It's Spring and we have big plans for the farm. To get the season rolling, we are hosting an all day OPEN FARM on April 21st and I expect all my blog followers, yes even those of you who live in quaint villages like Trelawnd, Forrest, Peyrot, and Chicago to attend.
The day will be filled with farm tours, pasture walks, and hands on animal husbandry.The main attraction will be Zan Asha herself, all the way from New York, to teach participants how to bee-keep without chemicals.
Zan is...beyond fun.
She is one of a kind and once you hear her teach about non-chemical ways to raise bees you'll be converted and if not converted you will at least be entertained and you will certainly get your moneys worth. For just $50 per class you will hear Zan tell of her own adventures raising bees in the biggest of cities via the rooftop. She will share methods passed down to her from her WW II era European grandfather as well as other tidbits she has learned in her fantastic travels (most recently via horse drawn wagon) across our beautiful country. Learn how to work with bees based on their behavior, WITHOUT the use of pesticides or chemicals
**PLEASE NOTE: THESE BEE CLASSES ARE HANDS ON: we will be looking AT bees up close and personal, so PLEASE WEAR either a BEESUIT with VEIL or A VEIL/EYE PROTECTION with LIGHT COLORED LONG SLEEVED shirt with COLLAR and LONG PANTS and CLOSED SHOES***
Organic Beekeeping 101 (Beginner's): 10:30a - 1:30pm
Learn the basics of beekeeping: the history of beekeeping, standards of bee society and behavior, set up of hives, various hives including topbar hives, basic bee care, organic answers to pests and more!
Organic Beekeeping 102 (Advanced): 2-5pm
For the more experienced beekeeper, this class discusses progressive organic techniques in keeping bees, including splitting hives, swarming and swarm prevention, advanced disease prevention, honey harvesting and marketing, varietal honey and more!
$50/person/per class
To register and pay for one or both of the classes please go to Zan's site http://www.beyondvagabond.com/p/about.html
Payment will also be accepted that day (CASH only) and walk-ins are very welcome.
Tours of the farm are FREE and our farm store will be open. Items for sale include cage free chicken, free range eggs, all natural hand made soaps, GMO free popcorn, organic beef, and pork. Raw milk will also be available for purchase but you will need to bring your own container.
For more information, about these classes, the tours or our farm, please call us at 815-635-3414 or email us at opies99 @gmail.com
For directions to our farm please go to our web site
http://www.south-pork-ranch.com/directions.html
To read a great interview of Zan done by Writer/Farmer/Fellow Central Illinois Blogger
Deborah Nieman go to Deborah's blog http://www.homegrownandhandmadethebook.com/
Zan will be teaching the same bee classes at that farm the next day if you can't make it to our place.
Hope to see LOTS of you here on our farm April 21st !!
