From City Provisions:
This Month’s Farm Dinner Supper Club Theme is Summer Beers and BBQ. The $125 ticket includes transportation to and From Faith’s Farm in Bonfield IL in a Biodiesel bus, a 5-course meal featuring farm-fresh foods paired with beers from Two Brothers Brewing Company, a tour of the farm, hay ride and bonfire with more tasty beers from Two Brothers. This is truly a farm-to-table experience not to be missed.
Call 773.293.2489 or email info@cityprovisions.com to make your reservation today. our website: http://www.cityprovisions.com/
In addition to our Local Beet “Beet-up”, there is an array of events at the Oak Park Farmer’s Market on May 30. From one of the Market Commissioners:
Go Green Day…the 1st of its kind offered thru the special event committee of the OPFM will be May 30 from 9-11:30. The emphasis will be on “friendly and hands on” as the market attracts a huge array of interests including little ones who won’t have to keep their hands to themselves!We will host the Accesstrans’ Bike Ambassador, Let it Rain will show case their Rainbarrles and compost bins alongside Cheney mansions own Charlie the gardener, who will give us the keys to successful composting. The wave of your motoring future- Electric cars-can be viewed- sponsored by the Fox Valley Electric Car Association-a local non-for prof org. The Friends and Commisioners of the OPFM will demonstrate best uses for some commonly found containers at our Innovation Station. Seven Generations Ahead along with their elementary school partners will tell one and all about the villages partnership in the 0 waste initiative. And no event- especially our market would be complete wiothout Food Demos- Chef Ron Martin of the Cheney Mansion will be whipping up fresh salsa featuring locally grown, and Melissa Graham from Purple Asparagus will be busy with hands on demos for the kids.
Lastly as part of our support for Op’s Urban Gardening Initiative, Master Gardeners will kick off this season with a Q and A booth, which might continue at the market through-out the summer!
I have come to realize that perhaps Evanston’s is a better market, but Oak Park remains my home and my home market and my favorite market. It is not just donuts but its a buyers market. The farmers come prepared. We have come prepared. May 30 (a Saturday), we are holding our first ever Beet-Up; i.e., a meet up for fans of local foods. May 30 is also Go Green Day at the Oak Park Farmer’s Market, and we are especially proud that the Sustainable Cook, Melissa Graham, will be leading child friendly activities from 9 until 11:30.
What else goes on at a Beet-up you ask? Well, honestly, we are not quite sure as we have never gone to one either. Our basic idea is that we will shop together, listen to the farmers talk together, compare notes on rhubarb and asparagus together, maybe have some coffee and donuts together. When we tire of our company, we can always check out the blue grass musicians. And play with the kids with Melissa. At around 11:30, we will leave the market and go to lunch at Marion Street Cheese Market in Oak Park. If you cannot meet-up at the market, you can still meet for lunch. You are free to come to the market as early as 7 AM, but expect to meet me and others (aside from Melissa) starting at around 10:30).
Feel free to ask questions and otherwise discuss.
The Oak Park Market is on Lake Street between Elmwood and Scoville. Details here.
Marion St. Cheese Market is at 100 S. Marion, Oak Park, IL
*Note, while it is possible to walk from the market to Marion St. Cheese, it is not a short walk. Also, the Oak Park market is very accessible to the Green Line El. Ample parking available for the market.
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Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts George Rasmussen of Michigan’s Swan Creek Farm supplies pigs, chickens and other animals to the best connected chefs in the Chicago area. He can get his hands on some awesome wild boar. His goose is pretty special as well. A few weeks ago, he was on his way to make a meat run when his truck suffered a bad fire. That night, chefs scrambled to have food to serve. They managed, and then soon scrambled to do something special for George. With the help of publisist extraordinaire Ellen Malloy, they organized a dinner to benefit George and Swan Creek Farm. Please join us in supporting this event on May 20 at Goose Island, 7 PM. $100/per person. Call for reservations. 312.951.0071.
For details, go to Mado to pick up a flier or see what it looks like here.
Purple Asparagus is participating in this year’s Green Festival at Navy Pier, May 16 and 17. In the Organic Valley Green Kids’ Zone, we’ll be making “salad in a jar.” With an anticipated 35,000 participants at the festival, we’ll need lots of extra hands.
In exchange for volunteering, admission to this wonderful festival is free. At the event, you’ll enjoy 125 visionary authors, leaders and educators, how-to workshops, organic beer and wine, delicious vegetarian cuisine and live music. There will be over 300 eco-friendly exhibits, everything from all-natural body care to green building supplies. It promises to be a great time for all.
If you would like to volunteer, please contact us at info@purpleasparagus.com or at 773-991-1920 (ask for Melissa). We’re looking for volunteers from 9:30-5 on Saturday and from 10:30-5 on Sunday.
If you can’t join us next weekend, please consider volunteering with us June 29-July 2 when we’ll be at Taste of Chicago in the Family Fun Festival.
Purple Asparagus is participating in this year’s Green Festival at Navy Pier, May 16 and 17. In the Organic Valley Green Kids’ Zone, we’ll be making “salad in a jar.” With an anticipated 35,000 participants at the festival, we’ll need lots of extra hands.
