Springing Up
Barb and I saw the first crocuses of the year in our Lakeview neighborhood this morning. There are still a few days of winter left (and yes, once again, there’s a maybe/maybe not snow forecast for Friday). But it’s nice to have living proof that spring is, in fact, inevitable.
Reminder: Frontera Farm Grant Deadline Monday
A reminder to our local small farm producers: The deadline for the valuable 2023 Frontera Farmer Foundation grants is coming up this Monday (March 13).
The Foundation — which has provided about $3 million in grants to local farmers over the past two decades — was created and continues to be run by Chef Rick Bayless, who helped popularize regional Mexican cuisine through his Frontera Restaurant Group.
Rick was one of the earliest leaders in farm-to-table dining, sourcing ingredients from local farmers, and he learned early on that a relatively small grant for a key infrastructure need — such as a new truck or tractor, fencing, hoop houses or other out-buildings — can make a huge difference in enabling small local farms to survive and thrive.
The grants are open to farms in the four-state Lake Michigan region (Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana) that sell into the Chicago area and have gross annual income of $600,000 or less.
Click the button below to access the grant application.
Reminder: Reducetarian Film and Panel 3/29
Also a reminder that my friends at Crate Free USA are staging a very cool event later this month that I recommend you attend.
The event — to be held Wednesday, March 29, 6:30 p.m. at Ravenswood Loft, 4437 N. Ravenswood Ave. — features the Chicago screening of Meat Me Halfway, directed by Brian Kateman, co-founder of The Reducetarian Foundation. The foundation promotes the "reducetarian" diet, in which participants reduce the amount of meat they consume in order to improve their health, protect the environment, and spare farmed animals from cruelty.
The admission price includes vegan food, and a post-film discussion panel and Q&A in which Brian will be joined by Jess Chipkin, founder of Crate Free USA, and Cliff McConville, owner of All Grass Farms, a pastured livestock operation in west suburban Dundee. The evening is hosted by Chicago radio personality Mike Nowak.
Food will be provided by Kale My Name, Chicago Diner, Ste Martaen, and more.
Whether you are all in, intrigued or skeptical about the premise, it is an opportunity to learn more about issues relevant to our local food community. Click the button below to buy tickets for the event.
April: When Outdoor Markets Start to Flower
I’ve previously shared that Green City Market plans to kick off the region’s outdoor farmers market season on April 1. That inspired me to research other early-opening markets, and so far I’ve located three.
Saturday, April 15: Grayslake Farmers Market, 201 Center St., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, April 29: The Lincoln Park Farmers Market, 2001 N. Orchard, Chicago, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturday, April 29: Woodstock Farmers Market, Historic Woodstock Square, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
I will have my eyes open for more early markets. If you know of one (or run one), please let me know.