The Events Keep on Coming
Three new events, plus reminders about two big ones over the next week.
Food Education on Table at Green City Dinner
Green City Market is presenting the latest in its Sustainable Supper Series, on Monday, October 16, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Split-Rail, 2500 W. Chicago Ave. in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood. And food education — instilling Good Food values in our youngest eaters — is on the table.
Pilot Light, the Chicago-based food education non-profit (and one of my favorite organizations) will be participating in the evening’s discussion, represented by Caitlin Arens, director of their Food Fellowship program. She will be joined by Thomas Eich from Kankakee Valley Homestead farm in Walkerton, Indiana, a Green City Market vendor.
Here is how the Market describes the event:
Green City Market's third Sustainable Supper is coming up on October 16 at Split-Rail, and we're so excited to announce that Caitlin Arens from Pilot Light and Thomas Eich from Kankakee Valley Homestead will join us to celebrate the theme of the program — Strengthening Connections: Kids and Our Local Food System!
Caitlin is the director of the Food Fellowship program at Pilot Light, which helps teachers integrate food education into their classrooms on a regular basis. Green City Market works with Pilot Light to give these teachers priority access to our field trips, providing students with a hands-on experience of how local food is grown.
Thomas owns Kankakee Valley Homestead, and in addition to being a regular vendor at GCM markets, does work within his community to help folks gain better food access. As a former teacher Thomas previously worked with students facing food insecurity and has been motivated to become the most significant farmer to contribute to GCM's field trip program.
Catch Caitlin and Thomas at Sustainable Supper for an exclusive night of food, drink and a panel discussion. Reserve your tickets today!
Urban Farmers: Learn About 2 USDA Programs
If you are an urban farmer, every little bit of funding or technical assistance you can get really matters. So here is a free “Lunch and Learn” webinar about the USDA’s Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service, which will take place via Zoom on Tuesday, October 17 from 12:00-1:30 p.m. central. (Hat tip to Michael Fields Agricultural Institute for the heads up about the event.)
From the organizers:
Join the Milwaukee Urban Ag Network (MUAN) and Walnut Way for a FREE lunchtime webinar with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) & Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS).
Learn what FSA & NRCS are, resources they have for urban growers, how to access their programs, and more!
You'll have an opportunity to ask FSA & NRCS agents any questions you have, and will also hear from MUAN & Walnut Way about their work and the resources they offer.
Questions, comments, or concerns? Contact Noemy Serrano at nserrano@michaelfields.org
Beecher Weather for Tulip Tree Garden’s Dinner
Most of our region’s farm dinners are held during the summer, but Jesse and Rachael Smedberg, the owners of Tulip Tree Gardens in Beecher, Illinois, have often taken the unconventional path, from pasture-raising livestock to regeneratively growing produce, to becoming one of our region’s biggest producers of hemp and CBD products.
Their latest venture is their purchase of Village Farmstand, the local and sustainable food delivery service in Evanston, Illinois, which was created out of need during the height of the pandemic. And The Gathering Fall Harvest Dinner they are presenting on the evening of Saturday, November 11 at the farm — located about 45 miles due south of downtown Chicago — will present a sweater weather opportunity to hear from the innovative couple (who I had the pleasure of meeting at the Illinois Stewardship Alliance Farm-to-Fork Dinner in Naperville this past Saturday).
Here’s the pitch from the organizers:
Embark on an extraordinary journey with us on November 11th from 6-9pm as we gather at Tulip Tree Gardens for a Thanksgiving gathering feast like no other.
Prepare to indulge in a culinary adventure as we present a delectable family-style feast, showcasing farm-to-table delicacies including pasture-raised pork, turkey, and lamb, all sourced from our farm and local farms. Every ingredient has been meticulously hand-picked, ensuring the utmost quality and freshness. What better way to unwind and savor the moment with a pre-roll bar with hemp flower from the farm. Take a moment to slow down and breathe in the fresh country air. Also included with your ticket is all non-alcoholic drinks, cash bar will be available.
Prepare to listen to the founders themselves, Jesse and Rachael Smedberg, as they give an update on the farm and their story behind it.
This gathering is not just about delicious food and captivating stories. It’s about forging connections and building a vibrant community. So, come one, come all! Immerse yourself in the joyful atmosphere, gather in community around soil, and revel in the sweet melodies of live music by Coffee Jazz Collective
Mark your calendars and prepare for an extraordinary experience at Tulip Tree Gardens on November 11th. We eagerly await gathering together on the farm.
Tickets: $130 limited available
Ticket includes:
Family style feast
All non-alcoholic beverages (cash bar will be available the day of event)
Hemp pre-roll bar
30% coupon for all branded products in the farm stand
Bonfire
Note: Dinner will move in the barn due to rain and cold weather. No refunds.
Coming Up: 2 Great Dinner Fundraisers in Chicago
And if you don’t already have your tickets for these two awesome food/fundraising events over the next week, please don’t miss out.
This Thursday (October 12): Cooking Up a Cure (fundraiser for Scleroderma Foundation of Greater Chicago)… Theater on the Lake, 2401 N. Lake Shore Dr.
You’ll have an outstanding food and beverage experience, featuring leading Chicago-area chefs, while raising money for the Scleroderma Foundation of Greater Chicago. Scleroderma is a rare chronic illness that causes skin tightness and thickening that can spread to internal organs. The event is chaired, as it has been for several years, by Chef Cleetus Friedman, who lost his father to the disease.
Next Monday (October 16): Eat and Evolve (fundraiser for The Evolved Network)… eden restaurant, 2734 W. Roscoe St.
Eat and Evolve 2023 is the biggest annual fundraising event for The Evolved Network. Local Food Forum has written often about The Evolved Network, a Chicago non-profit that works with young people from under-resourced communities to provide education and support through farm-to-table experiences.
Founder Sebastian White currently provides cooking lessons for students in several Chicago schools. His ultimate goal is to build out a restaurant and urban farm that will provide young participants with job, business and growing skills while providing therapeutic assistance for those who need it.
And as with all of Sebastian’s dinner events, expect a spectacular dining experience that will allow you to do well while doing good.
Bob’s World, and Welcome to It
The great thing about these sky shows is that they are always stunning, and they are always different. This series from yesterday (October 8) started out with just a touch of “God sky.”
Then a bit of fire in the sky.
Finally, twilight’s last gleaming.