Mint Creek Farm Dinner Menu
Send me your farm dinner info... plus the outdoor market sked through 5/20
Goslings!
Yesterday I got a tip from a friend who knew I’d get excited about the first sighting of goslings at North Pond. So I scurried down yesterday and found this one brood of four. I’d have to research through my photo archive but I’m pretty sure April 19 is the earliest I’ve seen baby geese.
In the photo above, the goslings explore while Father Goose hisses a warning to humans and dogs alike to keep their distance. Camera-shy Mother Goose has her back turned while feeding on grass.
More photos below, including the literal definition of “taken under the wing.”
Holding Farm Dinners? Share Info Here (for Free)
Farm dinners are great experiences that connect farmers and the food they produce with folks seeking a day in the country with a great meal.
Local Food Forum strongly desires to help out by promoting farm dinners and creating a schedule. So if you are planning a farm dinner anywhere in the four-state Lake Michigan region — or you’ve received information about a dinner or other agritourism event at a favorite farm — PLEASE let me know directly by emailing me at bob@localfoodforum.com.
Yes, I pick up information from time to time by email promotion or social media about all kinds of events, including farm dinners, and I run ‘em if I see ‘em. But the best way to take advantage of this offer of free promotion is to let me know directly. Please do.
Speaking of Which… 4/29 Mint Creek Menu
Mint Creek Farm, a regional pioneer in sustainable livestock production, is holding a spring farm dinner on Saturday, April 29 (we previously published a save-the-date). And Mint Creek — located in Cabery, Illinois about 90 miles south of Chicago — has just published the menu, created by Chef Ryan Reitmayer, and it looks amazing.
Mint Creek has also announced that there is a $20 discount off their farm dinner ticket for anyone who buys from their online store or contributes to the fundraiser they are running to help offset the costs of a drought-related hay shortage.
Click the 1st button below to buy a farm dinner ticket, the 2nd to visit the online store and the 3rd to contribute to the fundraiser.
Outdoor Markets Schedule Looks Ahead to May
This week’s outdoor market schedule extends the market opening outlook through May 20 (a month from today).
Note: We want to provide as complete a list of scheduled farmers markets as possible. If you see any errors or notice that your favorite market was accidentally omitted, please let me know by replying to this newsletter or emailing me at bob@localfoodforum.com.
Saturday, April 22
Grayslake Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 201 Center St.
Green City Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1817 N. Clark St., Lincoln Park, Chicago
Logan Square Pop-Up Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 2800 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago*
Saturday, April 29
Grayslake Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 201 Center St.
Green City Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1817 N. Clark St., Lincoln Park, Chicago
Logan Square Pop-Up Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 2800 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago*
The Lincoln Park Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2001 N. Orchard, Chicago
Woodstock Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Historic Woodstock Square
* The Logan Square Pop-Up Markets are special events and are located at Solidarity Triangle, not the regular outdoor Logan Square Farmers Market location nearby. The official Logan Square outdoor market season begins Sunday, May 14 at its regular location.
May Opening Dates
Tuesday, May 2
Lincoln Square Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., Lincoln & Leland Aves., Chicago
Woodstock Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Historic Woodstock Square
Wednesday, May 3
Green City Wednesday Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1817 N. Clark St., Lincoln Park, Chicago
Uptown Farmers Market, 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Sunnyside Mall (betw. Magnolia & Beacon), Chicago
Thursday, May 4
Growing Home Englewood Farm Stand, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., 1844 W. 59th St., Chicago
Lincoln Square Thursday Farmers Market, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Lincoln & Leland Aves., Chicago
Saturday, May 6
Division Street City Market, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., 100 W. Division St., Chicago
Downtown Evanston Farmers Market, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., University Place and Oak Ave.
Green City Market West Loop, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1817 N. Clark St., Lincoln Park, Chicago
Kankakee Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., S. Schuyler Ave. & Merchant St.
Park Forest Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., 152 Main St.
Palatine Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Palatine Train Station
Sunday, May 7
95th Street Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1835 W. 95th St., Chicago
Wicker Park Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1425 N. Damen Ave., Chicago
Wednesday, May 10
Andersonville Farmers Market, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., 1500 W. Catalpa Ave., Chicago
Thursday, May 11
Daley Plaza City Market, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., 50 W. Washington St., Chicago
LaGrange Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 53 S. LaGrange Rd.
Saturday, May 13
Downers Grove Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Main St. Train Station
61st Street Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., 6100 S. Blackstone Ave., Chicago
Sunday, May 14
Logan Square Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 3107 W. Logan Blvd., Chicago
Saturday, May 20
Oak Park Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 460 Lake St.
More Baby Birds
The phrase “taking someone under your wing” has been in my vocabulary for most of my life, but it was not that long ago that I first witnessed in real life where that phrase comes from, watching mother geese and ducks sheltering their broods under one of their wings.
It’s a truly beautiful experience, and I got to see it on my year’s first baby bird outing Wednesday. I hope you think it’s lovely too.