Growing and Using World Grains: Suburban Homesteading Adult Workshop Series

You don’t need to own multiple acres outside of town in order to dabble in the heart of homesteading.  You can explore “handmade and homegrown” right here in the suburbs.  We invite you to join Prairie Crossing Learning Farm staff as we share some of our favorite homesteading topics during our suburban homesteading workshop series!  

One cannot live on vegetables alone!  And meat is expensive, in many cases denatured by raising and processing practices - and, in any case, not for everyone.

Despite their importance in our diet and relative ease in growing, few gardeners grow any grains.  While most backyards lack the space needed for growing a year’s supply, you might be surprised to find out how much you can grow in a relatively small space.  Growing grains can add diversity to your backyard crop rotation and provide numerous opportunities for family food and fun. 

During this workshop, we will explore grain uses beyond bread-making, focusing on winter wheat, amaranth and sorghum. We will introduce beginners to garden-scale grain growing tips, threshing and winnowing
techniques, and ideas for year-round grain projects. Much of this workshop will be hands-on. Rain or shine, we will lead participants through several methods of threshing, winnowing and milling winter wheat using implements that can be made at home or purchased cheaply. If weather permits, we may also plant some winter wheat, using several different techniques.

Participants should wear clothes suitable for farmwork, and bring work gloves. Participants will bring home a resource handout on world grains and some winter wheat seeds to plant.  The registration fee is $30 per person. 

Instructor:  Eric Carlberg, PCLF Farm Manager

Assisted by:  Sharon Gaughan, PCLF Education Program Director

If this workshop is filled and you'd like to be added to the wait list, please email sgaughan@prairiecrossing.com. Register early to save your spot!

This particular Saturday morning workshop is open to adult participants AND accompanied children ages 8 and over. If you are registering multiple people in one family, please click "add" in the "additional person" section of the registration form. All workshop attendees must register.

All workshops will begin in the Yellow Farmhouse at the Prairie Crossing Farm, located at 32400 N. Harris Road in Grayslake. Enter Prairie Crossing via Route 45 at Jones Point Road and follow the signs to the Farm. Free parking is available in the small parking lot just past the Yellow Farm House.

Starting in January, we will offer workshops covering additional Suburban Homesteading topics.  We welcome suggestions and requests, and will try to accommodate those in our ongoing series of homesteading workshops.  For inquiries and suggestions contact Sharon Gaughan, Prairie Crossing Learning Farm Education Program Director, at sgaughan@prairiecrossing.com or 847-548-4062 x12.

Workshop Policies 

Payment. Payment must be received in full for each workshop you have registered for within 1 week of your enrollment date, or the date of the workshop – whichever comes first. Registrations without corresponding payment within 1 week are subject to cancellation. Payment is available online via PayPal, or you may mail a check made payable to the Liberty Prairie Foundation to 32400 N. Harris Road, Grayslake IL 60030 (Attention: Sharon Gaughan).

Cancellation.  Cancellation 5 days prior to the workshop is refunded at 90%, less the PayPal transaction fees if payment was made through PayPal. Cancellations less than 4 days prior to the workshop are non-refundable. Refunds are not given for missed workshops. The Prairie Crossing Learning Farm reserves the right to cancel workshops due to low enrollment; these cancellations will be fully refunded.

Register Now!