We are looking forward to our Farm Store reopening for the 2013 season! Join us for the Grand Reopening on Wednesday, March 27th! The Store will be open 9am-6pm and stocked with Heritage Prairie Farm honey products, artisan cheese, snack foods, chocolate, and so much more. We have some sneak peek photos of the store – get excited and mark your calendar!
Store Hours:
Wednesday – Saturday 9am-6pm
Sunday 12-4pm
Closed Monday & Tuesday
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We pride ourselves on being one of the first farms around to be planting this early in the year; before the snow even melts! To extend the growing season and maximize the most efficient use of land, we use a system of four moveable greenhouses, succession plantings, and crop rotation. With this system we have been consistently among the first farms at market to offer tomatoes for sale and among the last farms at market selling spinach, carrots, and radishes.
This is a very exciting time for us on the farm! We get to look forward to a long, productive crop season, and filling our CSA shares with beautiful produce. To learn about our CSA, visit our CSA page, and give us a call to reserve your share!
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We are looking forward to the warmer weather Spring will bring mostly because our farm comes alive! Not that it’s dead right now, just sleeping, but we don’t get to reap the rewards of our amazing farm until it awakes from it’s slumber. Our Spring CSA program starts in early May, with great produce like Beets, Radishes, Turnips, Kale, and Chard. We are so proud of our produce, showing it off to our friends in the community who support local farming is the greatest joy. Our program allows you to participate in a Spring share, Summer share (or half summer share), or a Fall share, or all three! You’ll pick up a full box of fresh-picked produce every week (or every other for a half summer share) at our farm. We even have farm fresh eggs to add to any share package for the best in local ingredients in your meals. To learn more about becoming a part of our CSA program, visit our CSA page for the pricing info and specifics. We love our small-scale farm and what we can produce, and we would love to share it with you.
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Farm Dinners at Heritage Prairie Farm have been a Chicago tradition since 2007. Our Farm Kitchen delights in tailoring menus to highlight the best of the season’s fresh flavors. Our most recent dinner, the November Wine Dinner, only strengthened this standard. Chef Nick took great care to craft a menu that not only showed off the bounty of autumn, but also paired excellently with a number of great varietal wines our team selected.
The evening started with over fifty farm friends gathering together on a cool November night in our heated greenhouse. Transformed for events and our farmers’ market during the winter months, the greenhouse offers the area’s most unique atmosphere.
Chef Nick and the Farm Kitchen offered guests multiple options to start off the night with including -
Spiced Butternut Squash Soup Shooter ~ Walnut Crème
Pumpkin Butter Crostinis ~ Drunken Cranberries
Roasted Chestnuts ~ Brown Butter, Cinnamon
As we moved to dinner, guests were greeted by one of our famous Bron’s Bee Company Honey Favors -
We love it when groups of friends or family come together and celebrate at our Farm Dinners.
Chef Nick wanted to showcase the “over-flowing” bounty of the fall harvest!
Dinners are always welcoming to farm friends who choose a plant strong diet,
with vegetarian options such as this Grilled Radicchio
My personal favorite of the night -
Walnut Oil Roasted Brussel Sprouts with
Roasted Parsnip Puree, Salted Walnuts
Always a treat to see guests becoming fast friends when breaking bread together -
But we can’t forget the -
Brown Ale Braised Short Ribs resting on
Stone Ground Grits, Caramelized Cipollini Onions, Potato Thyme Aioli
Throughout the meal, Chef Nick was kind enough to share with everyone some of his choices and a little history of each course. We were also able to drag him out at the end to offer up a much deserved round of applause!
Finishing the night with an -
Apple Mousse dressed with a
Cinnamon Cranberry Biscotti
Glad to see everyone enjoying themselves!
Heritage Prairie Farm also hosts a wide range of private and corporate events and would be happy to help you plan your holiday party on the farm! Contact us today!
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Every year Heritage Prairie Farm is blessed to share in the joy of a multitude of wedding celebrations – each couple becoming a life long member of our farm family. Here we are able to highlight just a few of them, but they have all become part of the story of the farm…
Robin & Kevin – http://www.esenamphotography.com/
Michelle & Joe – http://iklikphoto.com
Brooke & Tony – http://www.kinawicks.com
Kira & John – http://www.willowlanephotography.com/
Mel & Dom – http://www.coupleofdudes.com
Shelly & Donny – http://www.ellagraphstudios.com/
Stephanie & Luke – http://blog.melissahayes.net/search/label/weddings
Jillian & Chris – http://thebeautifulvoyage.com/
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This past Wednesday we had the pleasure of hosting a tour group of over 50 farmers from Canada. The group traveled throughout the Mid-west learning from fellow farmers. It was a great to be able to meet so many other small farmers who work directly with the communities in their area, providing fresh, delicious, and local food.
Nate welcoming fellow farmers visiting from Canada
Nate shared some of the history of the farm
They were very interested in our weddings and private events.
Nate was happy to share about 4-Season Farming
Canadians love our honey too!
The group thanked Nate with a Canadian Cookbook!
And in true Canada style - one of their new favorite brews!
