2012 CSA Guide
WHAT’S NEW FOR 2012: The Local Beet is pleased to provide this CSA Guide as a service to farms and consumers. With almost 90 farms listed, we believe it is the most comprehensive CSA Guide for Chicagoland. In 2012, we have begun the process of expanding the Guide to include farms in Illinois outside of Chicagoland, as well as in Southeast Wisconsin, Northern Indiana, and Southwest Michigan.
To assist users with the size and breadth of this Guide, we have made it completely searchable and sortable. The search box in the upper right-hand corner of the Guide may be used to narrow down the farms by typing in key words. For example, by entering the name of a specific town, nearby towns, or Chicago neighborhood, the Guide will list only farms delivering to those areas. Be on the lookout for honest-to-goodness urban farms — in 2012, we have more farms than ever actually located within the city limits of Chicago.
The search box may also be used to find farms offering unique services or goods (such as, “certified organic”, “eggs”, “poultry”, etc.). Each column may be sorted alphabetically by clicking the arrows in the header of each column. Finally, we have denoted new farms that are making their debut in our Guide.
[Scroll down for Guide]
2012 CSA Listings
| Name/Location/Website | Type of CSA | Type of Farm or Farming | Type of Shares & Cost | Delivery or Pickup? | How often? | Length of Season | Extra Products/Information | Sold out or close to sold out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angelic Organics Caledonia, IL web site | Vegetable & some fruit (Balanced selection of 12-16 vegetables per week & melons) | Biodynamic approach to organic farming | 20-week $680 12-week $430 1/2 share (every other week) $360 All shares 3/4 bushel | Pickup @ farm, or in Rockford, Elgin, Arlington Heights, Deerfield, Downer's Grove, Geneva, Highland Park, Wheaton, Westmont, Wilmette, Winnetka, Oak Park (2 sites), Edison Park/Park Ridge, Elmhurst, LaGrange, Evanston (2 sites), and in Chicago, Rogers Park, Andersonville/Edgewater, Uptown/Ravenswood, Ravenswood Manor, Irving Park, St. Benedict's, Logan Square, Bucktown, Wicker Park, Hyde Park (2 sites), Lincoln Park & Lakeview | Weekly (20 or 12-week shares) Bi-weekly (1/2 share) | Mid-June through mid-Oct. (for 20 week or 1/2 shares); mid-Aug. – mid-Oct. (for 12 week share) | Fruit shares extra; Winter CSA extra | Close to selling out |
| Beaver Creek Gardens Poplar Grove, IL web site | Fruits & vegetables Eggs | Mission is to reduce carbon footprint; harvests own seeds, grows own inputs, and cycles according to nature | 20-week $595 10-week $320 (3/4 bushel) | Pickup @ farm or in Crystal Lake | Weekly (20-week) Bi-weekly (10-week) | Jun-Oct | Egg CSA extra (year-round) Flower CSA available | Available (100 shares maximum) |
| Big Head Farm South Haven, MI web site | Vegetables, herbs & flowers, *NEW FOR 2011: Fruit shares, Egg shares | Former Chicagoans growing organic produce on property previously used only for hunting | Full $500 (bushel) Half $275 (1/2 bushel) Solo $150 (1/4 bushel) | Pickup in Chicago (Lakeview/Southport Farmer's Market) & South Haven, MI Home delivery available | Weekly | June-Oct | Fruit: Full share $162.50/year; Half share $81.25/year, includes 10# (full) or 5# (half) tree fruits from area growers every other week Egg: Full share $110/yr, Half share $55/year, includes 1 doz eggs either weekly (full) or biweekly (half) | Available |
| Black Earth Meats Black Earth, WI website | Offers USDA Certified Organic, grass-fed beef & pork | USDA-certified processing facility with 3rd-party certification for humane handling | Buyer's Club has 3 options: Grandpa's Way (non-CAFO raised, no sub-therapeutic antibiotics, no animal by-products in feed, grain or corn finished), grass-fed, or organic $50 or $75 monthly; 3-month commitment | Pickup Middleton, Fitchburg, Madison, Horeb, WI | Monthly | Year-round | Offers online retail products | Available |
| *New!* Blackberry Creek Farm Sugar Grove, IL Local Harvest page | Vegetables | 2012 is first full season. Rebirth of the Conrad Family Farm in Fox Valley. Practicing sustainability, proper practices, free of synthetic herbicides and pesticides. | Averages $30/week. Contact farm for more details. | Contact farm for more details. | Weekly | Contact farm for more details. | Contact farm for more details. | 150 shares available. |
| Bob's Fresh and Local St. Charles, IL web site | Vegetables and herbs | Produce grown using organic practices, including only organic fertilizer and pesticides | 20-week $640 ($615 before 3/1) -- feeds 4+ people 18-week $580 ($560 before 3/1) --feeds 4+ people 10-week (biweekly) $405 ($385 before 3/1) -- feeds 1-2 people | Pickup likely to be at farm, Wheaton, Elmhurst and North Aurora. Contact farm for more details. | Weekly (20- or 18-weeks) Biweekly (10-week) | June-Oct. | Fruit share or Holiday shares available | Available |
| *New!* Bountiful Blessings Hinckley, IL Local Harvest page | Vegetables | Subscription vegetable program delivers to your home & includes a wide variety of vegetables. | 20 weeks $900 (feeds family of four) 1/2 basket $450 (feeds 2 people) | Home delivery to Hinckley, Big Rock, Waterman, & Shabbona | Weekly | 20 weeks (June-Oct.) | None | Some shares still available |
| Broad Branch Farm Wyoming, IL web site | Separate vegetable, meat, egg and fall shares | Organic | Full $556 Half $307 | Pickup @ the farm or in Peoria, Peoria Heights & Naperville | Full share is 22 weeks Half-share is biweekly for 11 weeks | June-Oct. | Egg & Meat shares available Fall shares also available for 2 weeks in Nov. | Available |
| Bumblebee Acres Farm Harvard, IL web site | Fruit & vegetables, Wool/Yarn | No chemical pesticides or commercial fertilizers | 10 weeks $200 1/2 shares available | Pickup @ Woodstock Farmer’s Market by "shopping" their booth & selecting what you'd like | Weekly | June - Aug. | Wood/yarn CSA extra | Small farm - only 12 shares available |
