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

Community Supported Agriculture consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation so that the farmland becomes, either legally or spiritually, the community’s farm, with the growers and consumers providing mutual support and sharing the risks and benefits of food production.

Typically, members or “share-holders” of the farm or garden pledge in advance to cover the anticipated costs of the farm operation and farmer’s salary. In return, they receive shares in the farm’s bounty throughout the growing season, as well as satisfaction gained from reconnecting to the land and participating directly in food production. Members also share in the risks of farming, including poor harvests due to unfavorable weather or pests. By direct sales to community members, who have provided the farmer with working capital in advance, growers receive better prices for their crops, gain some financial security, and are relieved of much of the burden of marketing. Read more

Karen Stark has a challenge for all suburbanites: eat only locally produced meats, grains, fruits and vegetables this Thanksgiving.

It certainly sounds like a daunting task until Stark, a Geneva mom and coordinator of the town’s winter farmers market, explains that within a 100-mile radius of the ‘burbs you can find farmers raising free-range turkeys and beef, growing sweet potatoes and pumpkins and milling flour for biscuits and pie crusts. Cast the net a little wider and you can enjoy wild rice from Minnesota and cranberries from Wisconsin bogs and chestnuts from Michigan. (read more)  …”Give thanks for food”.

Brine recipe: http://www.moveablefeastgeneva.com/menus/TurkeyBrine.pdf

For more information go to Moveable Feast.

This year’s Thanksgiving Localvore Challenge has three turkey vendor options. To place your order either sign up at the Geneva Green Market or contact the vendors directly. Bourbon Reds are $5 per pound,  the Broad Breasted Whites are $4 per pound and the Black Spanish breed $6 per pound.

R Family Farm

R Family Farm
Poplar Grove, IL 61065
815.519.4341 – Cindee
cjrobinson0217 [at] msn [dot] com

• Broad Breasted White Turkeys $4 a lb
  
• Bourbon Red $5/lb
• Delivery Charge to the Community Winter Market, Geneva,  IL.  $1 per pound ($15 maximum) or you can pick up at the R-Family Farm’s Open house, Poplar Grove.
  

R Family Farm raises Broad Breasted White and Bourbon Red Turkeys. Cornish Cross Broilers, and assorted chickens for eggs, goats for milk and meat, and Berkshire pigs.  All of the animals are raised out on pasture, as nature intended.  We also grind and mix our own feed here on the farm.  Each set of animals has their own “mix”.  The chickens and turkeys get raosted soybeans, flax, kelp, a probiotic, and other good things.  The broilers and turkeys are raised in hoop houses to keep them safe from foxes.  The hoop houses are moved every day to fresh grass.

Bourbon Red turkeys are a heritage breed and are excellent in taste. The Bourbons are a very slow growing bird and take 26-28 weeks to reach full growth and will reach up to 14 pounds.

The Broad Breasted White Turkeys are very fast growing and only take 16 to 18 weeks to be ready to eat.  They grow 12 to 30 pounds.  We use NO hormones,  No steroids, and NO antibiotic in any of our feed!  The turkeys are processed at an Amish federally inspected facility.

Hasselmann Family Farm

www.hasselmannfamilyfarm.com
Milledgeville, Illinois
815.493.8630 – Scott
hasselmannfarm [at] gmail [dot] com

Family run farm located in beautiful northwestern, Illinois near the town of Lanark, two hours northwest of Chicago. As fourth generation farmers, they raise Berkshire hogs, Milking Shorthorn cattle, Suffolk sheep, Moscovy ducks, chickens, goats, and Broad Breasted White turkeys.

All their livestock and produce is raised outdoors on pasture in harmony with the natural environment. Their pigs can be pigs and play in the mud and their chickens can be chickens and scratch in the soil.

