2015 Urban Livestock Expo on Saturday February 14

In search of a fun (and informative) Valentine’s Day excursion?What says "I love ewe" better than a date at the 3rd annual Urban Livestock Expo!Angelic Organics Learning Center, Advocates for Urban Agriculture (AUA), and the Chicagoland Chicken Enthusiasts will present the 3^rd Annual Urban Livestock Expo on February 14, 2015 from 10AM to 1PM at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences (CHAS) at 3857 W. 111th Street in Chicago. The Expo offers new and experienced keepers of urban livestock the chance to learn about caring for a variety of animals, and to network with each other. Presenters with expertise raising chickens, ducks, quails, rabbits, bees, and goats will introduce visitors to primary needs of each, highlighting issues to consider and steps to take in preparation for keeping livestock in the city.

Area urban livestock groups and businesses will staff resource tables in the school’s atrium, with information about further opportunities for learning, support networks, sources of supplies and equipment, and more. As Expo hosts, CHAS students will give tours of the school’s aquaponics center and livestock barn and sell baked goods and plants from their food science and horticulture programs.

Many Chicagoans are creatively weaving together food gardens, livestock, and composting in small spaces. Presenters at the Urban Livestock Expo aim to help city residents do well by their animals and by their neighbors and the city as a whole. Angelic Organic Learning Center’s Chicago Program Director Martha Boyd explains, “Everyone who raises animals in the city becomes the face of urban livestock for other people. We want to help each prevent problems and be the best example possible. The Expo gives visitors a foundation for taking the next steps toward raising livestock of their own.”

Expo visitors are encouraged to arrive between 9:30AM and 10:00AM for registration. Concurrent presentations begin at 10:00AM and continue until 12:30PM. Visitors can browse resource tables and tour CHAS's livestock barn and aquaponics center throughout the event until 1:00PM. The detailed schedule can be seen at the three sponsoring organizations’ websites. Admission to the Urban Livestock Expo is free, but donations to help cover costs and to support the sponsors’ programs are encouraged and welcome.

Angelic Organics Learning Center helps rural and urban people build healthy local food systems, as educational nonprofit partner to Angelic Organics, a Biodynamic CSA farm. Advocates for Urban Agriculture is a non-profit coalition of Chicago-area gardeners, farmers, organizations, businesses and others who seek to expand and strengthen urban agriculture, from home- and community-based growing to market gardens and small farms. The Chicagoland Chicken Enthusiasts share advice, information, and resources about backyard poultry keeping and offer an annual Windy City Coop Tour.

See Press Release HERE.

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