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For the last 6 years
Caveny Farm has been producing
Heritage Turkeys as part of the
Slow Food Presidia project.
John and Connie Caveny
describe themselves as "grass"
farmers whose job is to manage the
life cycles of pasture and pastured animals so as to optimize
the health of both. As practical
conservationists they believe farm
and ranch land should be "working
land" instead of "retired land." It
can be managed to make money from
both core enterprises and from
ecosystem services.
One end result is delicious food for our kitchen tables.
The Cavenys raise poultry and
lamb in pastures that grow grasses,
clovers and amaranth. Heritage
breeds of turkeys, ducks and geese
are their mainstay.
Breeds (Turkeys): Heritage
Bourbon Reds, available for Thanksgiving or the winter holidays Pasture-raised, all-natural, no hormones or animal by- products Weights: 6 to 18 lbs Price: Price per pound depends on the finished weight Deposit: between $24 and $53, depending on weight Pick-up: Thanksgiving Green City Market, (at the Notebaert Nature Museum). Pickup times also available in Evanston and downtown Chicago (Old Town) Contact: Order a Caveny Turkey on-line or call 217-762-7767 with any questions |
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As patriarchs of a true family
operation, Andy and Denise Wright
work their Liberty Family
Farm in Hart, Michigan with the
help of children and community. Andy
and Denise first took an interest in
organic farming 10 years ago, when
their fourth child was born with
severe food allergies. They began
with organic livestock farming, and
then over the years steadily
expanded both their product
offerings and the size of their
family. Nine children now enjoy life
on the farm. With a firm belief in the importance of raising livestock in a humane and ecologically sound manner, the Wrights' animals enjoy sunshine, fresh air, green grass, and free range. There are no antibiotics, hormones, growth enhancers, additives, or GMOs of any kind used on the farm. All sheep and beef are grass-fed and grazed rotationally on chemical-free, intensively managed pastures. The Wrights' pork and poultry - chickens, turkeys, laying hens/eggs, ducks, geese, and Heritage Breed turkeys - are raised on pasture as well, and are supplemented with certified organic grains.
Breeds: Broad-breasted Bronze Pasture-raised, all-natural, no hormones or animal by- products, fed with 100% certified organic feed Weights: 12 to 20 lbs Price: $3.65/lb Deposit: $20 Pick-up: Thanksgiving Green City Market, (at the Notebaert Nature Museum) Contact: 231-873-3737 or Email the Wrights The Wrights can also be found weekly at the Green City Market on Saturdays, (and occasionally on Wednesdays.) |
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Brian and Carrie O'Rourke operate a small sustainable family
farm in southeast McLean County that
raises produce, herbs, eggs, poultry
and waterfowl. Eggs from organically-fed free-range layers are available nearly year-round. Throughout the spring summer and fall months, broilers and roasters are raised over pasture in secure pens that are moved daily. The pens are hooped houses that are covered with tarps, allowing free- flow of air from end to end, protection from rain and predators, and no stressful heat buildup in summer months. All chickens are fed-out slower, so as to mature at about 9-10 weeks of age. Ducks, geese and turkeys are raised in limited size flocks. Heritage breeds on the farm include Silver Appleyard ducks, American Buff Geese, and Blue Slate and Bourbon Red turkeys. These are all free-ranged during the day and collected into secure buildings at night. All poultry and waterfowl feed is USDA-certified organic. Additional land for produce was added in 2005, with an acre being buffered for eventual organic certification. All seed is being sourced organically when possible and no GMO seed is ever used on the O'Rourke farmstead.
Breeds (Turkeys):
Broad-breasted White (Hens)
Bourbon Red (Heritage) Auburn (Heritage) Blue Slate (Heritage) Breeds (Geese): American Buff and Embden (Heritage) Pasture-raised, all-natural, no hormones or animal by-products, with 100% certified organic feed Weights: 7 to 18 lbs Price: $3.45 to$4.50/lb (Geese $5.50/lb.) Deposit: $25 Pick-up: at the Farm, or Chicago delivery arranged (for $10 fee) 33647 E 500 North Rd Arrowsmith, IL 61722 Contact: 309-722-9208 or Email the O'Rourkes |
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Organic Pastures is 500 acres
of gently rolling pastures and grain
fields -- all of them certified
organic. Larry and Marilyn
Wettstein raise their organic
grains and livestock on the
farmstead that Larry's grandparents
settled on in 1914. Larry says, "After my dad passed away with cancer I decided I was going to do something different. We knew it could be done because our neighbor Willis Weigand was doing it since 1974 and he never gave up and it was working fine for him. That helped, that someone else was doing it." Larry and Marilyn began their transition to organic by first certifying their grains with the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA). They then certified their livestock. Today they are farming 250 tillable acres and 250 pasture/timber acres, all organically certified. The Wettsteins rotate a variety of field crops including corn, soybeans, oats, flax, wheat, sunflower, vetch, rye, alfalfa, and clovers. They also raise organic beef, pork, chicken, turkeys, and laying hens. Marilyn says: "We truly believe that as stewards of the soil, it is our responsibility to provide the healthiest food possible. It also turns out that this is the tastiest food around. We cannot change the whole world but we are striving to brighten our corner and pass this farm on to our fourth generation."