These are just a few of the farmers that visited the farm:
www.ontariofarmfresh.com
Valleyview Little Animal Farm
Forsythe Family Farm
Janssens Farm Market
Peach Country Farm Market
www.BlueBerryRanch.ca
www.SpringRidgeFarm.com
www.MartinsApples.com
www.MurphysFarmstead.com
www.AppleLandStation.com
Brantwood Farm
www.HomeSteadOrchards.com
Le Ferme Quinn
www.SaundersFarm.com
Berry Hill Fruit Farm
White Feather Farms
www.SmithsApples.com
www.StanleysFarm.com
www.Strom.ca
Willis Family Fruit Farm
Thank you all!
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There are no hard and fast rules to substituting honey and sugar in recipes, but these guidelines should help you quickly decide how much honey to use in a particular recipe instead of table or cane sugar.
In general, substituting honey for sugar seems to be a matter of taste. Some people use it cup for cup, while others prefer 1/2 cup – 2/3 cup of honey per cup of white sugar. Reduce the amount of other liquids by 1/4 cup for every cup of honey used. Lower the oven temp about 25 degrees F to prevent over-browning and add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda for each cup of honey to your batter. Honey is naturally acidic and the baking soda tempers it.
Diabetics should keep in mind that honey does not reduce the calorie or carbohydrate content of the sugar recipe, and thus is not an acceptable sugar replacement for people on diabetic diets.
Substituting honey for other sweeteners
http://www.michiganbeekeepers.com
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Our indoor Winter Farmers’ Market season is upon us and we are happy to announce a number of great new local vendors. The Winter Market is held every Saturday from 9-1 and features many local vendors and artisans, and also includes Bron’s Bees Raw Honey, Heritage Prairie Farm produce and our Farm Kitchen’s amazing fresh made fare. Join us!
Every Saturday:
The Whimsical Stitch – Handmade aprons, hats, hobo bags, & tee pee’s
Juice Plus- Whole food based nutrition www.marthasjuiceplus.com
Schulte Family Chiropractic & Wellness Cetner – Nutrition counseling http://www.schultechiropractic.com/
Fresh Ground Roast – Fair Trade whole bean coffee www.freshgroundroast.com
Select Saturdays:
Steve E’s Fudge Shoppe – Liquor Infused Gourmet Fudge (Nov. 10th & 24th, Dec. 1st &15th)
K’Tizo Tea – Premium loose leaf tea & teaware www.ktizotea.com (Nov. 17th & Dec. 1st)
Many of our outdoor market vendors are also participating this winter -
Paragon Flowers www.paragonflowers.com
Burgin Farm Assorted meats and eggs
Curds & Whey Artisan Cheese Artisan and local cheeses www.curdsandwheycheesecompany.com
Vassi Goods – European style organic & natural and “gluten free” foods
Organo Gold Organic coffee and tea products, plus more! ogkewlbeans.organogold.com
Bema and Pa’s Infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, & Sea Salts www.bemaandpas.com
NYR Organics us.nyrorganic.com/shop/jcoop
Vital Chiropractics www.vitalchiropractic.com
Life Force International www.mylifeforce.net/mikeadams
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The night sky and cool October air greet me as I walk from the barn back to my kitchen. It is shortly after dinner service for the second to last wedding of the season; I’m knocking off for the night but by the sounds of merriment coming from the tent I can tell the reception is in full swing. 
I come across the bride chatting with some friends, and congratulate her. We hug and I wish her and her new husband all the best; they’re ecstatic and I am honored to have been a part of their union.
I pack up my things and head to my car; reflecting not only on the day’s work as I do after every event, but also on the season as a whole. Wedding season is almost done, and I remember all the wonderful couples and farm dinner guests, I have met this year. Witnessing their creativity, passion, and love has made all of our hard work worth it. It amazes me to see just how many people share my passion for good food, good company, and good times.
We have had all of those in abundance this past season, and no matter what your reason for visiting us it has been my pleasure to share in them with you. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you; I am forever grateful for the opportunity to be a part of so many wonderful experiences. We have plenty more to come, and I’m looking forward to seeing you all out on the farm!
Sincerely,
Chef Nick
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For Immediate Release
Contact : Daryn Pobanz
630.443.5989
daryn@heritageprairiefarm.com
10/22/2012
Area’s largest winter farmers’ market starts indoors November 3rd
Saturday market provides community with year round access to local food
Elburn, IL. – Starting November 3rd and continuing all winter long, Heritage Prairie Farm brings the farmers’ market to the farm from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM every Saturday. This winter the market, located just west of Geneva and St. Charles, is expanding to include two indoor heated spaces to make room for over a dozen local vendors. A fun, festive environment with fresh baked goods make the farmers’ market a weekly destination for many local residents.
The market features a wide range of products including vegetables grown on the farm, local eggs and dairy, artisan cheeses and meats, along with many hand made items sold by those who produce them.
“What many people don’t realize is that not only can we grow and harvest vegetables throughout winter, the winter harvest includes the highest quality vegetables available in our region,” said Nate Sumner Farm Manager. “Fall and winter produce has more nutrients and better flavor than the same crop grown in the summer.”
Heritage Prairie Farm is a leader in the local food community and has served the Chicagoland area for over 5 years. Their vegetables, grown using organic principles, are supplied to many of the area’s top restaurants as well as their own farm-to-table events and weddings. www.heritageprairiefarm.com
Vendors intereseted in participating in the market can contact Katie, the farm store manager, at 630.443.8253 or katie@heritageprairiefarm.com.
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