Geneva Green Market: Geneva, Illinois – A Local Food Green Farmers Market

Beginning Thursday, June 3, 2010, at 7a.m. the local food open-air farmer’s market organized and promoted by Geneva Green Market-NFP will start its fourth season. Leading the group this season as President, is localvore, community leader, and co-owner of Inglenook Pantry, Connie Weaver. Weaver is one of the original founding members of the Geneva Green Market-NPF. “We bring the “Farmer” to the market,” stated Connie and continued by urging everyone to “come and experience ‘Where the Fresh Is!’” Season plans to be a mix of something new and something familiar.

• Who: Geneva Green Market, NFP – Opening Day
• What: Geneva Green Market – We put the “Farmer” in the Market – a local food, green Farmers Market in Geneva, Illinois, for chefs, foodies and everyday people – local, sustainable, fresh food!
• When: Thursday, June 3, 2010 from 7 a.m. – 1p.m. and continues every Thursday thereafter through October 28th 2010
• Where: 75 N. River Lane Geneva, IL (alongside the mighty Fox River at Route 38 in downtown).
• Cost: Free
• More info: about GGM, NFP’s Season Four, please visit the organization’s website: www.genevagreenmarket.org or email us at: info [at] genevagreenmarket [dot] org.

Weaver informs us that starting this season the GGM-NFP will be displaying the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s logo as a recipient of a grant to promote Illinois Specialty Crops. In addition GGM-NFP will be continuing its pledge to help consumers know which products have been grown here in Illinois. “We are insistent that we have the farmer present at the market,” noted Weaver, “this way if any buys has questions about farming methods, soil preparation, or anything which pertains to the product – the farmer is there to answer.”

Once again people coming to the GGM Open Air market will enjoy food preparation demonstrations by local Fox Valley Chefs and the family focused/early childhood education program “Kid’s Corner”. Leading off the Chef Demos on opening day will be local favorite Matt Lennert of Geneva based The Moveable Feast. Most vendors from season three will be returning and some new vendors will round out the mix of locally created, grown, and produced foods.

This season the family-focused early childhood education program “Kid’s Corner” will be joined by Delnor Hospital’s Community Health and Outreach Department and the Fit4Kane coalition workgroups. Information about volunteering at “Kid’s Corner” is available at the Delnor Calendar page, email shannon [dot] mccall [at] delnor [dot] com or call Shannon McCall at 630-208-3996. Weaver noted that the partnership “will help our youth understand more about local food and nutrition.”

Weaver identified 19 vendors that will be participating in GGM’s Season Four and they are: Hasselman’s Family Farm. Orchard Patisserie, Pushing the Envelope Farm, Pur Prairie, Shaping by Dave, Twin Gardens, Planters Palette, Roedgers Brother Blueberries, Erehwon Farm, Heritage Prairie Farm, Hillside Orchard, Stojan’s Farm, Farm Direct Black Angus Meats, Perennial Pleasures, Curds and Why, Diana Vegetables, Inglenook Pantry, O’Leary’s Farm, and CC Black Angus.

Season Four starts Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 7 a.m. – 1p.m. and continues every Thursday through October 28th at 75 N. River Lane. Come and enjoy “Fresh” For up to date information about Season Four, Chef Demo’s, Kid’s Corner, Vendors, and for links for further information about Specialty Crops, Local Foods, and more please visit GGM’s website: www.genevagreenmarket.org.

For additional information about GGM, NFP’s Season Four, please contact Connie Weaver by email – info [at] genevagreenmarket [dot] org or you may reach by phone at 630.377.0434.

About Geneva Green Market, NPF

Geneva Green Market, NFP is a not-for-profit educational and distributional association that promotes the sale of locally produced specialty crops from family farms and local food producers. Educational activities inform the community, consumers, vendors, and other green markets. Vendors are carefully screened to assure they are providing local produce that is fresh, promotes biodiversity, is of the highest quality organic/sustainable food and is the basis of regional cuisine.

