They Grow ‘Em Big in Kankakee
I had a little work done. How does it look?
I enjoy ordering for home delivery from Three Sisters Garden in Kankakee all year, but especially this time of year, when peak season brings in big, heavy items that are a bit of a chore to haul around the farmers market. Like watermelon.
Now I’ve ordered watermelons from Three Sisters before and knew what to expect. And this beaut clocked in at roughly 22 pounds. Here’s a pic of it next to the cantaloupe I ordered, no small potatoes itself at seven pounds, but it looks like a satellite orbiting the watermelon.
This watermelon is a good example of a money-saving tactic I’ve mentioned before: If a produce item is priced per piece, get the big one. I paid $18 for this one and you might be thinking, “Whut? You paid $18 for a watermelon?” But divide that by 22 and it’s just 82 cents a pound. That’s a lot less than you’d pay for a smaller melon at the supermarket.
Over the next week, I’ll provide various answers to the question, “What does one do with a 22-pound watermelon?” Options include eating it plain, in fruit salads, in savory salads, in salsas and in mixed drinks. We’re having company on Sunday and I hope they like melon. Will share some with neighbors. And best of all, watermelon freezes well if it turns out I overdid.
Along with the melons, my haul included sweet corn (also heavy to walk around with if you buy a lot of it), chives, summer onions and summer squash.
BTW, if you’ve been reading Local Food Forum for a while, you might remember that Tracey Vowell, owner of Three Sisters Garden, suffered equipment and product losses in a fire last winter. The local food community rallied around her, and as you can see, the farm is doing fine this growing season. Makes me happy.
Click below if you live in Chicago and are interested in exploring home delivery from Three Sisters Garden. Orders for Wednesday delivery must be made by end of day Monday; orders for Saturday delivery must be made by end of day Thursday.
Great Gatherings Upcoming from Nonprofits
Illinois Stewardship Alliance — which represents farmers and eaters on state legislative and policy issues to promote a better food system — is bringing its Harvest Celebration and Virtual Auction back after its pandemic hiatus.
The live event will be held on Sunday, September 18, beginning at 5 p.m., at Indian Creek Farmstead in Petersburg. The location is about 200 miles by car from downtown Chicago and 65 miles from Peoria to the north and Bloomington to the northeast. There is also a ticket option for those who prefer to participate virtually.
According to the Alliance, “Throughout the evening, you’ll sip and sample your way through small plates featuring the bounty of Illinois’ harvest prepared by the finest farm-to-table chefs in the region. It’s sure to tickle your tastebuds! You’ll also enjoy live music, yard games, a virtual auction, keynote speaker and paddle raise, and a cash bar with local libations!” (Click here to learn more and buy tickets.)
And my friends at the Alliance asked me to give special attention to the Virtual Auction, for which they are seeking great donated prizes.
Who doesn’t love a good auction? Harvest Celebration auctions showcase a wide variety of products and services related to our collective mission. Artisanal food, health & wellness goodies, farm tours & experiences, travel packages, and even dining experiences have been popular items for folks to bid on in previous Harvest Celebration auctions. Proceeds of items auctioned off go to support our continued work together as we implement real change in our agriculture and food systems.
Click here to access an auction donation form and click here to learn what kinds of items have done well at the organization’s past auctions.
And a Midwestern Farm-ily Reunion
A reminder that your day in the country at the Midwestern Farm-ily Reunion is coming right up on Saturday, August 27. Ticket sales close this Sunday (August 21) so don’t hesitate.
This fun gathering — organized by Northern Illinois Young Farmers Coalition and the Illinois Stewardship Alliance — with take place at Timberfeast farm in Chatsworth (it’s about 110 miles south of downtown Chicago, or a roughly two-hour trip by car).
Here are the details from the organizers:
Time: Arrivals suggested at 1, when the pond will open for swimming. Natural t-shirt dying and lawn games throughout the afternoon. Dinner and music will start around 5:30. Bonfire and storytelling into the night.
Price: Sliding scale from $0-$100 (details on Eventbrite)
Farm-to-table dinner: This multi-course meal will showcase the talents of chef Jeff Eichem and bread baker Jim Franks.
We are so excited to be working with the bounty of Illinois for this event. August is prime time to shine a light on what the Midwest does best — produce delicious food. Thank you to all our local farms and vendors! Timberfeast, Spence Farm LLC, Wild Trillium Farm, Silver Tree Spirits, Janie's Mill. If you would like to contribute to this bounty, send us a DM.
Pie Contest: And what would a family reunion be without a long, overflowing table of pies? Dig into your Grandma’s recipe box, dip into childhood memories of trying to spit cherry pits farther than the neighbor boys and channel that energy toward an award-winning pie. Local fruits, nuts and grains are encouraged, but we won’t exclude, say, a chocolate silk pie.
Camping: Everyone is invited to camp at Timberfeast. There will be plenty of hot coffee and pastries in the morning.
Click here to go to the Eventbrite page and buy your tickets.
Rabbit Still Life
It’s almost like this Hawthorne Place rabbit was posing for me. No particular reason for the photo. I just like rabbits.