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Fresh Local News from FamilyFarmed.org
December 2009

Chicago French Market Opens!

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Steve Johnson Photography

The Chicago French Market at the Metra Train Station opened earlier this month to great reviews. With 25 unique, mostly artisan food vendors, the market offers consumers a great array of fun, tasty prepared food as well as a full selection of staples such as produce, dairy, meat and seafood. Located at the Oglivie Transportation Center on Clinton between Randolph and Washington, the market is a convenient way for commuters, downtown workers, and nearby residents to shop.

There are a number of booths that promote local and organic products. Chicago Organics offers a wide selection of certified organic produce, dairy, and ready to eat foods. All of their dairy products come from regional farms as does some of their seasonal produce.  Abbey Brown Soaps is right across the aisle from Chicago Organics and offers their stellar selection of handcrafted locally produced body care goods. And the Wisconsin Cheese Mart offers the world's largest selection of Wisconsin Cheese.

Delightful Pastries is know for sourcing from local farmers and has a great selection of baked goods. City Fresh offers a selection of Bill Kurtis' Tallgrass Beef. Pastoral has an assortment of cheese (some local), plus some organic and sustainable wines. Vendors coming in the next month include RAW, which will have organic raw salads and prepared items.

For more information, visit French Market Chicago online!




Need a Last Minute Gift?  Want to End the Year on a Giving Note?

Support Artists and FamilyFarmed.org!

Wrapped BinWhy would someone wrap a grain bin? 
Things have been wrapped in honor for centuries!  Think of mummies, gifts, and more recently, works by the artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. 

Local artists Danny Mansmith and Catherine Schwalbe- Bouzide
have stood on some broad shoulders when they wrapped the grain bin on a centennial farm in Ashton, IL.

This spectacular art piece, the Wrapped Pfeiffer Centennial Bin, is a "celebration of agriculture, fiber, and family farms."

In June 2008, Mansmith and Schwalbe-Bouzide invited FamilyFarmed .org in on the project.
The artists committed to one year of selling balls of the fabric - weighed and sold according to that day's cost of a bushel of corn.  This social and artistic statement benefits FamilyFarmed.org in that 50% of all the proceeds go towards our organization! In addition, Carole and Mike Hennessey have agreed to match all funds raised for FamilyFarmed.org!

If you're still looking for an interesting gift for the artist or foodie in your life, consider making a statement in support of local farms.  The fabric balls will be available through the end of December. 


For more information, or to purchase a fabric ball, email Catherine Schwalbe-Bouzide.  Thank you Catherine, Danny, Carole, and Mike for supporting  FamilyFarmed.org!

Frontera Farmer Foundation
Now Accepting
2010 Grant Applications

Frontera logo

From the Foundation:  The Frontera Farmer Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to promoting small, sustainable farms serving the Chicago area by providing them with capital development grants. The Foundation envisions a year-round interchange between sustainable farmers and consumers, including farmers'market patrons and chefs, in which seasonal local agriculture provides the foundation for sustainable regional cuisine.

The Frontera Farmer Foundation was established in 2003 to attract support for small Midwestern farms. Rick and Deann Bayless, founders of Frontera Grill and Topolobampo, along with the restaurants' staff, created the Foundation out of their concern for struggling farmers and the importance of local produce to the vitality of Chicago's culinary culture. 

"Great food, like all art, enhances and reflects a community's vitality, growth and solidarity. Yet history bears witness that great cuisines spring only from healthy local agriculture." -Rick Bayless, Proprietor of Frontera Grill and Topolobampo


 Visit the Frontera Farmer Foundation website here.  For more information about grant eligibility and guidelines, click here!

John Wood Community College's NEW  Sustainable Local Foods Farming program!
JWCC SLFFJohn Wood Community College, in Quincy, IL, recently announced a new Sustainable Local Foods Farming Program.

The program provides courses and hands-on training in sustainable fruit and vegetable production, entrepreneurship, and marketing.

Students gain the practical skills and knowledge needed to be successful agricultural entrepreneurs in this emerging industry.

Hands-on courses are taught at JWCC's demonstration market garden, located on the Quincy campus.

Learn more about the program here!

