Building Woes Force Evanston's Village Farmstand to Close for Now
Owners Vow Return After Repairs are Made and Ask for Donations
It's another one of those bad-news-sharing times: Village Farmstand, the aggregator of delicious products from Chicago region farms, announced today (February 13) that it has to temporarily shutter its storefront in the Chicago suburb of Evanston after its landlord informed that the building needs urgent repairs.
This announcement came in an email from owners Rachael and Jesse Smedberg, who have emerged as leaders in the local food community through Village Farmstand and Tulip Tree Gardens, their regenerative farm south of Chicago in Beecher, Illinois.
The couple vow to be back at the location after the repairs are made. This article on the Local Food Forum website has details, including pickup info for those who have placed orders, and a fundraiser to provide resources for the owners as a bridge until they can reopen.
Recipes Warm & Sweet to Keep Out the Cold from Natural Awakenings Chicago
Each monthly issue of Natural Awakenings Chicago can be counted on to provide recipes that are delicious and good for you. Their February issue is no exception, and it's perfectly timed for a month when we're mostly hanging out inside and out of the cold.
This article on the Local Food Forum website shares links to three articles: one with a Buttermilk Cornbread recipe from Janie Maxwell of Illinois Farmers Market Association; another with a recipe for Navy Bean Tuscan Kale Soup, with an accent on women's health; and a third, just in time for Valentine's Day, on the benefits of dark chocolate and cacao, with five, count 'em, five chocolate recipes.