Breeds: Broad-breasted Bronze
Certified Organic, Pasture-raised Weights: 12 to 26 lbs Price: $3.50/lb Deposit: None Pick-up: Evanston Farmers Market on November 17th Contact: 309-467-6006 or Email Larry and Marilyn The Wettsteins can also be found once a month at the Saturday Evanston Farmers market. |
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Dennis and Emily Wettstein's
picture-perfect farm in the rolling
hills of the Mackinaw River valley,
supports a picture-perfect family of
11 through hard work and commitment
to quality organic farming. Emily and Denny sell certified organic beef, pork, poultry and eggs directly to legions of customers who value fresh, healthful food and who want to see their food dollar benefit local farmers. They also raise organic soybeans, corn and other grains and sell organic feed to other organic livestock and dairy farmers in the area. "We enjoy everything we do on the farm," says Denny. "The most encouraging change we've seen since 1985," says Emily, "is that more and more people are coming to us for their food. City people are coming back to the farms with their own children to learn where their food comes from and how it is grown." Denny adds, "Our experience over the past 20 years with organic farming has restored our love of farming and given us the hope that the future of farming, if we continue to think outside the conventional box, is very promising."
Breeds: Standard
Broad-breasted White
Certified Organic, Pasture-raised Weights: 14 to 25 lbs (� turkeys also available) Price: $3.50/lb Deposit: None Pick-up: at Buzz Cafe in Oak Park, 905 S. Lombard Ave. Contact: 309-376-7291 During the summer, the Wettsteins can also be found once or twice a month at the Saturday Farmers Market in Oak Park. |
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Tim and Julie Ifft of TJ's
Free-Range Poultry pasture-raise all
their chickens and turkeys on the
family farm in Piper City, IL. Tim and Julie sell their meat and poultry on Wednesdays and Saturdays at Chicago's Green City Market. Because of harvest duties, they are temporarily away from the market, but will return on November 4th. They will have meats and poultry available for all remaining market dates (including November 4th), and turkeys will be available at the Thanksgiving market on November 18th.
Breeds: Standard
Broad-breasted White Pasture-raised, all-natural, no hormones or animal by- products Weights: 12 to 22 lbs Price: under 20 lbs, $2.99/lb / over 20 lbs., $2.59/lb Deposit: $10 Pick-up: Thanksgiving Green City Market, (at the Notebaert Nature Museum) Contact: 815-686-9200 or Email Timothy |
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The farm of
Jim and Diann Moore has been in their family nearly
100 years. After many years of
conventional farming, the Moores
began the change to sustainable
farming in the mid-1980s with a
simple vegetable garden, and by
marketing their homegrown produce at
local farmer's markets. At the same
time they raised livestock as
naturally as possible, for their own
freezer.
Now the Moore family raises seasonal
grass-fed beef and Lamb, and
pasture-raised pork, chicken, and
turkey. No animals are confined to a
conventional building; portable
shelters move with the animals and
poultry, to fresh pasture, which is
managed via intensive rotational
grazing. By working daily to revive old and proven practices and values, the Moores are committed to preserving their small family farm for future generations.
Breeds: Broad-breasted Whites
Pasture-raised, all-natural, no hormones or animal by- products Weights: 9 to 10 lbs (only remaining available) Price: $3.00/lb Deposit: $20 Pick-up: Must come to the farm to pick up. 2013 N. 1950 East Rd Watseka, IL (about 60 miles south of Chicago) Contact: 815-432-6238 (before 9:00 pm), The Moores are proud of having no computer connection. |
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 Teresa
Santiago has over 60 varieties
of fruits and 20 varieties of herbs
on 3 beautiful acres. Her goal is to
grow a little bit of every fruit
that will grow in Illinois.In addition to her 9 varieties of strawberries, 10 varieties of exotic melons, and many varieties of apples, pears (including the Japanese pears, nashi), nectarines, cherries, peaches, and plums, she is growing blueberries, blackberries, 7 kinds of raspberries, rhubarb, grapes, hardy kiwis, aronia, sea buckthorn, ground cherries, persimmons, currants, gooseberries, and pawpaws. In addition to the fruit, Teresa and her three daughters look after goats, chickens, turkeys and bees. Teresa's fruits taste like the ones from your childhood, heavy with perfume and full of deep, rich flavors. They are for enjoyment today, but the orchard is also for tomorrow. "I planted the orchard because it will be there after I die. That is something important to me." Teresa has a limited number of Standard White turkeys, all organically fed and pasture-raised.
Breeds: Standard
Broad-breasted White
100% certified organic feed, pasture-raised, all- natural, no hormones or animal by- products Weights: 10 to 15 lbs Price: $4.00/lb + $6 per bird for processing Deposit: None Pick-up: Evanston, 1st week of November (time and specific place to be arranged) Contact: Email Teresa Santiago |
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