Getting to Know Your Local Farmers

TLC along with partnering organization, the Center for Agrarian Learning (CAL) at McHenry County College, co-hosted our first ever Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Fair in early February. CSA is a model for farms to sell their produce (or meat or flowers or mushrooms, etc.) at the beginning of the season. The customer pays up front and then receives their goodies throughout the season on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. This early season income is HUGE for farmers, when the expenses are highest. It’s also a season-long connection with guaranteed sales. For the customer, this season is spent getting to know their farmer, learning about the farm they’re supporting, and enjoying the freshest products available anywhere!

The CSA Fair is a model that has been helpful to farms looking to reach new customers, and we were excited to bring this to McHenry County. Eight farms that serve our area attended or provided materials including: Adama Farm, Broadview Farm and Gardens, Middlebury Farms, Piscasaw Gardens, Prairie’s Edge Garden, Trogg’s Hollow, Tsedah Farms, Wild Trillium Farm, and Wonder Farm Earth. Learn more about them below. 

This CSA Fair was also paired with our annual film screening partnership with CAL. We screened a series of short films, including Into the Soil: The Wisdom of Regenerative Farming, The Land for Our Food, and Soul of a Farmer. These films illustrated the human and land connection necessary for growing food regionally and regeneratively. The free popcorn was a nice bonus!

Thanks to all who attended. Also, consider signing up for a CSA, it’s not too late!

Adama Farm – Marengo 

Broadview Farm and Gardens – Marengo 

Middlebury Farms – Harvard 

Piscasaw Gardens – Harvard 

Prairie’s Edge Garden – Harvard  

Trogg’s Hollow – Poplar Grove 

Tsedah Farms – Crystal Lake 

Wild Trillium Farm – Richmond

Wonder Farm Earth – Wonder Lake