The Land Connection
The Land Connection (TLC) was founded in 2001 to preserve farmland in Illinois and connect sustainably-minded farmers with available farmland. TLC began training farmers through the Central Illinois Farm Beginnings course in 2004, and since then has trained over 160 prospective farmers. In addition to Farm Beginnings, TLC has offered a number of other farmer training programs over the years and in recent years has seen a signficant expansion in its effort and impact. TLC now offers a regular rotation of programs, from half-day workshops to multi-day intensive trainings that deliver resources and mentorship to an expanding population of aspiring growers in central Illinois and beyond. TLC also runs the Downtown Champaign Farmers’ Market near its office in Champaign, IL, creates valuable resources in a variety of media, and operates a valuable classifieds service on its website.