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

Micheal Pollan was recently a featured gust on on point with Tom Ashbrook, discussing his latest work –  Food Rules.

Pollan says that inspiration for his latest work came from a doctor-actually, a couple of them. ”They had read my last book, ‘In Defense of Food’, which ended with a handful of tips for eating well: simple ways to navigate the treacherous landscape of modern food and the often-confusing science of nutrition. “What I would love is a pamphlet I could hand to my patients with some rules for eating wisely,” they would say. “I don’t have time for the big nutrition lecture and, anyway, they really don’t need to know what an antioxidant is in order to eat wisely.” Pollan listened.

Listen to the complete interview On Point with Tom Ashbrook: Michael Pollen on food rules for a better life. Pollan’s previous works include “In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto”, “The Omnivore’s Dilemma”. “Second Nature” and “A Place of My Own” and is a regular contributer to the New York Times Magazine.

Giving thanks to the season’s harvests was a centuries-old tradition held by most cultures around the world. After the autumn harvest, communities held long feasts celebrating the season’s harvest and gatherings for the winter months. It wasn’t till the mid-1600’s that Thanksgiving, as we know it today, began to take shape. Fasting forward several hundred years, it was as recently as 1941 that President Roosevelt signed a bill that established the fourth Thursday of every November as Thanksgiving Day. This has been followed by every state in the union since 1956. Today Thanksgiving still remains centered around food and feasting surrounded by family and friends.

In the spirit of giving and being thankful we at the Geneva Green Market, NFP and would like to take this opportunity to thank all the chiefs, GGM, NFP members, merchants and volunteers whose continual hard work and dedication make this market feasible season after season. We would especially like to thank our faithful farmers, vendors and customers.   Join us in Thanking our farmers and in showing how much we appreciate them in providing fresh food from there fields to our tables.

If you haven’t ordered your Thanksgiving Day turkey there is still time to do so. Visit us at genevagreenmarket.org/farmers. If you did not pre-order a turkey, there will be some turkeys available for purchase at the market on a first come,  first serve basis. Come early to get yours.

Feeling overwhelmed by your big bird? Join us from 9-12 as “Talk Turkey to Me” author Renee Ferguson joins us to answer your turkey questions. She will have copies of her book available for purchase. Full of how- to’s, how not to’s, tips, instructions and recipes that can be used year round. A great resource to have on hand for those times Renee can’t personally be in your kitchen. She will sign copies, which can be a nice, personalized hostess gift.

If all this talk of turkey got your tummies rumbling be sure to stay afterwards as Jennifer Downing of Nourish shows you how to dry brine and bake a Black Spanish turkey. She’ll also show you a few excellent sides that will pair up perfectly with your bird. The best part is that’ll you’ll find most of the ingredients right at the market. After a tasty sample, enjoy a wine sample from Galena Cellars Vineyard & Winery-Geneva.  All this should provide great inspiration for our 3rd annual Thanksgiving Localvore Challenge. Deadline for submissions is December 1st.

From our family to yours

Happy Thanksgiving!

This is a perfect way to carve your local Thanksgiving “Bird” Check out Moveable Feast! or call 630.845.3287

To check out what Matt is cooking at Moveable Feast for your Thanksgiving Dinner.

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

For more information go to Moveable Feast.

This year the Geneva Green Market, NFP is having a localvore essay contest to accompany the Localvore Thanksgiving Challenge. To participate one must strive to come as close to eating 100% locally grown food for your Thanksgiving meal as possible. To participate, write a 250-word essay, discussing the experience of purchasing local ingredients as well as eating the meal itself.

The winner will receive a $100 gift certificate for the Community Winter Market, and their essay will be published in the GGM, NFP’s newsletter. Email your essays to genevagreenmarket [at] gmail [dot] com by 12/1/09.

What was formerly known as the Geneva Winter Market is now the Community Winter Market sponsored by the Geneva Green Market, NFP. The Community Winter Market will feature fresh, local food throughout the winter and is scheduled to be open from 9 am through 1 pm on Saturdays, beginning November 7. It will be located at Inglenook Pantry, 11 N 5th St, Geneva IL 60134.

On Saturday, November 21st, the Community Winter Market will be hosting its annual Thanksgiving Localvore Challenge. Participating vendors will have the majority of the ingredients you will need to eat an entirely local Thanksgiving dinner. Sign up early for local free-range turkeys.

