The Neighborhood Co-op Grocery is hosting its annual Farm Crawl on *September 14-15. This event invites community members to tour **11 local farms* across Southern Illinois, providing an opportunity to learn firsthand about sustainable agriculture, meet local farmers, and explore the diverse operations that supply the region with fresh, local products.
Participants will experience farm life through demonstrations, animal encounters, and interactive activities, including feeding animals, sampling fresh produce, and discovering how crops are grown and harvested.
This *family-friendly event* emphasizes the importance of local farming and sustainable practices such as crop rotation, pollinator habitats, and rotational grazing.
Visitors will encounter alpacas, cattle, pigs, chickens, rabbits, and more, as well as fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, and fibers. Many farms will also have their goods available for purchase, giving attendees the chance to support local agriculture directly.
All proceeds from the event will benefit *Food Works, a non-profit dedicated to building a regional food economy in Southern Illinois by supporting sustainable farming and local food networks. Car passes are required for access and are available online or in-person at the **Neighborhood Co-op Grocery*. For more information, visit **neighborhood.coop/farm-crawl**. The event runs from **1 p.m. to 5 p.m.** each day.