| C&D Family Farms Indiana web site | Meat (Pork) Partners with other farms for beef, poultry and eggs | Raises hogs in their natural environment on pasture and in wooded areas where they graze on pasture or eat leaves, weeds, berries and acorns from their large wooded pens. Hogs are very social animals and are kept in droves so they can socialize and prosper. | Four options based on 3 or 6 month shares ranging in price from $210 to $900, depeding upon the quantity & variety of meat | Pickup in Lincoln Square, Andersonville, Hyde Park, Division St./Gold Coast, Evanston, Beverly & North Center | Monthly | 3 or 6 months | Contact farm for additional meat products | Available year-round |
| Cedar Valley Farm Ottawa, IL web site | Meat & eggs (Various cuts of beef, pork & chicken + 2 dozen eggs) | Raising animals without hormones or drugs in sustainable environment | 3 months $285 6 months $550 Full year $1080 | Pickup @ several north side locations, Naperville, Oak Park & Oak Lawn | Monthly or bimonthly for small households | Year-round | None | Available |
| City Farm Chicago, IL web site | Vegetables; frozen baby food share available | Located at Clybourn & Division, City Farm is an urban farm project of the Resource Center, a Chicago non-profit dedicated to resuse and recycling | Full share (grocery bag) -- feeds small family or 2-3 adults $550 "Peak season" share (Every week for 12 weeks) $300 | Pickup at Farm in Chicago (Diversey/Clybourn) | Full share is 22 weeks Peak season share is weekly for 12 weeks | Mid-May through end of October (full share) July-mid-Sept. (Peak season share -- includes lots of peppers & tomatoes) | Frozen baby food share available | Available |
| City Provisions (A) Chicago, IL web site | Meat | Local butcher/specialty delicatessen in Ravenswood neighborhood that works directly with local farms | Ten weeks ( 5 deliveries biweekly) $1000+tax includes variety of Dietzler steaks, house-cured bacon, lamb chops, Cook's bison ribeyes, homemade sausages, pâtés, terrines and deli meats | Pickup at the store | Biweekly | 10 weeks beginning March 18th through May 20, 2011 | None | Available immediately |
| *New!* Common Roots Sustainable Farm Burlington, WI website | Vegetables Compost Program! Will pick up your food scraps to be composted on the farm. | Small, sustainable farm operating on 2 acres by husband-wife team | Family $500 (about 10 different vegetables) Foodie $650 (about 14 different vegetables) Fun $250 (about 5 vegetables; good for single eaters) | Pickup in Evanston or Burlington, WI | Weekly | 20 weeks (June-Oct.) | None | EVANSTON CSA IS SOLD OUT |
| Crème de la Crop Porter, IN web site | Vegetables, herbs & edible flowers | Certified Organic (200 types of unique heirloom varieties); “Standard Market” plan gets more common market vegetables “Epicurean” gets everything they grow | Standard $645 (Full) $330 (Half) Epicurean -- includes more "exotic" produce $810 (Full) $415 (Half) | Pickup @ Farm, or locations in Valparaiso, Merrillville, & Chesterton, IN | Weekly | 18 weeks (end of June-Oct.) | Fruit CSA available Winter vegetable & fruit CSA shares available | Available |
| Dea Dia Organics Grayslake, IL web site | **Partnering with Sandhill Organics. See Sandhill Organic's entry for more information. | |||||||
| Earth and Skye Farm Manhattan, IL Local Harvest page | Vegetables & herbs | Environmentally and sustainable methods of farming | $375 (contains 5-10 items) | Pickup @ the farm or in Orland Park | Weekly for 20 weeks | June – Oct. | Request that you volunteer 6 hours minimum to working on farm per season | Available -- limited to 30 members |
| Earth First Farms Berrien Center, MI web site | Apples | Certified organic farming on 60 acres encompassing 4500 fruit-bearing apple trees | 10-lb. bag (1 peck) apples (Nov. share includes cider) $85 | Pickup @ farm or in Chicago @ the following markets: Edgewater, Green City, Logan Square, Glenwood, Lincoln Square, Hideout, or in Palatine, Lake Bluff, Woodridge, South Bend, IN or Berrien Springs, MI | Biweekly (6 shares) | Mid-August-Halloween & one November pickup that includes cider & baking apples | Discounted rates on cider or apple butter | Available |
| Earth Harvest Farm *2012 information not yet available* Lake Geneva, WI web site | Vegetables | Certified Naturally Grown | Full weekly share $480 Every other week $240 | Pickup @ farm or Mundelein | Weekly | 18 weeks beginning in mid-June | Pasture-raised beef and Michigan fruit extra | Available |
| Edible Alchemy Foods Co-op (A) Chicago, IL web site | Fruits & vegetables | Food Co-op that organizes an all-organic or sustainably-grown produce share every other week | No commitment $20 Produce share (2 eaters/paper grocery bag) $10 Fruit share $33 Hive share | Pickup in Pilsen, Lakeview, River North/Gold Coast or Logan Square or Delivery for $5 | Bi-Weekly | Shares begin in May | None | Available |
| Erehwon Farm Elburn, IL web site | Vegetables (6-10 kinds) 2-week trial available | No chemical herbicides or pesticides; sustainable growing practices. | Full (1/2-3/4 bushel) $600 ($575 before 3/1) --feeds 3-4 moderate vegetable eaters | Pickup @ Wheaton, Elgin, Bartlett, Lombard & Logan Square | Weekly | 20 weeks (mid-June – mid-Oct.) | Spring & fall shares available | Available |
| Elizabeth & Mary's Potting Bench *2012 information not yet available* Crystal Lake, IL web site | Vegetables, small fruit, cut flowers & herbs | Uses intensive planting techniques, square-foot gardening & greenhouses to grow in smaller spaces | Full $200 Half $100 | Pickup @ Woodstock Farmer's Market | Weekly | End of June-early Sept. | None | Available |
| Esther's Place/Lamb of God Farm Big Rock, IL Local Harvest page | Vegetables and fruit Wool, soaps, lotions and balms | Embraces Christian principles in the spirit, character and depth of agrarian living | $45/week for 20 wekks $45/week for 10 weeks includes "value added products" such as naturally raised meat, dairy, cheese, eggs, flowers, balms, soaps, fibers, canned items, flour, & bread from local farms and businesses they support Half share (1/2 box) $500 for 20 weeks | Pickup in Wheaton, Big Rock, Aurora, St. Charles and Oswego | Weekly | June-Oct. | Wool, soaps, lotions and balms extra | 40 shares available |