For the months of November and December the market will be held every Saturday for the first three weeks of each month. Check out the web site for future days in 2010.

Featured farmers/producers:  Curd and Whey Cheese Shop, Erehwon Farm Esther’s Place, Farm direct Black Angus, Grandma’s Farm Fresh Eggs, Hasselmann Family Farm, Inglenook Panty, Robinson Family Farm, Stojan’s Vegetables, Tomato Mountain Farm, Twin Gardens, and Webb Family Farm.

Last Saturday the GGM, NFP had their screening of the documentary “Fresh.” For those who couldn’t make it and would like to see the film, please contact us at info [at] genevagreenmarket [dot] org to set up a screening for smaller audiences.

This movie will put a smile on your face with the understanding of how the conventional agribusiness machine works, because you will know you don’t have to be any part of it.  The hope and inspiration will have a lasting impression. For our health, our children and our future. I highly recommend the whole family come, watch and be inspired.  Karen Stark, Geneva Green Market, NFP

The screening is for the purpose of educating the general public on the importance of eating healthier, locally grown food. Those in attendance will learn why this is such an important movement and how they can participate.

Thank you to the following for helping in bringing this movie to the Fox River Valley.  Batavia Environmental Commission, blue haven Capital LLC – Geneva, Natural Resource Committee, Geneva, Pure Prairie Farm, Batavians for Clean Energy & Conservation, Diane L. Peterson, Klean Kanteen & To Go Ware, Slow Food City’s Edge, Conservation & Garden Dept. of Batavia Women’s Club, Orenda International, Unitarian-Universalist Society of Geneva, and Spiritual Green Connection.

On Saturday, September 19, 2009, the Geneva Green Market will hosting a free outdoor screening of the “Fresh” for the Fox River Valley: Elgin, South Elgin, St Charles, Geneva, Batavia and Aurora, IL at the RiverPark , 75 North River Lane, Geneva IL.  The Geneva Green Market, Not for Profit membership and sponsors invites the public to come at 5:00 p.m. to get settled in with blankets and to consider a localvore picnic. The screening will start at 7:30 p.m. Desserts will be available for purchase by the Inglenook Pantry. Proceeds from the dessert sales will go to the Geneva Green Market, NFP. To learn more please go to www.genevagreenmarket.org/calendar/.

This movie put a smile on your face with the understanding of how the conventional agribusiness machine works, because you will know you don’t have to be any part of it. The hope and inspiration will have a lasting impression. For our health, our children and our future. I highly recommend the whole family come, watch and be inspired. Karen Stark, Geneva Green Market, NFP

The screening is for the purpose of educating the general public on the importance of eating healthier, locally grown food. Those in attendance will learn why this is such an important movement and how they can participate.

Thank you to the following for helping in bringing this movie to the Fox River Valley. Batavia Environmental Commission, blue haven Capital LLC – Geneva, Natural Resource Committee, Geneva, Pure Prairie Farm, Batavians for Clean Energy and & Conservation, Diane L. Peterson Klean Kanteen & To Go Ware, Slow Food City’s Edge, Conservation & Garden Dept. of Batavia Women’s Club, Orenda International, Unitarian-Universalist Society of Geneva, and Spiritual Green Connection.

Date: September 19, 2009

Time: Sitting starts 5:00 pm -- movie will be shown at 7:30 pm

Location: RiverPark, 75 North River Lane, Geneva IL, 60134

In the event of rain on the 19th, the “Fresh” showing will be moved to September 26th at the United Methodist Church in Geneva, IL.

Rain Date: September 26th, 2009

Time: Doors open at 6:30 pm -- movies will be shown at 7:30 pm

Location: United Methodist Church, 211 Hamilton Street, Geneva, IL 60134

When: September 24; October 22
Where: Heritage Prairie Farm
2N308 Brundige Road, Elburn, IL 60119
Time: 6:00 PM reception and farm tour, followed by dinner 
BYOB: Bring your favorite beverage to enjoy or choose from a selection of local beers and wines available for purchase by the glass.
Price: $65 per ticket or $58.50 per ticket for members. 

Reservations
September 24, Mexican Fiesta on the Farm : $65  per ticket or $58.50  per ticket for members