July 

at Ryerson Woods

Saturdays, July 11 & 25
Outdoor Watercolor Workshop:
11am–2pm
Have you always wanted to paint outdoors? Join artist and instructor Judith Joseph in the gardens at Ryerson Woods for a watercolor workshop. Class will begin with a brief slide show of watercolor masterpieces for inspiration, followed by instruction on how to begin and develop a landscape painting. Materials and setup will be discussed as instructor helps students choose a good spot and arrange their equipment. Brushwood. Price $69 ($59 FRW members) per session. Register online: Part I, Part II, or call 847-968-3321.

Sunday, July 26
Growing Farmers in Lake County
1:30-3pm
Did you know that we need to “grow” farmers in Illinois? With the enormous loss of family farms over the past century, the knowledge of how to grow food for humans on a large scale has diminished. If we want a large supply of locally grown food available to us, we need to grow the farmers. The Farm Enterprise Development Center (FEDC) in Grayslake was created in response to this need. It supports the development of successful family farm enterprises, which focus on growing & marketing organic food into local & regional systems. Known as an “incubator,” the FEDC is located on a 100 acre organic farm and has its foundation in the Prairie Crossing Conservation Community. The incubator works with beginning farmers that want to develop the entrepreneurial skills, farming knowledge and market networks needed to become successful professional farmers. Join us for a tour where we’ll learn more about this innovative concept and even meet some beginning farmers. Prairie Crossing, Grayslake. $25 ($20 FRW members). Directions provided upon registration. Register online or call 847-968-3321. 

Coming up

in August: 

Join artist and instructor Judith Joseph for outdoor drawing and painting with your choice of medium. We will draw and paint a model in the beautiful setting of Ryerson Woods. Instructor will provide demonstrations on composition and selecting scenery to paint and draw. Technical issues of landscape and plein-air painting and drawing will be addressed. Supply lists for various mediums will be provided for students who request it. Brushwood. Price $79 ($69 FRW members) per session. Register online: Part I, Part II, or call 847-968-3321.

Join Lynnette Mensah, Nutrition and Wellness Educator, University of Illinois Extension for a view of a cook’s kitchen at canning time—tomatoes, pickles and jellies. You’ll learn what equipment is necessary and how to set up your kitchen for a day of canning. Learn how to store summer’s bounty of fruits and vegetables for enjoyment year-round. Brushwood. $15 ($10 FRW members). Register online or call 847-968-3321. 

Part memoir, part journalistic investigation, this book tells the story of how Kingsolver’s family was changed by one year of deliberately eating food produced in the place where they live. Following the discussion, enjoy a tour of the Green Youth Farm, a youth-run organic farm at the Greenbelt Forest Preserve in North Chicago. Green Youth Farm, Greenbelt Forest Preserve, North Chicago. Directions provided upon registration. $20 ($15 FRW members).  Register online or call 847-968-3321.

 Presented in partnership with