At Sola Gratia Farm, we embrace the concept of practical gift-giving this holiday season. Treat yourself to the knowledge of cultivating calendula in your garden and discovering its benefits. You'll also have the opportunity to create 2, 2 oz containers of calendula salve to gift to your loved ones (or perhaps keep one for yourself!). Additionally, we’ll dive into the world of homemade herb salts and participants will be able to make 2 pint jars of their own custom blend! A pre-registration fee of $30 is required to cover material costs. All materials will be provided on the day of the workshop. Sign up today, as spaces are limited!

Join us at the new site to enjoy food by Blue Dragonfly Catering, a cash bar featuring local Riggs beers and wines, an open house (fields and farm buildings!), and live music by the very talented Jason Ringenberg! Jason is renowned for blending traditional country music with energetic punk rock, and in 2008 was awarded the Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance. Let’s rock this open house together as we celebrate all of Sola’s accomplishments over the past 12 years. We have been dedicated to producing locally-grown, high-quality, natural produce for the community, donating 20-30% of our produce to those in need, and promoting healthy lifestyles and community engagement through volunteering, special events, outreach, and education programs.

We will kick off  Sola’s Shindig with a children’s’ concert at our Community Classroom  featuring Farmer Jason, created by rock music icon Jason Ringenberg, uses music to both educate and entertain children about farm life and the beauty of nature. The character is inspired by his farming roots and passion for the outdoors. Kids and families of all ages are welcome! This is a free event.

Join us at Sola Gratia Farm for a morning dedicated to relaxation. We’re hosting a guided bird walk and a yoga class back-to-back! This 2-part event will begin at 8 AM at our greenhouse located at 2200 Philo Rd. After a brief discussion about what to expect on the bird walk, Jamie Schwieneke, a Sola staff member and founder of CU Bird Nerds facebook group, will lead everyone through some birding hotspots on the original acres and new farmland. The bird walk is expected to last between 60-90 minutes. Once we make our way back to the greenhouse, we will find a nice spot to set up for yoga class. We are so grateful to have Rachel Bass-Guennwig from Daily Bread Yoga back with us on the farm to lead us through class, where we will aim to soothe and revive both the body and mind. Come for the relaxing morning an stay for the homemade farm tea when we’re done! We welcome folks of all birding and yoga skill levels.

Recommendations:

• Bring binoculars, if you have them

• Wear comfy clothes, perhaps in layers

• Bring a yoga mat or towel

• $10 donation appreciated

We're having a Fall Plant Sale!

Fall is an exciting time to revamp your garden after the summer crops are through. Come shop from us August 23 & 24 to stock up on starts - we'll have cooking and salad greens, scallions, beets, peas, herbs, and flowers! This sale is in conjunction with St. Matthew Lutheran Church's Rummage Sale & Craft Fair!

Details WHERE: 2200 S Philo Rd. Urbana, ILWHEN: August 23 & 24 from 8AM to 1PM

Direct any questions you have to the comments or events@solagratiacsa.com

We're having a Fall Plant Sale!

Fall is an exciting time to revamp your garden after the summer crops are through. Come shop from us August 23 & 24 to stock up on starts - we'll have cooking and salad greens, scallions, beets, peas, herbs, and flowers! This sale is in conjunction with St. Matthew Lutheran Church's Rummage Sale & Craft Fair!

Details WHERE: 2200 S Philo Rd. Urbana, ILWHEN: August 23 & 24 from 8AM to 1PM

Direct any questions you have to the comments or events@solagratiacsa.com

Join us for a Fall Garden Workshop on Thursday, August 22, from 5-6pm! Our staff will lead a fall garden planting demo and cover topics such as what crops to plant in the fall, seasonal gardening tips, and how to prepare your garden for winter. Join the workshop and then stop by our Fall Plant Sale the following weekend to pick up everything you need! (No charge; $15 recommended donation.)

Register Here!

U.S.A! U.S.A.! Excited for the Summer Olympics? After cheering on our athletes in Paris, why not extend the fun to the Farm? Get your game face on and join us for Farm Olympics on Saturday, August 10th at 11AM! It is going to be a blast with games, prizes, and great photo opportunities. Pack a blanket and a basket, because there will be plenty of room for folks to enjoy a picnic. All ages are welcome to join in on the fun at this FREE event! Check out our flyer or send us an email at events@solagratiacsa.com for more information. Let the games begin!

Asahi Open House at St. Matthew! This is an intro to the gentle Finnish exercise Asahi, and we're excited that St. Matthew is hosting. More details and sign-up on their page!

Sola Gratia Farm is excited to share a space we have been working on for our community - The Community Classroom! Please join us during the Urbana Amble to add some of your personal touches to this space by filling it with works of art. Materials will be supplied.

Learn how to start your own seedlings at home and get a jump start on your garden in the 2024 season! Farm staff will lead you through the process of seed starting and how to care for your seedlings until they are ready to go into the garden. We will also talk about seed saving and discuss some techniques. You’ll get to go home with your own tray of seeds ready to grow! Participation in this event will be limited, so please sign up in advance: Sign Up

A recommended donation of $15 will help us cover supplies for everyone attending the workshop. Thank you!

Learn how to start your own seedlings at home and get a jump start on your garden in the 2024 season! Farm staff will lead you through the process of seed starting and how to care for your seedlings until they are ready to go into the garden. We will also talk about seed saving and discuss some techniques. You’ll get to go home with your own tray of seeds ready to grow! Participation in this event will be limited, so please sign up in advance: Sign Up

A recommended donation of $15 will help us cover supplies for everyone attending the workshop. Thank you!

Our Annual Meeting will feature a presentation from farm leaders on our production, programming, and impact in 2023 - including updates on our expansion. It’s a great opportunity to hear an overview of where our farm currently stands and what we are aiming to do in the upcoming year.

Join Sola Gratia Farm staff and friends at Riggs Brewery for some fun and fellowship to see you through the long winter!

The Healthy Champaign County Food Access Alliance is hosting a new series of monthly presentations, State of the Plate, to inform and inspire participation in the 2024 Champaign County Food Summit.

January’s State of the Plate presentations will feature:

• Nicholas Lee, RD, LDN, and Noelle Park, MS, RD, LDN, of OSF Healthcare, discussing Health-Related Impacts of Food Insecurity

• Jesse Helton, PhD, Associate Professor of Social Work at Saint Louis University, discussing Food Insecurity and Child Welfare

No registration is required. Join on Zoom at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81915777208?pwd=ZCtPbUpRcVpwV2VDRUNPSTJSWUdVQT09