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!
What was formerly known as the Geneva Winter Market, has become the Community Winter Market sponsored by the Geneva Green Market, NFP. You’ll still be able to purchase fresh, local food throughout the winter. Once the Geneva Green Market has ended for the season, the Community Winter Market is scheduled to be open from 9 am through 1 pm on Saturdays, starting November 7. It will be located at 11 N 5th St, Geneva IL 60134.
On Saturday, November 21st, the Community Winter Market will be hosting its annual Thanksgiving Localvore Challenge. The vendors will have the majority all the ingredients you will need to eat an entirely local Thanksgiving dinner. Sign up early for local free-range turkeys.
Irv Pavlik will be a feature musical guest at the Thanksgiving Festival, Saturday November 21 and Holiday Festival on December 19. Check out his music on youtube http://www.youtube.com/irvpav
Producers You Can Contact Directly for turkeys and other holiday heritage meats…
The farmers listed below have heritage turkeys, ham, geese, ducks, goats, and lamb available for Thanksgiving and Christmas. They are conscientious stewards of land and animals, and are committed to sustainable and humane livestock production, many are free range, antibiotic free and sustainably farmed.
Caveny Farm
Farmers: John and Connie Caveny, Caveny Farm
Breeds (Turkeys): Bourbon Red (Heritage breed)
Weights: 6 – 18 lbs
Price per lb.: varies by weight, see the Caveny Farm website
Deposit required: 50%
Pick-up locations: Various- including Evanston, Green City Market, Old Town, Geneva
Dates: Saturday before Thanksgiving.
On-farm pick-up available? Yes. Call to arrange. There is an $8 discount for farm pick-ups.
Contact: 217-762-7767, or Order a Caveny turkey on-line
Website: www.cavenyfarm.com
Farm location: 1999 N 935 East Road, Monticello, IL 61856
John and Connie Caveny describe themselves as “grass” farmers whose job is to manage the life cycles of pasture and pastured animals so as to optimize the health of both. As practical conservationists they believe farm and ranch land should be “working land” instead of “retired land.” Read more
Nantucket pie pumpkins go by several names: Long Island pie pumpkin, pie pumpkin, long pie pumpkin, even The Pie Pumpkin. Whatever you prefer to call them, these these oddly shaped pumpkins make delicious pies. They are an heirloom variety that are believed to have been brought to Nantucket in the early 19th century by whalers. After falling into obscurity for many years the heirloom movement has brought these precious seeds back into popularity.
Pine Row Farm will be selling Nantucket pie pumpkins at the Geneva Green Market, NFP this week. Enjoy them now or bake and freeze the puree for Thanksgiving pies.
Famous Pumpkin Pie
Serves 8
Adapted from Rick Rodgers’ “Thanksgiving 101″ Read more
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.