| Fair Share *2012 information not yet available* Harvard, IL web site | Vegetables | Small, sustainable farm | $395 for share (grocery bag) | Pickup in Cary, Barrington, Arlington Heights, Palatine, Mount Prospect, Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, and in Chicago, Elston/Central, Loyola and Jefferson Park, and Illinois Tollway Oases in Lake Forest, O'Hare, and Des Plaines | Weekly | June-Oct. | None | Available |
| Farmer Tom's CSA (A) web site | Vegetables & Fruit | Purchases produce from several growers that use organic methods. Operates differently than traditional CSA - you pay upfront membership fee and then order produce when you want -- no commitment | $70 upfront membership fee & produce is paid for weekly (skipping weeks is permitted). $37/week for 1-1/9th bushel (2 large grocery bags) $27/week for 5/9-3/4 bushel (about 1 large grocery bag) | Pickup in Edgewater, Oak Park, Lombard, Woodlawn, Lakeview/Southport, Logan Square, Gold Coast, Evanston, Bucktown, Pilsen, Wicker Park, South Loop, River North, North Park & Lincoln Park Home delivery available to some areas | Weekly | Year-round (July-Oct, produce is local; from Nov-June, produce is selected from other nonlocal growers) | Fruit share is additional $22/order | Available |
| Fat Blossom Farm Allegan, MI web site | Vegetables | Certified USDA Organic | Large $550 Small $300 | Pickup @ locations in Chicago (Beverly, Rogers Park & South Loop) & Southwest Michigan (Allegan, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids & Holland) | Weekly | 20 weeks (Jun-Oct) | Certified organic flowers available | Available |
| Four Friends Farm Hebron, IL web site | Vegetables | Uses only organically-approved seeds, farms sustainably without the use of synthetic chemical pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers (not organic) | Full (1 bushel) $630 Half (2 people) $390 Single (peck) $240 Community (donates to food pantry) $100 Worker share -- call for details | Pickup @ farm in Woodstock, or in Batavia, Buffalo Grove, Crystal Lake or Rogers Park | Weekly | 20 weeks (Jun-Oct) | None | Available |
| Freedom Organix Harvard, IL web site | Vegetables, herbs & flowers, eggs Less expensive U-pick option available | Sustainable farm growing vegetables and raising chickens, geese and cows | Spring $125 U-Pick on farm $425 (w/eggs, $515) Full Vegetable share $560 (w/eggs $670) Half Vegetable share $340 (w/eggs, $395) Harvest $110 (w/eggs, $135) | Pick up box @ farm in Harvard, or in Cary, Lake Geneva/Delavan, WI, Woodstock, Barrington, Crystal Lake, Hoffman Estates, Lake Zurich, Libertyville, Deerfield, Lake Forest, Chicago North (Elston/Central), Rogers Park, & Irving Park | Spring & Full shares -- weekly Half -- Biweekly Harvest -- 2 deliveries | Spring share is 4 weeks beginning in May, Full share is 18 weeks beginning in June | Eggs, chickens, & heritage turkeys available; option to purchase grass-fed beef | Available |
| Genesis Growers St. Anne, IL web site | Vegetables, eggs, fruits & herbs | Uses natural methods, no pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizer. Available yearly or by season Shares available: Medium (20% larger than paper grocery bag) & Large (60% more than paper grocery bag) | Spring $125 (medium); $225 (large) Summer $650 (medium); $1200 (large) Fall $200 (medium); $350 (large) Medium 3-season share $887 Large 3-season share $1600 | Pickup @ Green City Market or in Chicago - downtown (Chicago Farmstand), Andersonville, Edison Park, Old Irving Park, West Town, West Rogers Park, North Center, Bridgeport & Hyde Park, or in Burbank, Downer's Grove, Evanston, Evergreen Park, Forest Park, Highland Park, Homewood, Joliet, Lake Bluff, Lake Zurich, Mokena, Naperville, Oak Park, Palatine/Arlington Heights, Riverside, Skokie, St. Anne, & Wheaton Northwest Suburbs: Contact farm for home delivery $5.00 | Weekly | 9 months (Apr. – Dec.) or by season: Apr. & May (Spring); June-Oct (Summer); Oct-Dec. (Fall) | Egg & chicken shares available for extra | Available |
| Gentleman Farmer Barrington, IL web site | Vegetables Eggs | Practices organic methods (no pesitcides or herbicides) | Weekly $595 (6-10 vegetables for families) Biweekly $325 | Pickup @ farm in Barrington, Norton's USA in Barrington Village, and Logan Square Farmer's Market | Weekly or biweekly | 20 weeks (Jun-Oct) for full share 10 weeks for half share | Eggs extra | Available |
| Gibbs Family Garden *2012 information not yet available* Plymouth, WI website | Vegetable | “Certified Naturally Grown” organic (no synthetic pesticides or chemicals) | Biweekly share (approx. 3/4 bushel) $425/IL residents; $390/WI residents 1 doz. eggs biweekly $44 | Pickup @ Good Earth Greenhouse in River Forest, IL *Seeking residential dropsites in River Forest, Oak Park, LaGrange, Riverside, and Elmhurst* | Biweekly | June through November | Eggs available for extra | Available |
| Granor Farms Three Oaks, MI website | Vegetables and fruit | Produces over 42 varieties of produce & draws on historical and modern practices to enhance land’s ecology | Full $700 (weekly) Half $360 (biweekly) | Pick up in Lincoln Park, Green City Market, Lincoln Square, Logan Square and North Shore (TBD); Hobart & South Bend, IN; Three Oaks & New Buffalo, MI | Weekly or biweekly | 20 weeks (June -Oct.) | None | Available |
