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

February is Fiber-aury month at the Community Winter Market. Rivendell Alpacas has been joining us each week with examples of their handmade quality fiber goods; from raw fibers to spin and beginner’s kits to assorted handmade products such as mittens, hats, slippers and beautiful scarves and toasty blankets. They have also been doing talks and small demos while offering sign-up and information for additional instruction, either privately or class setting.

Rivendell Alpacas started in 2000 when Jill and Gordon Muirhead moved from California to Gordon’s family farm in Plato Center, IL. Jill was already serious about alpacas and learning everything she could when the opportunity to start Rivendell Alpacas presented itself. Asked how they came up with the name they said it was in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings: “Rivendell was a safe place for the elves. We want our agisters to know that it is a safe place for the alpacas as well.”

Alpacas, though not native, are being productively raised and enjoyed throughout North America. They produce some of the world’s finest and most luxurious natural fibers. Fiber, which, is said to be almost indestructible and yet be healthy (being hypoallergenic and lavishly soft) and comfortable to wear due to the absence of the scratchy “prickle” with many other fibers. Furthermore, alpacas produce fleece that is available in over twenty colors with many variations. Having this astounding natural spectrum delights those that work with alpacas as it eliminates any need for dyeing. By removing this step from the process it further protects the fiber and enhances it’s resilience, softness and flexibility.

Rivendell Alpaca Farm can have over twenty alpacas at any given time. Though they do not wish to expand their herd far beyond that so that they can train the alpacas to be “human friendly”. Each fury friend has a name which one might come upon in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings “real” Rivendell. How do all the alpacas stay safe and secure you might be wondering. Francesca, the llama, is on guard duty and has proven herself a valuable protector.

Come shop for your Thanksgiving dinner ingredients, pick up pre-ordered grass fed turkeys from Caveny Farms and crafts that make great Christmas gifts. There will be locally grown, organic food and craft vendors.

Enjoy a locavore brunch before or after you shop!

Sunday, November 23, 2008
Hosted by Inglenook Pantry
11 N 5th Street
Geneva, IL 60134

Thanksgiving Market: 9:00 a.m. thru 3:00 p.m. Localvore Brunch served 9:30 am to 2:00 pm.

Note: We are also still looking for craft vendors. If you would like to participate in this market contact Karen at (630) 208-9321.

The Chicago Tribune August 1, 2008 Metro section featured an article on the 3rd Annual Veggie Fest, a two day community event, the largest event of this kind in Chicagoland, expected to draw 10,000 people in Naperville Illinois.

Enjoy delicious healthy food, live bands, and great talks from professionals. Visit the vendors and pick up valuable information on healthy living. Discover something new about your own health by participating in on site screenings. All of this with no admission charge and free drawings for prizes.

• Children programs-face paintings, crafts, singing
• Live music‚ bluegrass, folk, jazz and latino
• Cooking demonstrations with sampling
• Health talks by medical experts
• 40 food vendors-restaurants-exhibitors
• 11 health-education booths
• Blood pressure, lung capacity, body fat, & sugar level measurements

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