Italso strengthens their connections to their food system, environment, and community.
Sponsor Form
Crew Member Brochure
Crew Member Application
Crew Leader Application
In the News
Growing Future Gardeners | Teens Spend Summer Working on the Farm
Become a member of the Prairie Farm Corps CSA program.
The Prairie Farm Corps gives youth the chance to earn a paycheck while working on an organic farm. A CSA means Community Supported Agriculture where you “buy a share” ahead of time and receive a box of truly fresh produce in weekly installments. The program participants manage the 9-week CSA program to give them firsthand experience in a growing business model. By becoming a member, you receive a weekly box of fresh organic vegetables, a dozen organic eggs and a colorful newsletter profiling one of the students on their progress. For more information download the pdf or contact Erin Cummisford at ecummisford@prairiecrossing.com
Great Garden Gang
During this after-school program, students of grades K - 5 grow crops from seed to table. Participants care for a plot of land, grow many different types of plants, learn about insects and animals on the farm, harvest and use crops for food and crafts. Great Garden Gang meets weekly, after school in the spring and fall.
Session dates and times
2011 registration information
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT: Register by March 1st, 2011 and get $5 off a session.
Children's Farm Camp
This summer day camp provides children aged three to ten with an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors as they explore where their food comes from, on a working organic farm. Children learn about growing food, insects, soil and chickens, and prepare fresh snacks from the farm.
Session dates and times
2011 registration information
2011 Camp Policies and Procedures
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT: Register by March 1st, 2011 and get $5 off a session.
Henhouse Helpers
The Learning Farm’s egg operation presents learning opportunities for many children, and a chance for adults to connect with their roots or sink new ones. People volunteer to help take care of our flock of free-range chickens. The volunteers rotate days to feed the laying hens and collect, wash, and pack the eggs for sale. Our hens have the three-part purpose of serving for education, nutrition, and cost reduction (via egg sales). Students learn about math and science, and strengthen their sense of responsibility in caring for farm animals. Hen house helper volunteers often come as a family, including young children who love the chickens and are proud to help. If you are interested in volunteering for any of our sessions contact Erin Cummisford at ecummisford@prairiecrossing.com
Eggs and more for sale
The Learning Farm cares for a flock of free-range hens, pastured in summer, who lay colorful eggs in hues of brown and white. We believe their freedom and the high-quality care by staff, volunteers and program participants makes them “Happy Hens”!
Our chickens are fed only organic feed and vegetable scraps – no hormones or drugs. Organic eggs are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which lower the risk of many diseases. Our fresh, healthy, organic eggs sell for $5.00 a dozen at the Long Barn on the farm.
Egg Update – December, 2011
You may have noticed that the Learning Farm egg production is low right now. As with everything the Learning Farm does, this situation presents a learning opportunity. The Learning Farm chickens are heritage breed birds. They are selected for their friendliness and so best serve our core mission of education, but they are not known for prolific egg production. Egg-specialist breeds raised by commercial egg operations produce more eggs, but are more flighty and not as nice to work with, particularly for children. We’ve had this current flock for about a year now. At this point in their life cycle they are molting -- they gradually lose their feathers and put much of their energy into re-growing them, which negatively impacts their egg production. The shorter days also cause their egg production to decrease. We are not currently providing supplemental lighting to increase egg production, but will begin to do so later this winter as daylight hours increase and the extra light supports the hens’ natural rhythm. Our flock management strategy is intended to respect the chickens, and allow them an opportunity to rest and rejuvenate during this time period. Some egg operations butcher the hens when their egg production decreases like this. Other operations push egg production in ways that are stressful and shorten the hens’ life span – which doesn’t matter to them. Our chickens are used to provide learning and joy, and that extends beyond their ability to produce eggs. For example, 8th graders at the Prairie Crossing Charter School are tracking egg production data and analyzing the downward and upward trends. A volunteer group of parents and kids are doing an independent research project on food safety as it relates to egg operations, and contrasting the Learning Farm model with large commercial operations that have been reported about in the media. Younger kids love to pet the chickens whether they’re laying eggs or not. The current plan is for the Learning Farm to maintain this flock until fall of 2012 – about one more year. We hope this information helps you to understand, to be patient, and to anticipate and enjoy fresh organic eggs that much more when production rises again. Thank you!
To stay updated on the Prairie Hens visit the blog at http://prairiehens.blogspot.com/
Learning Farm Tours
The Prairie Crossing Learning Farm is situated on a working organic farm with numerous farm businesses. Given the complexity of the farm operations and our staff capacity, the Learning Farm is not able to accommodate tour requests for children at this time.