| Grass Is Greener Gardens (A) Beloit, WI website | Meat & Poultry Produce | Aggregating 4 different producers in Southwest that raise free range, grass & grain fed meat & poultry Also offers a produce CSA with USDA Certified Organic produce, wild crops and greenhouse stock (GIGG produces about 75% for their produce CSA; remainder is from partner farms that grow according to organic standards, but are not certified) | Produce -- 15% discount before 3/1: Small $320 (feeds 1-2 people, fills about 3/4 of milk crate) Large $490 (feeds 2+, fills milk crate) Storage share (1 delivery) $120 Meat & Poultry: Small $495 (3/4 paper grocery bag) Medium $625 (paper grocery bag) Large $785 (1-1/2 grocery bag) Poultry only $390 | Pickup, Produce: Lakeview, Green City Market, Pilsen, Evanston, Northbrook & Oak Park. Pickups in Beloit & Monroe, WI receive 10% discount. Pickup, Meat: Beloit, Bridgeport, Lakeview, Evanston, Hyde Park, Oak Park, & Beloit, WI. | Meat: Monthly Produce: Weekly | Year round for meat June-Oct. for produce | Pickle, jam and egg shares extra | Available |
| Grassroots Farm Monroe, WI website | Vegetables, fruit & cut flowers Bread | USDA Certified Organic Mother-daughter operation using minimal machinery to farm 40 acres as it would be done 100 years ago. | Spring $150; w/bread Summer $540 (5/9th bushel) Fall $204 **Prices vary for Madison & Monroe, WI contact farm for details | Pickup in Andersonville, Loop, Northwest Suburbs (TBD) or Madison or Monroe, WI | Weekly | Spring -- 5 weeks Summer -- 18 weeks Fall -- 6 weeks | Bread add-on available | Only 40 shares available |
| *New!* Great River Quincy, IL website | Vegetables Eggs Chickens | Great River is a conglomeration of Terripin Farm, Feiner Gardens, and Grassy Hill Farm. | Full Vegetable $450 (feeds family of 4) Half Vegetable $340 Summer Chicken $8.75/chicken every other week Summer Egg $54/18 dozen eggs Winter Chicken $99/2 chickens per month | Pickup in Quincy, IL | Weekly for Vegetable Biweekly for Egg & Chicken shares | 18 weeks (June-Sept.) | Turkeys available near Thanksgiving | Available |
| Green Acres Farm *2012 information not yet available* North Judson, IN website | Vegetables | 70-year old family farm started by Japanese immigrants in its third generation and growing Certified Naturally Grown organic vegetables | 2-person $550 Family $990 | Pickup @ Green City Market & Evanston Farmer's Market | Weekly | 22 weeks beginning June 1st | None | Available |
| Green Earth Farm Richmond, IL website | Vegetables (100 different varieties) Chickens, eggs, turkeys, geese & ducks | “Certified Naturally Grown” organic | Full $475 (box --feeds family of 4) Half $300 (1/2 box --feeds 2) | Pickup @ farm in Richmond, IL. | Weekly | 16 weeks (June-Oct.) | Free range eggs & poultry available for extra Turkeys available in Nov. & Dec. | Available |
| Green Earth Institute South Naperville, IL website | Vegetable & herb | USDA certified organic, nonprofit operated by The Conservation Foundation, promoting health & environmental sustainability | Spring: SOLD OUT! Main Season: Weekly, $681.73 (3/4 bushel); Biweekly, $366.30 (3/4 bushel) Late Fall $142.45 | Pickup @ farm in South Naperville, IL only | Weekly or Biweekly | Spring (4 weeks) Main (20 weeks – Jun-Nov.) Late Fall (4 weeks – Nov.) | None | Summer & Late Fall shares available |
| Green Grocer (A) Chicago, IL (West Town) website | Vegetables and some specialty items | Small store specializing in local and organic food sources that puts together a weekly box of organic and/or local foods (not all foods are local) | $17/week for single share $29/week for double share | Pickup at store, home delivery available in a limited area | Weekly | Year-round | None | Available |
| Growing Home Chicago, IL website | Vegetables & herbs Shares suited to smaller households | USDA certified organic. CSA shares of urban Chicago Farms support nonprofit transitional job program | Spring (5/9th bushel) Prices vary between $150-160 depending on pickup location) Summer: Full $460-500 (5/9th bushel) or Individual $270-310 (tote bag) Prices vary depending upon pickup location Fall: Full $160-170 (5/9th bushel) or Individual $90-100 (tote bag) Prices vary depending on pickup location | Spring Pickup @ Joliet, Marseilles, Green City Market, Logan Square Market Summer Pickup @ Bucktown, Edgewater, Evanston, Green City Market, Marseilles, Logan Square, Joliet, Lakeview Fall Pickup @ Green City Market, Logan Square, Joliet & Marseilles | Weekly | Spring (5 weeks May-June) Summer (15 weeks June-Sept.) Fall (5 weeks from mid-Sept.-Nov.) | Eggs extra -- SPRING & SUMMER EGG SHARES ARE SOLD OUT. | Available |
| Growing Power (A) Farm Co-op in Wisconsin website | Vegetables, Fruit* (*During colder months, non-local produce will be sourced from small wholesalers like Goodness Greeness) | Part of a cooperative that includes farms in Milwaukee region and urban farms in Chicago | Market Basket Program is a cross between a mobile grocery store & CSA. Place order weekly Regular $17 Junior $9 Sustainable $28 Fruit $17 | Pickup in Beverly, Bridgeport, downtown Chicago, Englewood, West Garfield Park, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Oak Park, & Wicker Park | Weekly | Spring, summer & fall | Some meat available for extra | Available |
| *New!* Harrison Market Gardens Winnebago, IL website | Vegetables | Certified Naturally Grown produce. | Full $595 (feeds 3-4) Biweekly $325 (feeds 1-2) Bonus monthly U-pick of popular crops | Pickup @ farm in Winnebago, Rockton, or Machesney Park | Weekly or Biweekly | Summer | None | Available |
| Harvest Moon Farms West Central Wisconsin website | Vegetables & fruit or meat (seasonal, organic, and heirloom vegetables along with available herbs and fruit), eggs | Certified Organic | Regular (feeds 1-2 people) $593.05 Double (feeds 2-4 people) $915.14 10-week $383.44 | Pickup in Palatine, Glenview, South Loop/UIC, Downtown/Loop, Wicker Park, West Town, Roscoe Village, Wrigleyville, Lincoln Square & Edgewater | Weekly or Biweely for the 10 week share | 20 weeks (Mid-June – mid-Oct.) or 10 weeks for the 10-week share | Cheese and Winter CSA extra Eggs $112.48/doz. per week; $56.24/half doz. per week Juicer share (weekly bag of bent & dent vegetables) $306.75 | Available |
| Healthy Food Hub (A) Chicago, IL website | Vegetables | "Consumer-operated," holistically-focused cooperative run through the Holistic Family Medicine Healthy Lifestyle & Prevention Chicago that uses collective buying power to purchase organic produce | $25 annual membership fee, pre-pay orders for produce | Contact collective for more details | Contact collective for more details | Contact collective for more details | Contact collective for more details | Available |
