Join Workforce Development for a rare opportunity to learn about winter vegetable production from experienced genHkids farmer Andy Heck during Winter Vegetable Gardening being held Mondays, Sept. 14-Dec. 14 from 10:30 a.m.-noon in the community garden behind Montgomery Hall.

Follow the planting and harvest through hands-on demonstration and exercises, while learning everything you want to know about growing produce year-round. Each week offers new instructions as the season changes. Gardeners can expect to learn about planting schedules, optimal planting techniques for weed reduction and space maximization, high tunnel and low tunnel technologies, pest and disease management issues specific to winter growing, and more. Participants are welcome to come for the full time or drop in for part of the time, and can come one time or come each week. Bring questions and work gloves. For more information contact Marnie Record at marnie.record@llcc.edu or 217-786-4993.

The Value-Added Local Food program through the Workforce Development division is training food service managers for the Springfield Public School District this week. Free lunch is being served for the campus community in Bistro Verde, WFCC 1103, at 11:45 a.m. again today on a first-come, first-served basis; no reservations accepted. The menu changes daily. Contact Marnie Record at 786-4993 for more information.

Food service managers from Springfield District 186 schools will be serving lunch again today at 11:45 a.m. in Bistro Verde, Workforce Careers Center. No reservations are required; however, seating is limited in the Bistro. Guests may be directed to open classrooms or other seating areas to eat. Food will be served until it runs out. The food service managers have been learning to prepare lunches this week with local foods through a Workforce Development Value-Added Local Food course.

Faculty and staff can enjoy a free lunch today and tomorrow (Thurs.) prepared by food service managers from Springfield District 186 schools who are learning to cook from scratch with local food through a Workforce Development Value-Added Local Food course. Lunch is being served both days at 11:45 a.m. in Bistro Verde, Workforce Careers Center. No reservations are required. Food will be served until it runs out.

Food service managers from Springfield’s District 186 schools are learning to cook from scratch with local food through a Workforce Development Value-Added Local Food course. Faculty and staff are invited to lunch being prepared by the class. The free lunch is being served at 11:45 a.m. on  Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, June 9-11, in Bistro Verde, Workforce Careers Center. No reservations are required. Food will only be served until it runs out.

12th annual Central Illinois Composting Symposium, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Trutter Center. Participants learn about composting organic materials and other resources to help them be a successful composter. For more info: www.llcc.edu/green-center.

LLCC is partnering with several local organizations to host the “Roots to Rooftop” Tour Sunday, July 27, showcasing Springfield area community gardens, urban farms and a rooftop garden.   Be sure to stop at Maldaner’s and the Executive Mansion and check out some of the projects our Workforce programs have done.

For more information, search Roots to Rooftop Tour on Facebook or click here.