FARM EVENTS
Some special events at the farm are open to the public and help to inspire young people and adults to understand the importance of healthy food, land, and community.
Join us at the...
GROWING WITH NATURE: ORGANIC PLANT SALE
Saturday, May 14th, 2011, 9:00 am-1:00 pm
Prairie Crossing Charter School, 1531 Jones Point Road Grayslake IL
Come purchase organically grown flower, vegetable, and herb starts during this fun, family event. These plants are perfect for starting your own garden.
RESERVE YOUR PLANTS TODAY. PRE-ORDER SALES FORM Pre-Orders are due by March 21st.
For those plants that like to be direct sown, the Prairie Crossing Charter School and Learning Farm are selling certified organic seeds through Natures Crossroads, click on the banner below to place your seed order that will benefit the Growing with Nature Organic Plant Sale.
If interested in any of these events please contact Erin Cummisford at 847-548-4062 x11 or ecummisford@prairiecrossing.com.
GET INVOLVED!
Other Volunteer Oportunities
Volunteers of all ages help to maintain the Learning Farm as an outdoor classroom and lead children's activities. To date, volunteers have contributed over 10,000 hours of service collecting eggs, planting, maintaining, and harvesting crops.
If you are interested and would like to get hands-on experience working on a farm then we need you!
Sign up for our email newsletter to stay informed of any volunteer opportunities available.
Receive our Email Newsletter
This is the best way to stay up to date on Learning Farm educational offerings, summer camp programs, volunteer opportunities, and events.
Follow us on Facebook | Prairie Crossing events
STAFF
Eric Carlberg, Learning Farm Manager
Eric took this position in March 2009. Previously he worked for two seasons as field crew leader with Sandhill Organics at Prairie Crossing. He has an M.A. in Theological Studies and hopes in future to pastor a church that grows food for its surrounding community. He has experience in working with homeless people in Seattle, where he developed a strong interest in growing food for and with those who go hungry.
Eric manages the field work, hoop house and hen house operation. He leads the adolescent students of the Montessori School of Lake Forest in a variety of work projects throughout their school year. He is also instrumental in the leadership of the Prairie Farm Corps program, its CSA production, and projects with volunteers.
Sharon Gaughan, Education Program Director
After teaching at Prairie Crossing Charter School for five years, Sharon was able to realize her and our dream and join the Learning Farm in 2009. Sharon holds a B.S. in Wildlife Biology and a B.A. in Secondary Education from the University of Montana and an M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction (Science Education) from Penn State University. Before coming here, Sharon spent many years as an environmental educator in a variety of settings and locations throughout the country and abroad.
Sharon works closely with the teachers and students of the Prairie Crossing Charter School, in designing and offering their farm education curriculum. She also directs the children’s farm camps and the growing operation for the annual organic plant sale.
Logan Beausoleil, Farm Educator
Logan joined the Learning Farm in April 2010 as Crew Leader in the Prairie Farm Corps Program, and joined full time as a Farm Educator in August 2011. He holds a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Art from Augustana College and holds an Illinois teaching certification. Logan is currently working on his M.S. in Elementary Education at Quincy University. Logan’s background and experience includes sustainable agriculture, teaching, program development, and project management.
Logan works closely with the 5-8th grade teachers and students of the Prairie Crossing Charter School to integrate classroom learning with on-farm experiences. He also serves as an educator for the Prairie Farm Corps Program leading the educational workshops and team building activities, as well as assisting with the farm field work. Off the farm, Logan is an avid long distance runner and recently placed 55th out of 45,000 participants in the 2011 Chicago Marathon and hopes to qualify for the Olympic trials.
Erin Cummisford, Program Associate
Erin joined the Learning Farm in May, 2011. She has been a henhouse helper and greenhouse volunteer in the past and enjoys gardening at her home in Prairie Crossing. Erin holds a Bachelors degree in Business and Psychology from Augustana College and an MBA from Loyola University in Chicago. Her professional experience includes consulting and training, and she has a variety of volunteer experience. Erin has joined our team to help with communications, volunteer coordination, program administration and other projects.
CONTACT US
For more information on the Learning Farm and how you can get involved, please contact Erin Cummisford at ecummisford@prairiecrossing.com or 847-548-4062 x11.
LOCATION
The Learning Farm part of the overall Prairie Crossing Organic Farm. It is located at 32400 N. Harris Rd. in the Prairie Crossing Conservation Community off Route 45, just south of Route 120 and east of Route 137 in Grayslake, IL.
Once you are in the Prairie Crossing community, follow the signs for the 'Farm'. We are within walking distance of the two Libertyville/Prairie Crossing Metra train stations. Directions to Prairie Crossing
The Learning Farm is open for visits between April 15th and December 15th.