Angelic Organics Farm: A place to grow wise
Although Angel Organics is located in Caledonia, Illinois, 75 miles Northwest of Chicago, this beautiful 85 acre Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm and its non-profit partner Angelic Organics Learning Center offer everything from fresh produce to classes for the urban dweller.
Planted among rolling hills close to the Wisconsin border, Angel Organics was founded in the early 1990's by owner and farmer John Peterson. Featured in the documentary film, "The Real Dirt on Farmer John" Peterson's Angelic Organics today remains one of the largest farms in the U.S. Customers buy seasonal shares in the farm and receive weekly boxes of fresh organic produce during the growing season.
Shareholders as well as people interested in organic farming can volunteer to work on the farm or take classes on everything from raising goats to cheese making to beekeeping. On a more in-depth level, Angelic Organics offers programs for people interested in establishing their own organic farm. Walking tours are given through most of September and cost $18 per person.
If you need a break from city life and want to either experience what working on a farm would be like or if you're considering making such a transition, educators provide on-farm programs including, for example, learning how to use farm tools, milk goats, feed chickens and make soap.
The Leaning Center holds an annual Farm Dinner fundraiser each year, featuring a multi-course mean from items raised and grown at Angelic Organics.
The Learning Center's Chicago Urban Initiative works with inner city residents by teaching them how to establish a urban growing sites and build local food systems. In these times where "going green" and healthier eating are becoming part of our culture, organizations such as Angelic Organics are helping to lead the way in education for both adults and children. As one of the few working farms near Chicago, it provides a great opportunity to get your hands dirty and your feet wet and learn about sustainable agriculture. Classes in Chicago include topics such as growing produce year round and basic backyard chicken care.
Whether you're interested in taking classes on gardening, composting or year around gardening, or if you're curious about modern farm life, Angelic Organics Learning Center is a wise place to begin. For more information on the Learning Center's educational programming, call (815) 389-8455 or click here for a complete schedule of classes. To learn more about Angelic Organics farm, including receiving the farm's vegetables, click here.
HelloMetro Insider's Tip: Upcoming classes include cheesemaking and soapmaking.
Posted by Lori Rotenberk