| Heritage Prairie Farm Elburn, IL web site | Vegetables | Dedicated to "Four Season Farming," in which the farm produces food during all four seasons through use of hoophouses | Full: $825 for dropoff sites or $775 for farm pickup Half $475 for dropoff sites or $450 for farm pickup | Pickup @ farm in Elburn or Green City Market, Naperville Home delivery available | Weekly (Full) or Biweekly (Half) | 25 weeks (June-Nov. + 2 holiday boxes) | Farm-produced honey & honey bee products extra | Available |
| *New!* Holloman Produce Farm Hanover, IL website | Vegetables | Dedicated to farming with organic methods | Harvest share $330 Standard share minus 1 box opt-out $297 | Pickup @ farm in Hanover, Mount Prospect, Freeport, Hoffman Estates | Biweekly | 10 weeks (June-Oct.) | None | Only 20 shares available |
| Iron Creek Farm LaPorte, IN website | Vegetables & small fruits (over 100 varieties) | Certified Organic | Standard $570 (one grocery bag) Large Share $850 (box) Small $380 (1/2 grocery bag) Fall/Winter $280 | Summer Pickup @ farm in Laporte, IN, or Green City Market (Chicago), Andersonville, downtown Chicago, Oak Park, Wicker Park, Logan Square, Evanston Winter Pickup @ Green City Market, downtown Chicago, Logan Square or the farm in Laporte, IN | Weekly | Standard & Large shares run from Jun-Oct Winter runs from Oct-Dec. | None | Limited shares available |
| Irv & Shelly’s Fresh Picks (A) Chicago, IL web site | Vegetables, meat, dairy & eggs | Sources from local & organic Chicago-area farms.* (*During the winter, the box is supplemented with produce from outside the region.) | Fresh Picks Box: Single ($18), Double ($25) or Family-sized ($40) | Home delivery. ($5.50 shipping & handling fee.) | Weekly or Bi-weekly | Year-round. | Boxes contain produce but can be customized to include non-produce items | Available |
| King’s Hill Farm Mineral Point, WI website | Vegetables, Duck & Hen Eggs | Embraces ideology of Permaculture. Grows without pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, or GMOs. “Crops are raised from the earth, naturally, in harmony with the seasons.” | Full $400 Summer $240 | Pickup @ Green City Market, downtown Chicago, Gold Coast, Independence Park, South Loop, Glencoe @ Chicago Botanic Garden, Lake Bluff, Rogers Park, Oak Park, Palatine, Wilmette & various locations in Wisconsin | Weekly | Jun-Oct for Full season Aug-Oct for Summer season | Duck eggs extra | Available |
| Lake Breeze Organics Benton Heights, MI website | Vegetables & fruit | Certified organic with emphasis on hard-to-find crops & Jersey blueberries | Full $550 Half $300 | Pickup in Evanston & Edgewater | Weekly (full) Biweekly (half) | June-Sept | None | Limited shares available |
| Linda's Organical Farm *2012 information not yet available* Union, IL web site | Vegetables, fruit & Spices | Organically grown. Customizable to your needs & wants. Delivery available on weekly, biweekly or monthly basis. | Full $250 Half $125 Optional custom packages available | Pickup @ farm Delivery options avalalbe | Weekly or Biweekly | June-Oct | Fruit & nut trees available | Available |
| M’s Organic Farm Woodstock, IL web site | Vegetables, herbs, granola, eggs | Organic veggies, free-range eggs | Full $450; With eggs $480 Half $260; With eggs $290 | Pickup @ farm in Woodstock | Weekly | 18 weeks (Jun-Oct) | Eggs, plant-based soaps extra | Almost sold out |
| Majestic Nursery & Farm Millbrook, IL website | Vegetables, herbs | Sustainable and environmentally responsible homestead that grows Certified Naturally Grown produce, annuals and herbs | 5% discount before 2/29/2012! 3-season $704 (single) $1024 (double) Spring $110 (single) $160 (double) Summer $440 (single) $640 (double) Fall $154 (single) $224 (double) Single share is about 3/4 of paper grocery bag Double is 1-1/2 of paper grocery bag | Pickup @ farm in Millbrook, IL, Green City Market, Logan Square Market, Plainfield, Naperville/Bolingbrook/Oswego | Weekly | 3-season: May-Dec Spring: May-June Summer: June-Oct. Fall: Oct.-Dec. | Also sells annuals, birdhouses and gourdcrafts | Available |
| Marr's Valley/Country Haven Farms Mineral Point, WI website | Meat (angus beef, lamb, poultry, pork and eggs) | Marr's Valley is a 580-acre Black Angus Beef Farm that has been in the Marr family since 1874, and works with Country Haven Farm, another family farm in Southeast Wisconsin | Small (1/2 paper grocery bag) $480 Medium (3/4 paper grocery bag) $600 Large (full paper grocery bag) $780 | Pickup @ farm, and in Franklin, Milwaukee West, River Hills, Shorewood, Wi | Monthly for 6 months (Signup anytime-shares may be prorated) | 6 months: Winter - Nov. through April Summer - May through Oct. | None | Available year-round |
| Meadow Haven Farm Sheffield, IL website | Meat (Beef, pork, poultry), Eggs | Certified Organic Pastured Eggs and Meats | Full $630 includes a variety of ground beef, sausage, chicken, roast/stew meat/Soup Bones, steaks, shoulder meat, bacon, pork chops Half $330 (option of having full share bimonthly or 1/2 the amount every month) Eggs $24/share | Pickup @ farm, in Chicago at Green City Market, Lincoln Park, Arlington Heights, Bloomington-Normal, Downer's Grove, Elgin, Peoria, Quad Cities | Monthly or Bimonthly | 2 seasons: Spring/Summer (May-Oct) Fall/Winter (Nov-Apr) | Pet food available | Available |
| Midnight Sun Farm Grayslake, IL website | Vegetables | Certified Organic 3 acre farm in Prairie Crossing neighborhood | 20 week Full share $660 (5/9th bushel); Half share $385 (1/2 paper grocery bag) Spring: Full $145, Half $85 Summer: Full $420, Half $245 Fall: Full $240, Half $140 | Pickup @ farm in Libertyville, Gurnee or Rogers Park | Weekly | 20 weeks (Jun.-Oct.) for Rogers Park subscribers Spring (May-June), Summer (June-Sept,.) & Fall (Sept.-Nov.) for Lake County subscribers | Eggs and poultry available | Available |
