A virtual visit to Eden's Harvest

by Janet at Eden's Harvest Farm 

Along with everyone here in Central Illinois, we are coping with the high temperatures and drought. (I'll just look at this picture when it's 20 below this winter.)

Tom Turkey with 4 of his five hens. They provide turkey eggs that we sell to Chicago restaurants.

Our alpaca, Sugar, delivered a healthy cria (baby alpaca) on July 1st. Her name is Sweetie. On May 21 nineteen alpacas were sheared. There will be raw fleece for sale along with some rovings for spinning.

We are currently harvesting juicy peaches and sweet apples from our small family orchard. This past Saturday we canned peach jam and peach chutney.

Ricky Ricardo, our banty rooster with his hens, Princess and the brood. They are a delight to watch free ranging across the yard.

Meet the farmers at Eden's Harvest

When did you move to your farm? 

2000

What was the first thing you did, garden or livestock, and why? 

Garden, but with moving in April, homeschooling and trying to unpack, and having lots of friends and family visiting . . . we had such healthy weeds that I created a maze for my 5 year old to go through. When we burned the "forest" of weeds, the volunteer fire department came out.

What are you most looking forward to sharing on the farm crawl? 

 The great fresh veggies that we have to offer and a visit with the animals, chickens and turkeys that provide fresh eggs and alpacas that provide wonderful fleece and beautiful personalities.

What do visitors tend to enjoy the most on your farm? 

 The open space and country quiet, the "slow it down" mode.

What are your plans for the future? 

Keep growing healthy fresh veggies and hopefully canning, drying and freezing fruit and vegetables grown on our farm.

We're getting close.  Only a month until the Farm Crawl!  We're working on getting things ready and one of the things we've done is order signs to place on the roads and corners along the way to direct you to our farms.  This is mine.  They are all identical, other than the farm names, so it will be easy for you know where to go :)

Cheryl Zacek
Farmer in Odell