Growing Home

I have become intrigued by Growing Home, its product and its mission. If not simply for the fact that one of their farm locations is located out where I live in Marseilles.

I am curious of any feedback regarding their produce, and or folks who have bought shares in the CSA they offer. Quality/price/value/availability. Thanks for any feedback.

I am always searching for the best products to cook in my home kitchen on a working class families budget, and also like to support local busineses, items being organic are simply an added benifit. I am looking forward to visiting their farmstand at the farm once seasonla items start becoming available.

I was really hoping to take my daughter to visit their farm here, and was advised of an open house "Field Day" and farm tour being held Sunday, May 23 from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. on that day. Seems like a great opportunity to learn. Maybe some other folks feel the same & I will see you out there(if anyone is coming out I might even invite you bck to my house for some bbq).

Les Brown Memorial Farm
2539 N. 30th Road
Marseilles, IL.

815-795-2891

http://www.growinghomeinc.org

I am a long-time donor and customer of Growing Home. I have never purchased their CSA, but I always buy their products when I see them at farmers markets.

My favorite products from them are leafy greens (both cooking greens and salad greens). Their prices are always very good and so is the quality, variety, and freshness.

They're an excellent organization run by very smart, dedicated people and they deserve a lot of support, not only for their mission, but for the good products that they produce.

Best,
Michael

I have contributed to the organization, but never had a chance to sample their products or make it to a farm to volunteer. They should have great products as a purveyor to some high-end restaurants that prefer to source locally. Do check it out if you have the chance, and please report back. None of the CSA pick up location is convenient for me, otherwise, I would be on it.

Buying from them good, but you (we) can also support Growing Home's mission of job training by attending their annual benefit on June 3: http://www.growinghomeinc.org/benefit10/

thanks for the feedback folks, I was told their local(to me) farm location will have a farmstand during the summer so that might be a good option for me.

I am looking forward to checking out their operation here in Marseilles later this month @ the Open House, I also find it interesting the land their farm occupies used to be the National Weather Service "Marseilles radar station" for those who grew up in Chicago that was the radar the weather forecasters always mentioned when tracking severe weather.

I, too, regularly purchase Growing Home's leafy greens at Green City Market, but I was excited to make my first visit to their Wood St. farm in Englewood last weekend. Hellodali and I rode our bikes down there and just got a peak, but I thought it was incredible. It kind of took me by surprise as it's tucked away in a residential neighborhood and, while not a huge lot, it's clearly a full, bustling operation. I know of quite a few edible community gardens in Chicago--especially cropping up in Ukrainian Village/Humboldt Park, where I live--but the potential for urban agriculture hadn't really sunk in until I saw Growing Home's Wood St. farm.

You can schedule a tour of the farm if you have at least 5 people, but you could also visit with me and Hellodali via Fork and the Road. We're doing a bike tour in partnership with Chicago Public Radio on Saturday, June 19th that culminates with a visit to the Wood St. farm. It's going to be a pretty exciting day.

happy_stomach wrote:I, too, regularly purchase Growing Home's leafy greens at Green City Market, but I was excited to make my first visit to their Wood St. farm in Englewood last weekend. Hellodali and I rode our bikes down there and just got a peak, but I thought it was incredible. It kind of took me by surprise as it's tucked away in a residential neighborhood and, while not a huge lot, it's clearly a full, bustling operation. I know of quite a few edible community gardens in Chicago--especially cropping up in Ukrainian Village/Humboldt Park, where I live--but the potential for urban agriculture hadn't really sunk in until I saw Growing Home's Wood St. farm.

You can schedule a tour of the farm if you have at least 5 people, but you could also visit with me and Hellodali via Fork and the Road. We're doing a bike tour in partnership with Chicago Public Radio on Saturday, June 19th that culminates with a visit to the Wood St. farm. It's going to be a pretty exciting day.

great info.

I found out their local farm out where I live will be running a farmstand later this summer so I dont have to go to a farmers market to buy their produce. I am looking forward to that opportunity

Also, I am taking my family out to their open house/farm tour @ their Marseilles farm this Sunday 5/23 from 1:00 - 2:30. I figured it would be a good learning experience for me and my daughter.

Anyone else coming out to see where some of the items they might buy from Growing Home are grown?

If Harry Rhodes is there, tell him hello from me. He and my brother (who now lives in Boston) were best friends from summer camp back in the day.

Suzy

Just saw this thread and have decided to come out to the open house - nice day for a ride in the country.

I will be wearing a white ball cap with four rectangular flags on the front.

Mike

MikeLM wrote:Just saw this thread and have decided to come out to the open house - nice day for a ride in the country.

I will be wearing a white ball cap with four rectangular flags on the front.

Mike

nice Mike, I think we are heading over around 1:15. Of course ill be wearing a White Sox hat. Maybe see you there.

impressive operation, and even more impressive folks running the show. Really looking forward to the farmstand opening. Ill post some pics later.

scored some asparagus..

Les Brown Farm:




chickens:




garlic:




misc:






nice to know starting mid-june there will be a farmstand @ this location offering what they produce.