Book Signing: Terra Brockman “The Seasons on Henry’s Farm”


Who: Terra Brockman, Author
What: Book Signing
When: Saturday, December 19th 2009
Where: Community Winter Market at Inglenook Pantry, 11 N 5th St Geneva IL 60134

seasons on henrys farmTerra Brockman was raised in central Illinois, where four generations of her family have farmed. Terra’s younger brother, Henry, grows 650 varieties of vegetables on about 12 acres (between Peoria and Bloomington). There, he and his family with apprentices have bucked the traditional agribusiness conventional wisdom by farming in a way that’s sensible, sustainable and focused on producing healthy, nutritious food that doesn’t damage the land.

Terra Brockman tells the story of her family and their life on the farm in the form of a year-long memoir that takes the reader through each season of life on the farm.

For more information about Terra Brockman or her book, please visit her website at www.terrabrockman.com

Community Winter Market at Inglenook Pantry
11 N 5th St
Geneva IL 60134
630-377-0373
http://www.genevagreenmarket.org/directions

VeggieFest 2009: August 8 – 9th


VeggieFest is back for 2009 after a huge turnout last year. Activities include workshops, live music, delicious food and family fun! Many restaurants are there this year and many guest speakers on various health and food related topics.

Who: VeggieFest 2009
What: Food focused family festival
Where: Science of Spirituality, 4 S 175 Naperville Rd, Naperville IL 60563
When: August 8 – 9, Saturday 11am – 8pm, Sunday 11am – 7pm
Cost: Free Admission

VeggieFest 2009
630.955.1200
800.222.2207
www.veggiefestchicagoland.org

Geneva Green Market Season Opening June 4th 2009!


Home-grown in Kane County Found at the Geneva Green Market
In April of 2007 a group came together to form the Geneva Green Market, Not for Profit Group, a 501 (c) 3 that is devoted to education of the health-giving nature of locally grown food, sustainability and conservation of resources.

Local farmers offering locally grown food from within a 200-mile radius.  Diverse arrays of products are offered, from organic baked good to free range eggs, hormone-free beef, pork, lamb, chicken, flowers, seasonally vegetables and raw/artisan cheeses.  Free cooking demos and kid’s educational events.

When: June 4, 2009 through end of October 2009, every Thursday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: 75 N. River Lane, Geneva IL Read more

Gardenology Events


Learn how to create, grow, and maintain your garden. Specialists and master gardeners will be here to answer any questions and give advice. Topics include herbs, flowers, vegetables, heirloom plants and table scrapes.

    Learn about attracting birds and butterflies, wildlife control, composting, pest control, organic fertilizers and more. Kids can have fun too by planting seeds in biodegradable pots and creating sprout necklaces. Win a watering can from participating shops that will be raffled off at the end of the day.

    Chicago Solar Powerup! for Kids 2009 – Registration OPEN!


    WORKSHOP DATES: Session I: July 13-17; Session II: July 20-24
    FINALE: August 5, 2009
    CONTACT EMAIL: greentech [at] cityofchicago [dot] org
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Registration opens March 3, 2009, Registration closes June 26, 2009

    In partnership with the Notebaert Nature Museum, the Chicago Center for Green Technology invites future scientists, engineers, and designers to participate in the 4th annual Chicago Solar Powerup! Solar Powerup gives students ages 8-13 the opportunity to design, build, and race model solar cars while learning about renewable energy resources. Students are given instruction in various design factors and then work in teams to design and build their car. Following testing, these workshops culminate in a series of one-on-one races in a tournament at Daley Plaza on Wednesday, August 5th to determine the champions.

    Please note: Registration is limited to 20 students per session and will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis. Spots may only be reserved by the receipt of payment ($75, check only) no later than two weeks prior to the first class. Before mailing in payment, please call (312) 746-4155 for availability. Limited scholarships are available.

    Garfield Farm Museum’s Harvest Days


    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

    Veggie Fest expected to draw 10,000 people in Naperville Illinois


    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

    Summer Fun for Kids at Farm Camp


    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