• The Broad Breasted Whites are $4 per pound
• Delivery Charge to the Community Winter Market, Geneva,  IL.  $1 per pound ($15 maximum)

Grandma’s Farm Fresh Eggs

Sugar Grove, IL 60554
630-466-4616 – Bonnie/Paul
grandmasfarmfresheggs [at] yahoo [dot] com

Grandma’s Farm Fresh Eggs will also be selling turkeys. Our family primarily raises chicken eggs, turkey eggs, quail eggs - all are allowed on pasture or fed hay and grains when not on pasture. Talk to them directly at their booth at the Geneva Green Market to find out more information or via email.

• Black Spanish Heritage Breed $6 a lb includes delivery to the Community Winter Market

On Saturday, September 19, 2009, the Geneva Green Market will hosting a free outdoor presentation of the documentary “Fresh” for the Fox River Valley: Elgin, South Elgin, St Charles, Geneva, Batavia and Aurora, IL at RiverPark in Geneva. The GGM invites the public to come at 7:00 p.m. to get settled in with blankets. Desserts will be available for purchase by the Inglenook Pantry. Proceeds from the dessert sales will go to the Geneva Green Market, NFP.

The event is part of our on-going commitment to food education, it’s free and open the public – this film focus’ on the importance of eating healthier, locally grown food. Those in attendance will learn about the importance of local food and how they can incorporate this into their daily lives and participate locally in their communities – from backyard gardening, family farms to farmers markets. It will be a lively and fun evening for all!

• Who:      Geneva Green Market
• What:     Fresh, a documentary film
• When:    September 19, 2009, seating starts 6:30, screening at 7:30 p.m.
• Where:   RiverPark, 75 North River Lane, Geneva IL, 60134
• Cost:      Free

The Geneva Green Market made the Daily Herald July 18th edition for participating in Giving Gardens for the Fox Valley area. “The Geneva Green Market is the newest drop-off site participating in the Daily Herald’s Giving Garden campaign, which encourages donations of fresh produce to area food pantries.”

For the full article visit http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=306960

Join in The GGM membership! Your contributions support educational programs, lectures and the commitment to the health-giving nature of locally grown food, sustainability and conservation of resources. Your contribution also helps support the free Kids corner and Chef demos at the market and your individual membership includes a range of benefits that are feature below.

• Seed Membership ($25 or more donation) – you will receive a coffee mug/GGM discount card – honored at concurring businesses/events.  Membership Specials.
• Planting Membership ($50 or more donation) – the above membership and  $10 off the each lecture/workshop/class you choice during the 2009 season.
• Sprouting Membership ($100 or more donation) – the above membership and a lunch for two at the Geneva Green Market.
• Growing Membership ($250 or more donation) – the above membership and (20% off home cooking demonstration by Jennifer Downing, Nourish) Learn useful cooking techniques with locally grown food.
• Harvest Membership ($500 or more donation) – the above membership and a basket filled the freshest products from the Geneva Green Market
• Geneva Green Market Benefactor ($1000 or more donation)  – the above membership and will receive a dinner for two at Niche Restaurant in Geneva. (Excludes alcohol and gratuity)

Mission Statement
Geneva Green Market, a non-for profit distributional and educational association which:

• Promotes the sale of locally produced products from local family farms and local food producers who provide freshness, biodiversity, the highest quality organic/sustainable food and the basis of regional cuisine.
• Provides an educational forum for consumers to learn the uses and benefits of quality, locally grown or prepared food products. To establish an appreciation of nutritional value of produce and to provide more flavor, freshness and variety of locally grown product.
• Preserves the environment for future generations while improving the quality of food.
• Supports a partnership between local chefs, farmers, producers and merchants to mutually enhance, develop, and promote the local food economy.
• Promotes the green community, and become the town crier of the events of the Fox River Valley.
• Creates partnerships with other non-for profits organizations that promote green living, preservation of our natural resources, gardening information, and other aligned interests.

