John Parkes and his son Jeff are washing eggs as I walk into their cozy little farm store. The temperature outside is about 20 degrees, but even in the dead of winter, the small barn right off of Route 125 is warm and welcoming. The farm is home to three generations of Parkes men: owner and operator John Parkes, his father Harold, and his sons Jeff and TJ who both help out on the farm part time. Above: John ushers his chickens into the hen house for the night. Below: Curiouc

Do you want to see a working, sustainable farm in action? Interested in using livestock to clear your forests, or raising free-range chickens? Do you need ideas for edible landscaping or gardening? Have you wondered how draft horses are used in a farm setting today? Perhaps you'd like to learn more about intensive management rotational grazing, or how to keep animals without turning your yard into a dusty, smelly, manure-filled lot? Red Gate Farm, which is located in central

Violeta began working as a Spanish teacher in the local school district while Garrick sought out an apprenticeship, finding it on a 10 acre organic vegetable farm near Peoria, IL at Henry's Farm. In 2006, Veenstra's Vegetables was established. Soon it was widely known for providing fresh, local, sustainably-grown vegetables in the Springfield, IL area. While Garrick loved growing fresh vegetables, Violeta immediately fell in love with flower farming. As she began designing wi

1. When did you start farming? I took the “Illinois Farm Beginnings” Class during 2011, and began farming and marketing at the Downtown Springfield Farmers’ Market in 2012. We added a small CSA as well in 2013. 2. Tell us a little bit about your farm. I grow vegetables on two acres near Loami, with the assistance of many, many friends and family, including my parents Richard and Hannah McDaniel; my roommate Yetunde Agbesola; my children Glen, Willow, and Gideon; o