Local Organic Farms

The Land Connection Sustainable Farms Tour

Join Seven Generations Ahead for its annual fall tour of Central Illinois organic farms affiliated with The Land Connection. The October 2006 tour date is yet to be announced. See below for sample schedule. Click here to join mailing list for future tour date announcements.

12:00noon - 3:30pm

Featuring:

  • tours of two organic farms
  • a farm food potluck in the fields of Henry’s Farm
  • apple pressing and cider tasting
  • a visit with farm animals

Experience the magic of Henry’s Farm and learn about the growing central Illinois movement to promote local organic family farms."

October 2005 Schedule

11:30am - 12:00noon Arrival at Henry’s Farm (see below for directions)
Arrivals and time for chatting, bathroom, nature walks

12:00noon - 1:00pm Henry’s Farm Tour
Henry Brockman raises over 450 varieties of organic- vegetables on about 10 acres. His produce feeds 110 CSA families and upwards of 1000 families a week from the Evanston Farmer’s Market, where he has developed a large, loyal following. Henry believes that food production should not involve wanton destruction of life. More information at www.henrysfarm.com

1:00pm Potluck Lunch in the Fields of Henry’s Farm.
In addition to everyone’s potluck specialties using fresh farm food, executive chef Gaetano DiBenedetto of La Piazza restaurant in Forest Park, IL will prepare some delicious dishes to share. Please bring a side dish (salad, dessert, or other dish) to share and your own table service.

2:30 - 3:30 Tour of The Land Connection Farm
We’ll visit the newly established farm of The Land Connection, which is an organic farm complete with pigs, sheep, turkeys, chickens, a goat and 2 kittens for kids to interact with. You’ll learn about The Land Connection’s efforts to support local organic family farms in its region, and how it is using its farm as a training center for new prospective farmers.

3:30 Tour Officially Ends....Optional Tour of Kennel’s Solar Panel Installation
Dave and Miriam Kennel and their children spent the 1980s in remote areas of Paraguay, where turning on a light bulb meant hauling in diesel fuel by ox-cart and then using this to power a generator. When they moved back to their family farm, they turned to clean, renewable energy for their electricity. Dave installed two large solar panels that track the sun each day and provide electricity for the Kennels and their neighbors. As a proponent of "appropriate technology," Dave also designed and built a solar-powered utility vehicle and a solar powered, back-friendly weeding/transplanting vehicle for area market gardeners. Participants are welcome to test drive the vehicles and ask Dave questions.

Children are particularly welcome.

Please RSVP by October 7, 2005 at 708 660-9909 or act@sevengenerationsahead.org.

Cost: $10 per family; $5 per individual; SGA Members free.

Directions to Henry’s Farm (Starting Point of the Tour)

Henry’s Farm is 2 1/2 hours south of Chicago (depending on your starting point and whether you have kids we suggest leaving by 9:00am).
Take Interstate 55 south towards St. Louis.
After about 100 miles, take the exit for Route 24 (Chenoa, El Paso).
Turn left off the ramp.
Go west on Route 24 for about 30 miles, passing through Gridley and El Paso.
When you get to Eureka, turn left at the stop-light (the courthouse is on your right). Continue on this road (Route 117) through town.
Going out of Eureka, you go up a hill and around a lazy S-curve, then down and up another hill and into another lazy S-curve. Slow down as you come out of this curve and look for a small country road (475N) down to your left. (If you come to the town of Goodfield simply turn around and come back to 475N).
Make the left off of Rt. 117 onto 475N.
Go one mile to the T junction. Turn right onto 1500E.
Go about 2 miles until you come to the first hard road to your left (400N). Turn left.
Go down the big hill and up the big hill. At the crest of the hill, you’ll see a small blue sign to your left that says 1566. Turn left into this lane and go all the way back. See you there!