Thus far the Geneva Green Market, NFP is entirely run by volunteers. Unlike other farmers’ markets, we only charge our vendors a minimal donation fee that goes towards necessary expenses. This helps our vendors remain economically viable. In time we hope to build up membership enough to support a salaried market manager position to help the Geneva Green Market run smoothly for years to come. Serving on the board of directors for the Geneva Green Market, NFP are Karen Start, president, Connie Weaver, co-founder, Georgine Bosak, treasurer, Diana Morin, secretary, Trisha Margulies, member, Ted Richter, farmer, Beth Propst, farmer, Jennifer Downing, chef, Jennifer Echert, member. This not-for-profit group of volunteers seeks to educate and support the community in their efforts to eat locally.

To join the GGM,NFP membership click here to email or send email to info [at] genevagreenmarket [dot] org or call 630-208-9321

Tour the Field’s and hear the Farmer! Garfield Farm Museum has invited Farmer Tim Fuller to give a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) Farm lecture.  The talk will be centered around organic and CSA farming and what it means today.

• Who: Farmer Tim Fuller, of Erehwon Farm
• What: Organic Farming & Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA)
• When: Sunday, May 3, 2009, 2:00 p.m.
• Where: Garfield Farm Museum, 3N016 Garfield Road, LaFox, IL 60175

It will be an open forum for anyone with questions or for those just curious about this new trend in food production.  For those wishing to hear and see more, the lecture will conclude with an invitation to see the farming in action with a short tour of Mr. Fuller’s CSA fields and what steps he takes to keep his produce as organic as possible.  Tim Fuller farms his CSA farm, Erehwon Farm, on leased land from Garfield Farm Museum and sells at the Geneva Green Market; a local farmer’s market and GGM,NFP group that is devoted to education of the health-giving nature of locally grown food, sustainability and conservation of resources.

Garfield Farm Museum is located 5 miles west of Geneva, IL, off of Illinois Rt. 38 on Garfield Road. Garfield Farm is a former historically intact 1840s prairie farmstead and teamster inn that is being restored as a working 1840s farm.  There is a $6 donation for the lecture and refreshments are included.

For other lecture information or to R.S.V.P. please contact (630) 584-8485 or email at info [at] garfieldfarm [dot] org.  Seats are limited, please respond promptly.

Garfield Farm Museum
3N016 Garfield Road
LaFox, IL 60175

(630) 584-8485
www.garfieldfarm.org

The third largest grape crops in the United States are harvested in what state?  It’s Illinois of course! Illinois has been touted as an up-and-coming wine state for a few years now. Wine grape growers are finally taking advantage of the richest soil in the nation. Fall is a good time to find local wine for holiday parties or for causal enjoyment.  The Little Traveler has local wines, as does the wine tasting room of Galena Wine in Geneva. But the most entertaining way to try local wines is to go to the winery yourself. Check out the Northern Illinois Wine Trail where local wine tours are at it best at:

www.visitnorthernillinois.com/wineTrailWineries.html

August Hill Winery
106 Mill Street, Utica, IL 61373
815-667-5211
www.augusthillwinery.com

Fox Valley Winery
The Faltz Family
5600 Route 34, Oswego, IL  60543
630-554-0404
www.foxvalleywinery.com

Illinois River Winery
723 South Clark Street, Utica, IL  61373
815-667-4012
www.illinoisriverwinery.com

Sycamore Winery
322 West State Street, Sycamore, IL  60178
815-899-2920
www.sycamorewinery.com

Waterman Winery and Vineyards (formerly: Stiengtunt Vineyards & Winery)
11582 Waterman Road, Waterman, IL  60556
815-264-3268
www.sunsetwines.net

These wineries grow and bottle their own grapes and each one has a unique story.  One winery is the first to grow the first Chardonnay grape in the State of Illinois successfully. Another Winery just won the best White Wine at the Illinois State Fair for the second year in a row.  The third only uses the grapes they grow to make their wine.  Start out early, these wineries are not that far, so make a day of it and taste the fruit of Illinois.