FarmHer Profile: Anna Evans, Wild Roots Farm

Farm name and location: Wild Roots Farm, Harvard, IL

Years farming: 10 years (but first year as “head of the farm”)

What are you growing/producing? Best-seller? Nearly any type of vegetable that can grow in this zone as well as chicken and duck eggs. We like our less common vegetable varieties too, including the juiciest lucky tiger and apricot zebra plum tomatoes, Thai chilis, dragon’s tongue bush beans, and lemon cucumbers. Our tomatoes are by far a fan and farm favorite.

Why farming? It makes me so happy to grow my own food, it makes me happier to grow it in a way that doesn’t disturb the environment surrounding me, so I can’t help but share it with my community in a way that is accessible and affordable. I want people to be able to talk with their farmers and walk around the gardens with them, and know that their food comes from somewhere that is managed in a way that considers the health of our ecosystem and those who live in it. I want to help recreate that connection between grower and consumer.

How do you feel about being a woman farmer? I love the feeling of providing food (raw and cooked) to loved ones and strangers alike. I feel very fortunate to live in a family and community where this is an option for me. There are so many women, and folks in general that I meet who feel pulled to farm, but it just hasn’t been an option for them yet. I’m so grateful to my parents for having the confidence, ambition, determination, and values to start this farm, and for trusting me to take over the responsibilities as it has become my own passion.

Biggest win/what makes you happiest? Folks going out of their way to tell me how good the veggies are and spending time with friends, family and new visitors in the gardens.

Biggest challenge? Burnout. Working multiple jobs and running the farm has been difficult. Our farm team consists of me and my parents and we all have a lot on our hands.

How are you thinking about your farm in the future? My goal is to make the farm even more sustainable and regenerative, implementing more ecological practices, reducing waste, and surrounding it with more native flora and fauna. I also dream of making it more of a community and educationally valuable space where people can come and learn all sorts of skills, or just come to eat good food and spend time in a refreshing space.

“Regenerative /ecological” practices on farm?: I’d consider us biointensive – using minimal space for maximum yields while restoring the soil health and not disturbing the land’s biodiversity. We use no-till methods, cover crops, zero herbicides and pesticides, and we use natural fertilizers straight from the farm (thank you goats and chickens).

Anything else you want to share?: People are always welcomed on Wild Roots Farm, whether to buy vegetables or eggs, learn some gardening techniques, or to spend some time in nature. Stop on by!

Learn more about Wild Roots Farm!