In exchange for volunteering, admission to this wonderful festival is free. At the event, you’ll enjoy 125 visionary authors, leaders and educators, how-to workshops, organic beer and wine, delicious vegetarian cuisine and live music. There will be over 300 eco-friendly exhibits, everything from all-natural body care to green building supplies. It promises to be a great time for all.
If you would like to volunteer, please contact us at info@purpleasparagus.com or at 773-991-1920 (ask for Melissa). We’re looking for volunteers from 9:30-5 on Saturday and from 10:30-5 on Sunday.
If you can’t join us next weekend, please consider volunteering with us June 29-July 2 when we’ll be at Taste of Chicago in the Family Fun Festival.
If you’ve been challenged by how to use fresh, seasonal, locally grown foods in your menu throughout the year, the Geneva Green Market has the solution in their new class, “Look at What’s Local for Dinner!” Taught by expert Jennifer Downing of “Nourish,” this class draws its inspiration from the seasonal produce cookbook by Jeanne Kelly, “Blue Eggs and Yellow Tomatoes,” which is available locally at Townhouse Books in St. Charles. During the class, a drawing will be held for a $10 gift certificate courtesy of Townhouse Books in St. Charles, so foodies can use recipes from this cookbook throughout the year.
Event Details:
• When: April 28, 2009 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Where: Inglenook Pantry, 11 N. Fifth Street, Geneva, IL 60134
• Cost: GGM NFP members – $45 per person / Non-GGM NFP members, $55 per person
• RSVP: Karen Stark at genevagreenmarket@gmail.com or call (630) 208.9321.
To learn more about The Geneva Green Market and membership to the GGM NFP, please visit http://www.genevagreenmarket.org/about-us/.
Fishy Fun
In partnership with the Shedd Aquarium and Plitt Seafood, Purple Asparagus presents a sustainable sushi making class for parents and children in the Shedd’s Lobster Lab. On Sunday May 31, 2009, from 4-6pm, join us at the Shedd to roll our own sushi using sustainably caught and raised seafood. Seafood that is as good for the earth as it tastes. On hand will be a Shedd employee who will talk about the importance of sustainability in the aquatic world. $20.00 per adult, $5.00 per child. Adult and child beverages are included in the price. Families who arrive an hour early will receive free admission to the Aquarium.
Shedd Aquarium
1200 S Lake Shore Dr
Chicago, IL
Garbage to Garden
Urban Worm Girl, Stephanie Davies, will show
parents and kids how to transform their garbage into nutrient-rich compost for a garden or
houseplants. We’ll read Tim Magner’s Earl the Earthworm Digs for His Life to learn about the
important role that worms perform for the soil. Finally, with Purple Asparagus‘ head spear, Melissa Graham, we’ll use some of this black gold to grow an herb seedling.
$10.00 for a parent-child team. Space is extremely limited. Please RSVP to A Cooler Planet at 773-248-
1110.
A Cooler Planet
2211 West Roscoe
Chicago, IL
The kick off workshop series brought to you by the GGM, NFP membership.
Start a Seedy Relationship with your yard! Thinking about planting a garden, we are here to help you. The GGM, NFP membership is launching a series of courses to help you in gardening, health and living a little greener. All ages’ welcome!
The first workshop:
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Inglenook Pantry, 11 North Fifth Street, Geneva Il 60134
Cost with materials $35 non-members, $25 members
Expert; Craig MacLean from The Pure Gardener
Get a jump-start on the gardening season! Save money by starting your own vegetables or flowers. The GGM, NFP is offering a workshop on how to start seeds indoors, how to buy supplies to transplanting out into your garden. You will have seeds planted and knowledge on how to be transplanted in the ground. Working with vegetable and flower seed.
You will receive seed starting supplies and will take home starts and seeds planted in the workshop. If you have seeds bring them, but seeds will be provided also. Craig MacLean , The Pure Gardener 502 W State St, Geneva IL. is also talking about sprout, onions, and garlic.
Please register at info [at] genevagreenmarket [dot] org, by sending your name and contact info or call 630.208.9321.
Beverly Unitarian Church
10244 S. Longwood Dr. (The Castle on the Hill)
(The Castle on the Hill)
Sunday in Elgin
Sun., Mar. 15 ~ 1pm to 3pm
Unitarian Universalist Church of Elgin
39W830 Highland Ave.
(3 miles West of Randall Rd.)
Elgin, IL 60124
An a la carte cafe featuring fair trade coffee, Vietnamese spring rolls and baked goodies, will be available while you shop the market.
What you will find at the market:
. . . and much more!
Saturday in Andersonville
Sat., Mar. 14 ~ 9am to 1pm
Ebenezer Lutheran Church
1650 W. Foster Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
A delicious, healthy brunch prepared in the Swedish tradition by renowned chef Mary Ellen Diaz of Lill Street’s First Slice Pie Cafe using ingredients from participating growers will be served while quantities last. A donation ($8 adults, $4 children) is requested for the brunch.
What you will find at the market:
. . . and much more!
Ascension Catholic Church
601 Van Buren St.
(school entrance between East & Carpenter)
Oak Park, IL 60304
A supper of several choices of soup, sandwich & salad will be offered while quantities last. A donation will be requested for the meal.
What you will find at this week’s winter market
. . . and much more!