FEATURED PRODUCER 
Meadow Creek Elk Farms
West Bend, WI 53090

MCElkFarm

Meadow Creek Elk Farms is owned and operated by the Susen Family.  Bob and Diana established their elk farm in 1996, and between two sites they average about 40 elk annually on their 90 acres.  It truly is a family farm as their two daughters and son-in-law help with all aspects of the business.  In fact, Bob and Diana insist that when their kids were young, it was "important for them to be active in agricultural activities as a way to learn important lifestyle traits such as responsibility, dedication and trustworthiness.  Embarking in agricultural hobbies offered many assignments and tasks which helped them to develop the quality of character they possess today."

Bob and Diana are committed to raising their elk without the use of hormones or antibiotics.  They offer several products from the elk including velvet antler (a mainstay in traditional Chinese medicine), e-fusion � lotion, jewelry, home d�cor items, and meat.  They currently sell to restaurants and retail stores and direct to consumers at their farm and on their website.

What is your growing philosophy?
For the past 13 years, we have truly enjoyed the elk.  But, today is an exciting time to be involved in the growing "buy local" movement that is nurturing relationships between consumers and their food, the land their food comes from, and farmers who grow it.  We are proud to be raising food sustainably and we are devoted to bringing you fresh, high-quality products.  Elk are our passion, they are remarkable creatures.  Elk are unique in that they offer healthy meat and produce significant sized antlers that are loaded with incredible nutrition for us.  The major driver behind the success of the elk farming industry has been the demand in Asia for quality velvet antler.  It has been used for 2000 years for a good reason, it works!  And today customers are validating its use here in America.  We are committed to quality and service, offering quality products for those wanting a healthy lifestyle.

What's your favorite part of farming?
Watching the newborn calves being born.

What makes your farm special?
We are unique in that raising elk we can offer more than one product. We produce elk meat, velvet antler, elk ivory jewelry, and hard antlers for decorative furniture.

For more information about Meadow Creek Elk Farm, visit their website, call 262.692.3008 or toll free 1.888.692.3113,
or send them an email!
Save the Date!
  The Premier Local Food Event in the Midwest
   2010 EXPO logo
The FamilyFarmed EXPO Returns with 3 Great Days of Programming - Fantastic New Location!

March 11-13 
UIC Forum - University of Illinois at Chicago


The MUST ATTEND EVENT for: 
Local Food Farmers
Artisans
Foodies
Investors
Industry Trade Professionals
Food Policy Advocates Local Food System Stakeholders!


Get Involved: Become a SPONSOR, EXHIBITOR, VOLUNTEER


Click here for Programming information!


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Todmorden's Good life: Introducing Britain's greenest town

Organic Conference  'Grow your own' fever has gripped the Pennines community, which is aiming for self-sufficiency  

By Joanna Moorhead ~ The Independent ~ 11.29.09
 
It's an ordinary small town in England, but its residents claim they've discovered the secret that could save the planet...  In under two years, Todmorden has transformed the way it produces its food and the way residents think about the environment.

Compared with 18 months ago, a third more townspeople now grow their own veg; almost seven in 10 now buy local produce regularly, and 15 times as many people are keeping chickens.

 
The town centre is dotted with "help yourself" vegetable gardens; the market groans with local meat and vegetables, and at all eight of the town's schools the pupils eat locally produced meat and vegetables every lunchtime.
 
"It's a complete turnaround," said Pam Warhurst, a former leader of Calderdale Council, board member of Natural England and the person who masterminded the project - called Incredible Edible - and motivated her friends and neighbours to join in. "Our aim is to make our town entirely self-sufficient in food production by 2018 - and if we can carry on at the same rate as we've done over the past 18 months since we had our first meeting and set this initiative up, we're going to make it."
 
Click here to read more.

Thank you 2009 FamilyFarmed.org Volunteers!

It's the end of another exciting year at FamilyFarmed.org, and our dedicated team of volunteers have been instrumental in helping us grow.

We want to thank our volunteers for all their hard work this year.  Our continued success in building local food systems would not be possible without this wonderful team.

Special thanks goes out this year to Members of the FamilyFarmed.org Board of Directors, as well as to some of our "above and beyond" volunteers and interns named below. We appreciate your contributions to the team!

thanks

Nick Benuska ~ Robin Schirmer ~ Keighty Alvarez ~ Delia Hollbach ~ Scott Dravet ~ James Pirovano ~ Charles Engel

From the staff at FamilyFarmed.org

Quick Links
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 Guide to Chicagoland CSAs

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