Unlike commercial farmers, organic farmers say they’ve largely been insulated from the impact of world events and that their prices will be competitive.
It finally might be Henry Brockman’s year.
As commercial farmers battle record-high fertilizer prices, seed shortages and huge spikes in gas and construction costs, Brockman — who has operated Henry’s Farm, an organic farm in downstate Congerville since 1993 — has been diversifying, rotating 650 crops and using his own methods without store-bought fertilizer.
This year, he already has begun loading his truck with spinach and herbs as he does every spring and delivering his produce weekly to the Evanston Farmers’ Market.
“Pretty much no matter what happens with the economy, it doesn’t really have any effect on me,” said Brockman, whose core business strategy is his CSA, or community-supported agriculture program, which delivers customers weekly farm boxes all season for one upfront fee. He also sells produce at the Evanston market.
Volunteer for the Ravinia Farmers Market and/or help in the organic garden.
Farmers Market is Wednesdays June 1 -October 26, 2022 from 7am-11am
Location is Jen Jensen Park, Highland Park (to the east of the Ravinia Train Station).
website: https://www.raviniafarmersmarket.com
Volunteers are needed for customer service and other roles.
See this webpage for more information and to fill out an application.
https://www.raviniafarmersmarket.com/volunteer
Volunteers are needed for the "Organic teaching garden"
organicteachgardenhp.org
Contact Ed Kugler for more details: raviniafm@gmail.com