Josiah Chatterton Josiah Chatterton

A Farewell to the 2024 Spoon River Drive

The annual Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive wrapped up for the 2024 year with vibrant colors, sunny skies, and bustling crowds despite warmer temperatures for three of the four days

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Josiah Chatterton Josiah Chatterton

Blackthorn Hill Nature Preserve: Conservation and Outdoor Adventure

Blackthorn Hill Nature Preserve is a place of natural beauty, wildlife conservation, and outdoor education. Managed by the Western Illinois Nature Group (WING), the 110-acre property combines ecological stewardship with public access and recreational opportunities.

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Josiah Chatterton Josiah Chatterton

Savor Fresh Fall Flavors at Camps Orchard

The moment visitors walk into the Camps Orchard shop, they’re greeted by the sweet, earthy, and enticing aroma of apples being crushed for cider and doughnuts.

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Josiah Chatterton Josiah Chatterton

Saving Seeds for Sufficiency

Seeds are genuinely one of the most fascinating aspects of nature. When I think of seeds, I think of the quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, "The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn."

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