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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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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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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Guest Blog Submission~Heritage Prairie Farm
by Bonnie T. Summers, Concierge
Whole Foods Market Naperville
May 2012
I keep a large wooden tray in view in my workspace at Whole Foods Market Naperville. The tray is rough and sturdy, darkened with years of use on a farm where it held grapes becoming raisins in California’s San Joaquin Valley. Arm-length, weighty, lush bunches were spread across rows of trays like this between vines in the dry, 100 degree heat of late summer. The same process is still used, grapes now spread on lengths of paper instead of trays.
David Mas Masumoto writes about growing organic peaches and raisins in that valley. Through him I revisit the places where I grew up just miles from Masumoto Family Farm. And I renew my appreciation for the treasure Bron, Bob and the staff have shaped at Heritage Prairie Farm. Here on the edge of urban sprawl, I can stand on another variety of plowed earth, taste comb honey, see the sweat and satisfaction on the faces of their crew, and ask questions.
These very different farms–both local vendors for Whole Foods Market–are similar in artistry, inventiveness and mission. To succeed, farmers must work in enough harmony with a fluctuating network of seeds, weeds, creatures, weather, laborers, policies, tools and tractors, history, markets, soil and their own intuition. This choreography continues daily on farms around the U.S. and the world daily. Fortunately for us, farmers like Bron and Masumoto are as articulate about their work—and as creative in drawing people, organizations and ideas together—as they are with their farming. Whether Bron is speaking as a Good Food Festival panelist, crediting the chefs who arrange food on platters at farm dinners, or explaining microgreens to kids, her heart for Heritage Prairie Farm and for sustainable food and community is evident, and echoed by each of the staff.
When I began to work with potential local producers, one of the first I met was Bron.She introduced Heritage Prairie Farm to us through exquisite raw and infused honey. Bron and Joel, then Naperville’s Store Team Leader, immediately synced into a creative buzz about labels, recipes, and steps to becoming an effective Whole Foods Market vendor. Our current Store Team Leader Steve continues that support for Heritage Prairie Farm and local producers. Bron and Deb, our Marketing Specialist, have expanded the reach of both our store and the farm through amazing partnerships.
Heritage Prairie Farm’s first Red, White and Bluegrass Festival on June 9th benefits the Farmer Veteran Coalition—another mutual, innovative partner. We’re proud to be a cosponsor of this event. Soon after, they’ll host a retreat with our Health Starts Here partner, Engine 2. Imagine what will sprout up next!
Many dreams and hands are joined behind signs that say “heirloom,” “seasonal,” “organic,” or “Buy Local”. Thanks, Heritage Prairie Farm—and all farmers, especially small artisan farmers—for helping us remember our common ground.
The raisin drying tray that sits in Bonnie's office.
Category: Farm in the News, Joys Comments (1)
“Garfield Farm Museum’s three themes of history, farming and the environment are annually celebrated by recognizing groups or individuals that share such common interests by their actions and deeds. For 24 years, these awards are to pay tribute and draw attention to the awardees and their impact on the community, region or nation.
Heritage Prairie Farm, within sight of Garfield Farm Museum on Brundige Road and Route 38, founded by Bronwyn Weaver and Robert Archibald, has demonstrated a successful model of bringing the consumer in touch with the source of their food. At the same time they have provided a market for other local food producers to get their bounty to a public that seeks more knowledge about their food. Garfield Farm Museum is pleased to give the Heritage Prairie Farm an agricultural preservation award for its work.”
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Spring Arrives!
Garlic is growing like crazy. First bluebirds arrived last Saturday.
Bees are in the cherry blossoms. Mud. Fragrance. Smiles.
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Twenty-two years ago we celebrated our first Valentine’s Day. I think we gave each other gifts like candy and flowers, and I remember Bob got his turn-table fixed so we could listen to our favorite albums. Fixing turn-tables? Sounds like something from the Pleistocene Era.
And over the years we’ve celebrated the holiday in different ways. Some years making a big deal out of it, sometimes just cards and kisses.
He knew I’d already tagged small trees and branches around the farm that needed to be cut down this spring. His chain saw is much more suited for a man from Montana and I had planned on using my hand saw—But now, now I have the perfect tool.
From my True Love.....
True Love!!
Wishing everyone a Happy Valentines Day from the farm!
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