| Mike & Clare’s Farm *2012 information not yet available* Woodstock, IL website | Vegetables | Organic | $250 (5/9th bushel) | Pickup @ farm, Logan Square | Weekly | Jun-Oct | None | Available |
| Mint Creek Farm Stelle, IL website | Grass-fed Meat (lamb, goat, beef, rose veal and more) | Organic, pasture-raised | Half Shares (5 lbs) for 3 months at $165 or 6 months at $295 and Whole Shares (10 lbs) for 3 months at $295 or 6 months at $560 | Green City Market, 61st Street Farmer's Market (Hyde Park), Glenwood, Logan Square Farmers Market and the Hideout (beginning June, 2012) | Monthly See blog for pick up schedule | Year-round 3 months or 3 month or 6 month subscriptions | Whole or Half animal purchases an option | Close to selling out |
| Mom's Farm *2012 information not yet available* Joliet, IL website | Vegetable, herbs & some apples & pears | Small farm in Joliet. Also working 1/2 acre in Lockport. | $80/share | Pickup @ farm in Joliet | Weekly | Spring only 8 weeks (May-July) | None | Only 10 shares available |
| Montalbano Farms Sandwich, IL website | Vegetables, herbs | Certified organic; committed to socially responsible practices & transparency (visitors allowed to visit farm) | Summer share w/fruit share $940 Summer share $680 Biweekly summer share $380 "Putting up" share $360 (choose 10 items from list) | Pickup @ farm in Sandwich, Logan Square farmer's market, Glenwood Farmer's Market (Rogers Park), Lincoln Square, Yorkville, Geneva, Wheaton, & Oak Park | Weekly | Summer share is 20 weeks (Jun-Oct) Fruit share is 10 weeks Option to make up 2 weeks per season (for vacations) | Worker share available | Available |
| Nature's Choice Grant Park, IL website | Meat | Two-time Frontera Farmers Foundation grant winner that pasture-raises chicken, turkey, eggs, pork, and grass-fed beef | Upfront fee of $26; 3 month shares for $330 (15 lbs. of meat, such as whole chicken (4 lbs), 1 lb of ground chicken, a chuck roast (3-4 lbs), 1-2 lbs ground beef, 1lb of bacon, 1 lbs of Italian sausage, a pkg of pork chops, 1 to 2 lbs of ground pork) | Pickup @ farm in Grant Park, IL, Frankfort, Bolingbrook, and South Side of Chicago | Monthly | Year-round in 3 month increments | Kosher option available Eggs extra | Available |
| Nature's Pantry Health Foods, Inc. Streator, IL Local Harvest page | Vegetable | Single family farm operating over two decades. | $550 26 weeks $275 13 weeks | Pickup @ farm in Streator or in Dwight or Pontiac | Weekly | 26 weeks (Apr.-Oct.) | None | Available |
| New Era Farm *2012 information not yet available* Cashton, WI website | Vegetables, crop berries, heirloom fruits & herbs with some bonus items such as maple syrup & tea | USDA Certified Organic growing & harvesting methods | Full (contact farm for pricing) | Contact farm for pickup locations | Biweekly | May-Oct | Jams & jellies extra | Available |
| Newleaf Grocery (A) Chicago, IL (Rogers Park) website | Vegetables and fruit | Small grocer that offers weekly organic produce boxes (Note: produce organic though not entirely local) | Start at $15/week | Pickup @ store; home delivery available | Weekly | Year-round | Call store for details | Available year-round |
| New Traditions Farm Beaverville, IL website | Heirloom Vegetables & Heritage Poultry Spring share | Organic, Pesticide & Herbicide Free | Half Share $350 Full Share $600 Spring Share $125 Each share is 3/4 bushel --feeds family of 4 | Home Delivery Available for $5/box Pick Up in Evanston, West Loop and Lakeview | Half-share is biweekly Full-share is weekly | 20 weeks (June-Oct.) | Heritage Poultry Available to CSA Subscribers at Discounted Rates | Available |
| Nichols Farm and Orchard Marengo, IL website | Variety of vegetables & fruit | Family farm using sustainable practices and specializing in variety (they grove over 1000 cultivars) | Vegetable only $660 Fruit & vegetable $880 Above shares feed two people Family share $1650 (feeds 4-5 people) | Pickup @ farm in Marengo, or in the Loop, Ravenswood, Wicker Park, Streeterville, Lincoln Park, Dunning (Eli's Cheesecake market), Andersonville, Evanston, Oak Park, Schaumburg, Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills, Elmhurst, Crystal Lake, Wilmette. More sites coming soon, contact the farm for more details. | Weekly | 22 weeks (Jun-Nov.)) | None | Available |
| *New!* Patchwork Farms Chicago, IL Local Harvest page | Vegetables | Urban farm located on Chicago's west side | $260+tax before season; $325+tax after season begins Fall $105+tax before season; $140 after season begins | Pickup @ farm on 2805 W Chicago Ave. | Weekly | 13 weeks for summer season (July-end of Sept.) 7 weeks for fall season (Oct.-Nov.) | None | Available |
| *New!* Our Garden in Volo Volo, IL Local Harvest page | Vegetables | 4th-generation farmers who are transitioning their century-old farm back to natural, sustainable farming practices. 3 of 17 acres dedicated to sustainable production. | Basic (feeds 3-4) $600 Basic small (feeds 1-2) $400 Specialty (Basic plus specialty items from other local farms) $650 Specialty small (Basic plus specialty items from other local farms): Check farm for pricing Juicer's box: $400 (check with farm for details) | Pickup in Chicago in Jefferson Park, Des Plaines, Fox Lake, Mundelein, farm in Volo | Weekly | 20 weeks (June-Oct.) | None | Available |
| Peasant’s Plot Manteno, IL website | Vegetables Worker share option | Sustainable & organic | Individual $330 Family $660 | Pickup @ farm in Manteno, IL, Lincoln Square, Wicker Park, Bucktown, & North Center | Weekly | 20 weeks, Jun-Oct | None | Available |
| Pine Row Farm Roscoe, IL Local Harvest page | Vegetables, fruit, egss, honey | 5 acre farm supplies Certified Naturally Grown vegetables, fruit, eggs and honey for First Hand Harvest CSA. Produce grown and livestock raised in accordance with sustainable and organic practices. | $525 | Pickup in Roscoe & Rockford, IL | Weekly | June-Nov. | Eggs, goat milk soap available | 50 shares available |