Rediscover Thrift That Made America at Garfield Farm Museum’s Harvest Days

Making do and prospering are traditional values that are reflected at Garfield Farm Museum’s Harvest Days on Sunday October 5 from 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.  As the economic lifestyle of America is changing, now is the time to teach children the traditional values of thrift and saving for tomorrow. Harvest Days at Garfield Farm Museum demonstrates the basic concepts of conserving one’s resources to prepare for the future.

Harvest Days features historic household and farm skill demonstrations reflecting the economic reality of 1840s Illinois. Hard work and success went hand in hand and the flailing and winnowing of wheat is just such an example. This demonstration is just one part of the entire process of making a living on an 1840s Illinois farm. Wheat was the main cash crop and to prepare it for market, the kernels had to be knocked from the stalks, separated from the leaves or chaff before it could be bagged and sent to the grist mill or to the Chicago Port. Visitors to Harvest Days can try their hand at striking a stack of wheat with a flail, an attached stick and club, and discover how much work it took to produce enough flour for just one loaf of bread.

Pigs were raised for Read more

Heritage Prairie Farm Camp for Kids – don’t miss out on the opportunity to enroll your child in hands on experiences that give children the knowledge to begin his or her journey into understanding food and farming, tolerance and self-respect, community and responsibility. Children will have fun while experiencing productive and worthwhile work, in turn feeling a sense of accomplishment. Our peaceful and engaging environment is a great place for new friends and experiences with our knowledgeable and friendly staff. Sign up today!

Camps for ages 7 – 12: Camps run for 2 weeks, Monday thru Thursday 9:00 a.m. – Noon

Garden Explorers: (July 21 – 24 & July 28 – 31) *Sign up by this Friday!*

In this fun outdoor camp children will experience planning, preparing, and planting a garden. We will get our hands into soil testing and bug exploration, as well as the life cycle of plants; from a seed to seedling to a full grown plant. The campers will experiment planting with seeds, transplants, fruits, and trees. Enroll your child now and lay down the roots of life with the hands on, fun, and educational experience of Heritage Prairie’s Garden Explorers Camp.

Fun With Food: (August  4 – 7 & August 11 – 14)

Campers will harvest ingredients from the ground and then engage all five senses with the art of cooking. Campers will be evolved in the processes of cooking from helping select ingredients to measuring, mixing, cooking, and then of course sampling. Also, your child will become a certified food detective and learn how to make healthy food selections while shopping in the grocery store. We want to connect children to their food and to their community by introducing food system maps, which cover important social, economical and environmental concepts. Where does my food come from? How does it get here? Who am I really paying? How do my choices effect others and the environment? As a grand finale, we will take a field trip to the Geneva Green City Farmers Market and experience local farmers and local buyers.

Camps for ages 4 – 6: Camps run for 1 week, Monday thru Thursday 9:00 a.m. – Noon

Farm Critters: (July 21 – 24) *Sign up by this Friday!*

Campers will experience and explore the animal life on the farm. Come and join in the fun of the feeding, care, and responsibilities involving the animals on our farm.

Nature Crafts: (July 28 – 31)

Using nature as our inspiration and palette, campers will enjoy making creative functional items as well as original works of art. Campers will learn about famous artists as well as discovering the artist within.

Budding Farmers: (August 4-7)

Children will enjoy the outdoors while learning responsibility and sensitivity to the natural world. Activities will include animal care, picking vegetables and flowers, stories, games and crafts.

Garden Explorers: (August 11-14)

This camp is all about getting your hands dirty and having fun! Campers will join in with peers and counselors planting, weeding, and harvesting gardens throughout the farm. Learn about the bugs in and around the farm, and dig into composting.

See attached for registration forms, pricing, and detailed descriptions.
Download a registration form here
For a printable brochure of camp programs, click here.

Heritage Prairie Market
hpmfarm.com
630-443-8253