No Snow-pocalypse Now
So we had a bit of this yesterday. A pale shadow of the Groundhog Day Snow-pocalypse in 2011, which spawned the Traffic Jam from Hell on Lake Shore Drive. But it was a few inches, which so far this year passes for significant snow.
Farmers Markets Expand Access, Seek Vendors
Some good news from a couple of leading Chicago farmers markets.
Green City Market, through a sponsorship with clean tech company Arcadia, is increasing its Link match to $25 (currently $15) to enable government food assistance recipients to gain even greater access to healthy, delicious, sustainably produced food. While most Link match programs limit purchases to produce, Green City runs its own and the benefits can be used at its markets for fruits, vegetables, breads, dairy, meats, eggs, grains, jams, and sauces.
Vendor applications for the 2022 outdoor season are now open at 61st Street Farmers Market on Chicago’s South Side. Details are in the market’s release below. The deadline to apply (and submit a $75 application fee) is March 31.
Read more…
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January 31, 2022 (Chicago) — Green City Market (GCM), the nonprofit organization behind Chicago’s flagship farmers’ market, is on a mission to expand access to local, sustainably grown food throughout the city.
Thanks to the sponsorship of clean tech company Arcadia, GCM will increase its Link match from $15 to $25. That means folks using Link who would normally only be able to take home $25 worth of food from the market will now go home with $50 worth of food, at no additional cost to them.
Eligible items include fruits, vegetables, breads, dairy, meats, eggs, grains, jams, and sauces.
“Access to nutritious locally-grown food is a right; not a privilege. Last year, GCM doubled the purchasing power for food-insecure neighbors living in more than 75 zip codes across the city. Thanks to Arcadia’s contribution, we’ll be able to deepen that support in 2022,” says Mandy Moody, executive director of Green City Market.
“We’re thrilled to be able to help GCM expand its Link match,” said Kate Henningsen, chief operating officer at Arcadia. “We believe so strongly in connecting people to healthy, local options, whether that’s fresh produce grown nearby or clean energy from area solar farms. Expanding access to both is so important.”
New members who join Arcadia at Green City Market will receive $100 toward their power bill as a thank-you.
Customers using Link can receive the increased match right now via its GCM Curbside in the Community program. GCM offers curbside pick-up every Wednesday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Swedish Hospital at the Galter Medical Pavilion (5140 N. California Ave.).
Visit www.greencitymarket.org/SNAP or call 773-880-1266 to learn how to maximize Link benefits with Green City Market or to support this program.
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If you are interested in becoming a vendor at the 61st Street Farmers Market, please review the Policies and Guidelines. Our Market is a producer-only, food-only market, so we do not accept crafts, body care products, etc.
Farmers must guarantee that all products sold at the Market are 100% regionally grown and/or produced (IL, WI, IN, MI, MN, IA, MO).
Prepared food vendors must be able to verify that 75% of their ingredients are purchased from local growers/producers.
Priority will be given to vendors with products that are sustainably grown.
2022/23 MARKET OPERATION TIMES AND LOCATION
Outdoors - Saturdays, 9am - 2pm, May 14 - October 29, 2022 (25 markets)
Indoors - the Market will move indoors at the Experimental Station on the following Saturdays 9am - 2pm:
November 5, 12, 19 of 2022 December 3, 10, 17 of 2022
January 14, February 11, March 11, April 8 of 2023
Experimental Station, 6100 S. Blackstone Ave, on 61st Street between Dorchester and Blackstone Avenues, Chicago, IL
FEES: 2022/23 INDOOR SEASON
Application and vendor fees are used to support marketing and operational expenses. Fees for the 2022/23 season are as follows:
Application fee: $75
Single stall (10’x10’): $325
Double stall (10’x20’): $450
Electricity (1 outlet, no cord provided): $15/season (Access determined by Market Manager based on need and context.)
The application, all supporting documents, and $75 application fee are due by March 31st, 2022. A $50 late fee will be assessed for applications submitted after that date.
Stall fees must be paid in full by the end of the first market day — May 14th, 2022. Any vendor that does not pay the stall fee in full by May 4th may lose their place in the market.
APPLICATION
To apply for the 2022 outdoor season, go to our website and download our application and our policies. Print, fill out and mail hard copy to the address above or scan and email to market@experimentalstation.org with supporting documents. All checks must be written out to Experimental Station.
Angelic’s Oaky-Doky Volunteer Opportunities
How about an outdoors-in-the-country opportunity to give Mother Nature a helping hand? My friends at Angelic Organics Learning Center have one for you! Volunteers are invited to take part in their Restoration Work Days, spread out between now and May 6, to help the Center restore its native oak woodlands by removing invasive species.
Angelic Organics Learning Center is located in Caledonia in north-central Illinois, just east of Rockford, and its first Restoration Day is TOMORROW (February 4). So if you’re feeling homebound and can use some brisk fresh air, jump right on it.
The remaining scheduled work days are on February 19, March 3 and 19, April 16 and May 6. Read more below.
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Restoration Work Day
Fri Feb 4th 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Click Here to Volunteer
Angelic Organics Learning Center, 1936 Rockton Rd, Caledonia, IL 61011, USA
Help restore our native oak woodlands! Enjoy an afternoon outside while helping us to remove invasive species from our natural areas. We provide the tools and the view. No experience necessary!
Please bring work gloves and a water bottle. Dress for the weather in clothes you don't mind getting dirty.