| Plow Creek *2012 information not yet available* Tiskilwa, IL website | Vegetables and berries | Mennonite farmers that practice a shalom lifestyle (promoting overall well-being) and farm by being good stewards of the soil through sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry, reducing detrimental use of chemicals and machinery, and by being economically sustainable | $480/season (Chicago-area pickup) $430/season (Princeton, IL-area pickup) Discounts available until Mar. 15th | Pickup in Chicago & Princeton | Weekly | May-Oct. | Eggs shares available | 50 shares available |
| Radical Root Farm Marseilles, IL website | Vegetables | USDA & MOSA Certified Organic | Spring $130/4 weeks Full $565 Fall $200/6 weeks 3 seasons $875/28 weeks Half $335 | Pickup on farm in Grayslake, or in Lincoln Park/Old Town (Green City Market), Logan Square Farmer's Market | Weekly | Spring (May-June) Summer - 18 weeks (June-Oct.) Fall (Oct.-Nov.) | None | Available |
| Ready Jam Farms Marengo, IL website | Vegetables (8-14 varieties including herbs) | Organically Grown | Small $450 (1/4 bushel --feeds 2) Medium $720 (1/2 bushel --feeds 4) Large $1080 (3/4 bushel --feeds 6) | Pickup in Marengo, Elgin, Elmhurst, & Aurora | Weekly | 18 weeks (mid-June through Oct) | None | Available |
| Richert/Phillips Farms North Liberty, IN Local Harvest page | Fruits & vegetables | Certified organic, naturally grown, grass-fed/pastured meats & eggs | Full $555 2-months $300 | Pickup at farm, in Palatine, Palos Heights, North Liberty, IN, or Indianapolis, IN | Weekly | June-Oct | Eggs & poultry (discounts for CSA members) | 100 shares Available |
| Sandhill Organics Prairie Crossing, IL website | Vegetables, herbs & some fruit (80% from their farm; remainder from other local organic farms) | Certified Organic | Spring SOLD OUT Summer $535 Fall $180 Fruit $235 | Pickup at farm in Grayslake or in Barrington, Lake Forest, Glenview, Northbrook, Glen Ellyn, Clarendon Hills, Oak Park | Weekly | Spring (early May-early June) Summer (mid-Jun – late Sept) Fall (Oct.-Nov.) | Egg shares extra | Spring Season is sold out |
| Scotch Hill Farm SW Wisconsin website | Vegetables | Organic. No synthetic fertilizers, chemicals or herbicides | 20 weeks $585 (June-Oct.) Large family 20-week Double Share $1125 15 weeks $495 (July-Oct) 10 weeks $350 (Aug-Oct.) Winter $130 (2 deliveries in Nov.) *Prices denote Chicago CSAs; check with farm for Wisconsin pricing | Pickup in Oak Park, Ravenswood, St. Ben's, Old Irving Park, Logan Square, West Town (@ Swim Cafe), Park Ridge & Madison & Monroe, WI | Weekly | 20 weeks (July-Oct.) | Flower shares available for extra | Available |
| Simply Wisconsin* Farm Co-op in Southeastern & South Central Wisconsin website | Vegetables; Fruit, fruit butters & honey, when available; (Vegetables include leafy greens, carrots, potatoes, summer squash, peppers & beans); Meat, egg, cheese and "pantry" shares (staple items) | Certified Organic produce & eggs. Part of cooperative of 20+ family farms. Also offers cheese, preserves & naturally raised meats. | Full $510 (8 items) Basic $245 (4 items) Eggs 1 doz/wk for 18 weeks $82 Eggs 1/2 doz/wk for 18 weeks $42 | Pickup in Lakeview, Bucktown, Lincoln Square, Logan Square, Wicker Park, River North, Uptown, West Rogers Park, Ravenswood, & Evanston, Barrington, Prospect Heights, Highland Park, Mundelein, Northbrook, Lake Bluff, Crystal Lake, Grayslake, Schaumburg Western Springs (Vie) & Winona & Madison WI | Weekly | 18 weeks (June-Oct.) | Cheese, meat and pantry shares available | Available -- shares going fast |
| Sweet Earth Organic Farm Southwestern Wisconsin website | Vegetables (special emphasis on heirloom tomatoes) | Certified organic since 1974 | Full (3/4 bushel) $530 Partial (1/2 bushel) $425 | Austin, Old Irving Park, Humboldt/Wicker Park, Arlington Heights, Elgin, Highland Park, & Oak Park | Weekly | Unknown | None | Available |
| Sweet Home Organics St. Charles, IL web site | Vegetables and herbs | Organically grown (no synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides -and- GMO free seeds) | Full (5/9 bushel or grocery paper bag) weekly: $625 Half (5/9 bushel) every other week: $350 Full+Half share: $900 | Pickup in St. Charles and Villa Park | Weekly or Biweekly | 18 weeks beginning June 9 through October | None | ~20 shares available -- order soon |
| Tempel Farms Organics (frmly Red Tail Farm) Old Mill Creek, IL website | Vegetables & fruit | No herbicides, pesticides or petroleum-based fertilizers | Full $585 (5/9th bushel) Fall $150 (farm pickup only); $570 for farm pickup Fruit $320 (18 weeks of Mick Klug fruit) | Pickup @ farm in Mill Creek, IL or in Logan Square, Lake Forest | Weekly | 20 weeks | None | Available |
| Tomato Mountain Farm Brooklyn, WI website | Vegetables, herbs and strawberries | Certified Organic. | Early season (Apr.-July): Solo $168 (2/5th bushel) Small $250 (5/9th bushel) Medium $360 (3/4 bushel) Large $540 (1-1/9th bushel) Mid-Season (July-Sept.): Solo $168 (2/5th bushel) Small $250 (5/9th bushel) Medium $360 (3/4 bushel) Large $540 (1-1/9th bushel) Late Season (Oct.-Dec.): Solo $168 (2/5th bushel) Small $250 (5/9th bushel) Medium $360 (3/4 bushel) Large $540 (1-1/9th bushel) Discounts available until March 10th. Largest discount if sign up for all three seasons. | Home delivery throughout the greater Chicago area. No pickup sites. | Weekly | 36 weeks! Mid-April-Dec. Programs are in 12-week increments | Tomato Mountain's bottled products and extra produce (as available) can be added to weekly delivery. | Ongoing availability; shares will be prorated throughout the season. |
| Torpland Farm *2012 information not yet available* Grayslake, IL Local Harvest page | Vegetables | Designed crop plan according to "five basic color groups in our daily diets: Red, Green, Orange/Yellow, Blue/Purple and White" | $550 full season share | Pickup in Lisle/Warrenville, Chicago-North, Mundelein, Prairie Crossing | Weekly | 20 weeks (June-Oct.) | None | 50 shares available |
