Making some updates to these lists! New sources have been added that we have discovered since last compiling these, enjoy! I am going to spend some time working on additional lists for other areas and continue to separate things further to make these easier to use. 🙂
Our Favorite Things
Sharing our favorite sources for all things organic and green! This list will be updated over time.
Organic Plants and Seeds:
pantrygardenherbs.com
www.horizonherbs.com
www.groworganic.com
www.theorganicharvest.com
www.seedsnow.com
www.highmowingseeds.com
Whole Foods – surprisingly good prices for vegetable and herb plants!
Herbs, Spices and Oils
www.frontiercoop.com
www.mountainroseherbs.com
Organic and Naturally Grown Farms Near Chicago
Every year our family makes our annual apple picking trip – typically to southwest Michigan. Since apples are one of those crops that can be rather pesticide heavy, I have compiled a list of farms within driving distance of Chicago that are either Organic or Naturally Grown. So far, I have limited our search to Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan (this can be expanded upon later). Most on the list are u-pick, although not all of them are. I have listed the types of crops grown at the bottom of each entry.
Illinois Organic and Naturally Grown Farms
Angelic Organics
1547 Rockton Road, Caledonia, IL 61011
www.angelicorganics.com
Vegetables, fruit and other produce – farmers markets and through CSA
www.learngrowconnect.org – classes
Harrison Market Gardens [Certified Naturally Grown]
9024 Harrison Rd., Winnebago, IL 61088
harrisonmarketgardens.com
Vegetables, Berries and other produce – U Pick
Also available through CSA
Hazzard Free Farm [Certified Natually Grown]
5111 Ahrens Rd, Pecatonica, IL 61063
www.hazzardfreefarm.com
Vegetables – CSA/Farmstand
Mulberry Lane Farm
414 Mulberry St
Loda, IL 60948
www.mulberrylanefarm.com
Organic Strawberries – Upick
Organic produce and eggs – by order
Orchard Ridge Farm [Follows Organic Practices]
6786 Yale Bridge Rd, Rockton, IL 61072
www.orchardridgefarms.com
Apples – Roadside Stand and farmers markets
Plow Creek Farm [Certified Naturally Grown – OMRI]
19183 Plow Creek Road, Tiskilwa, IL 61368-9126
www.plowcreek.org
Strawberries, Blueberries, Blackberries, Raspberries – Upick
Susie’s Garden Patch [Natural Growing Practices]
10258 US Hwy 20, Garden Prairie IL 61038
www.susiesgardenpatch.com
Strawberries, Vegetables – upick
In store: Apples, Tomatoes, Honey, Eggs
Wooded Wonderland [Organically Grown]
610 S. Devil’s Ladder Rd., Galena, Illinois 61036
www.woodedwonderland.com
Blueberries – Upick
Honey is available in store
Indiana Organic and Naturally Grown Farms
The Blueberry Ranch [Certified Organic]
54743 Buckeye Rd
Mishawaka IN 46545
www.blueberryranch.com
Blueberies – Fresh, Frozen and U-Pick
Great Inspirations Farm [Certified Naturally Grown]
624 E 950 N, Westville, Indiana
www.GreatInspirationsFarm.com
Vegetables, Fruit and Other Produce – U-pick and CSA
New Road Natural Farm [Natural Growing Practices]
19000 New Road, South Bend, IN 46614
Phone: 574-231-9114 Email: Curtis@wallstraits.com
Vegetables, Fruit, Fresh eggs
Wholesome Meadows [Naturally Grown]
9141 N 100 W, Huntington IN, 46750
wholesomemeadows.com
Vegetables, Berries, Pumpkins – U-pick and pre-picked
Michigan Organic and Naturally Grown Farms
Adams Farms [Certified Organic For Some Crops]
69676 Cr 376, Hartford, MI 49057
Phone: 269 214 0873 Email: toquin1@myway.com
Blueberries – U-pick and already picked
Maple Syrup
Bauer Raspberries [Natural Growing Practices]
63221 County Road 652, Mattawan, MI 49071
Phone: (269)-668-4842
Already Picked – raspberries (red), raspberries (Autumn, red)
Earth First Farms [Certified Organic]
8335 Smith Road
Berrien Center, MI 49102
earthfirstfarms.com
Apples – U-pick
Wisconsin Organic and Naturally Grown Farms
Happy Acres [Natural Growing Practices]
4028 South Afton Road, Beloit, WI 53511
Phone: 608-365-5451 Email: te51994@aol.com
Vegetables, Fruit, Flowers, Berries, Pumpkins
WCC Farm [Certified Organic]
21414 7 Mile Road, Franksville, WI 53126
Phone: (262) 895-2661 Email: wcc.farms@yahoo.com.
Raspberries (Fall) – U-pick
Wiser Farm Produce [Natural Growing Practices]
9107 W Us Highway 14, Evansville, WI 53536
Phone: 608-882-5807 Email: wiser@litewire.net
Vegetables, berries, herbs
Countertop Reverse Osmosis Filter
Since we plan to be moving in the (hopefully) near future, we didn’t want to invest too much in a reverse osmosis filter for this house. That is something we will definitely do in our new home, but for now we found a portable countertop reverse osmosis filter that we can use both in this home and wherever we are living while the new house is being built. This particular filter removes chlorine and fluoride from the water along with a variety of other nasties our city water may contain. We have it installed at our laundry sink for now and plan to keep the purified water in glass pitchers. We are very happy with this purchase so far!
[EDITED 12/28/2014: After a few weeks the water from this filter developed a fishy smell. We DO NOT RECOMMEND this filter… great idea, but it just doesn’t work.]
The Health and Lifestyle Connection
Cancer is Curable Now – The Documentary
I found this while doing some research and found it to be quite the wake up call (no pun intended). I am not a doctor, and while I don’t agree with all of the advice in the documentary, some of what they say strikes a chord with me. It is also a reminder that even though our family has had a rough year, it is time for us all to get back to a clean diet and exercise routine.
GMOs and Food Allergies
The above video is of Robyn O’ Brien at TEDx discussing the link between genetically modified foods, food allergies, and other diseases. I consider myself rather well educated in this area, but there were a few things she mentions that I wasn’t yet aware of. What a great lecture!
Container Garden Update
Our container garden is doing quite well this year! After an early on loss of most of our seedlings (I have not yet mastered the art of transplanting seedlings), I ordered organic vegetable plants online and replanted our garden. I would say things are going quite well with our garden tower and our second batch of plants!
I had a few doubts about whether or not the garden tower would work at first, but those have been quickly put to rest. I am definitely going to order a second tower for our deck next year. Even our neighbor who thought I was nuts for this purchase is impressed with how well it is working.
Caprese Style Tomato and Goat Cheese Salad
Ingredients:
Organic Tomatoes
Organic Chevre
Organic Basil
Slice the tomatoes evenly and arrange on a platter. Mold the chevre into flat circular pieces and place on top of each tomato slice. If your chevre is too crumbly to cooperate, warming it slightly may make it more workable. Arrange basil leaves on the sides and/or between each tomato.
GMO’s and Gluten Sensitivity
Jeffrey Smith and Tom Malterre, MS, CN Discuss GMOs and Gluten from Whole Life Nutrition on Vimeo.
Very insightful! Infuriating as well. We need to take back control of the foods we eat, starting with growing our own.
Pesticides On Your Conventional Produce
It is good to know that even washing your fruit and veggies will not remove all of the pesticides. This makes me want to learn how to make my own hot sauce… because I am pretty sure my favorite brand isn’t organic.
Image by ecomom.com