| Trail's End Putnam, IL website | Meat | USDA-Certified Organic meat that raises grass-fed Scottish Highland/Black Angus cross cattle; beef sold by halves and quarters. | $1200/year per share $625 for 1/2 share Every month over the course of a year, each shareholder receives equivalent of 1/2 cow, i.e., about 10-14-1/2 lbs. of beef per month | Pickup in Wheaton, Evanston, Summit, Peoria Heights, & Pekin, IL | Monthly | Year-round | None | Available year-round |
| Triple A Farm *2012 information not yet available* St. Anne, IL website | Vegetables | Family farm operated by DeGroot brothers | Weekly Vegetable Box $23.50 | Pickup throughout Chicagoland, home delivery available at no extra cost | Weekly | 12 weeks (July-Sept) | None | Available |
| Trogg's Hollow Elgin, IL website | Vegetables & herbs | Family-owned farm with Certified Naturally Grown vegetables | Weekly 1/2 bushel shares $625 Biweekly 1/2 bushel shares $350 | Pickup @ farm in Elgin & Roselle, Wheaton, Sycamore/DeKalb & Wicker Park | Weekly | 18 weeks (June-Oct.) | None | Almost sold out! |
| Videnovich Farms Bridgman, MI web site | Vegetables & fruit | The Videnovich family has farmed for centuries in Eastern Europe. Uses old world methods such as minimal pesticides & hand weeding. | “Summer Bounty” (8 weeks) $200 Full (22 weeks) $550 | Pickup in Andersonville, Logan Square; Possible delivery to Ravenswood & River North | Weekly | 22 weeks for Full Season 8 weeks for “Summer Bounty” | Hand-spun, natural yarns available from farm’s sheep Fall & Winter extensions available | Available |
| Walkup Heritage Farm & Gardens *2012 information not yet available* Crystal Lake, IL website | Meat & eggs | Raises heritage Poulet Rouge chickens fed on organic feed and ranged in chicken tractors | Full share (1 chicken/week) $320 1/2 share (1 chicken/biweekly) $170 1/4 share (1 chicken/month) $108 | Pickup @ farm in Crystal Lake, IL | Weekly, biweeklyor monthly | 20 weeks | Egg shares available - contact farm for details Flowers extra Tennessee fainting goats & rabbits for sale as pets | Available |
| Walnut Acres Walnut, IL web site | Meat (Range-fed beef, chicken, pork, turkey, eggs) | Meat is free of antibiotics, hormones & animal by-products | 3 months $264 6 months $510 12 months $990 Each month's share is about 18 pounds of beef, chicken or pork & eggs | Pickup @ farm in Walnut, IL, Aurora, South Elgin, Plano, Ottawa, Lombard, Naperville, or Quad Cities/Moline | 3, 6 or 12 months | Year-round | Can add-on extra products such as ground beef, sausage patties, links, etc. | Available |
| Wellhausen Farms Wheaton, IL website | Vegetables & fruit (tomatoes, cabbage, green beans, sweet corn, watermelon, cantaloupe, peppers & spinach) | No chemical fertilizers, insecticides or herbicides | $175 to join, $19/week for 15-22 weeks | Delivered to home. Delivery route includes Bloomingdale, Glen Ellyn, Roselle, West Chicago, Wheaton, Naperville, Lombard, Villa Park, Streamwood, Schaumburg & Bartlett | Weekly | 22 weeks (beginning in mid-June) | None | Available |
| *New!* Wright Way Farm Monroe, WI Local Harvest page | Vegetables & herbs Work shares available | Certifed Organic & use only heirloom seed varieties | Full $440 Half $240 | Pickup in Beloit, WI, Monroe, WI, Park Ridge, IL | Weekly | 20 weeks (May-Sept.) | None | Available |
(A) These providers are aggregators, meaning that they are non-traditional CSAs that do not grow the produce or raise the meat offered in their boxes, rather, they cull items from their preferred sources.
We are pleased to have produced the 2012 CSA Guide in conjunction with our friends at FamilyFarmed.org
8 Comments
Hi y’all, please give a newbie a break. What does “CSA” stand for?
Joan, welcome to The Beet! “CSA” stands for Community Supported Agriculture, and generally refers to a weekly box of vegetables from a farm. There are many places you can go for a more complete definition and history of the CSA concept. Here’s a starting point: http://tomatomountain.com/faqs.html#whatis.
Hi Wendy,
I noticed that the farmer I use for my meat CSA wasn’t listed.
Meadow Haven Farms – http://www.meadowhavenfarm.com
Can you tell me how you did the list?
Ame
I would like to recommend the CSA I support to the list – Gray Farms Produce of Watseka, IL. They use veganic methods and have 2 CSA drop-off locations, Oak Park and Ravenswood Manor, in addition to 3 farmer’s markets in which they participate. http://grayfarmsproduce.com/wordpress/
The Prairie Crossing Learning Farm in Grayslake also offers an 8 week summer CSA for $240. Our website for information and online registration is http://www.prairiecrossing.com/farm/learning.php.
The 2012 Prairie Farm Corps CSA runs June 22 – August 10. Pickup is Friday afternoons from 4-7 p.m. at the Prairie Crossing Farmers Market at 970 Harris Road in Grayslake. CSA shares are still available for the 2012 CSA season.
We offer certified organic vegetables grown by youth participating in our Prairie Farm Corps youth development program.
Hello everyone! I love the idea of CSA! As a true farm raised gal, I have a mini farm in NWI. I am so glad to see the interest in supporting the small farmers, and people who go out of their way to take on the extra challenge to market something more healthy and humanely raised. I hope the idea of CSA continues to expand in other areas.
Mint Creek Farm offers a meat CSA for pickup at a variety of farmer’s markets in the City of Chicago. Their livestock are grass fed and grass finished on Certified Organic pastures. The farm is located in the Kankakee area, 1 1/2 hours south of Chicago, and farm tours are available monthly during the summer.
What do I do when I paid money to a CSA and then got no produce and no emails to tell us what happened? We thought this was an established CSA, paid money for a 1/2 summer share and then, they dropped off the map; checks were cashed of course.
They are listed on this website for 2012 as well so I cannot believe that this has happened but I last heard from them on 6/20 and nothing since without replies to my emails and the phone mail has been full for 3 weeks.
Any thoughts?