The Journey to Heritage Prairie Farm

Big Bowl’s journey with Heritage Prairie Farm began last fall with an introduction through Family Farmed, a group we have supported throughout the years for their work with local family farms.  There were many things we liked about Heritage; but the most important were the people we met and the food they were producing. 

Heritage Prairie Farm, an organic and sustainable farm in La Fox, Illinois, raises food based on the work of Eliot Coleman and Four Season’s Farm in Maine.  Through a system of moveable greenhouses and careful crop rotation, Coleman’s plan is designed for year round production in unheated greenhouses and cold frames.  In fact, Heritage Prairie recently picked the last of its spinach growing slowly in the winter sun of an unheated greenhouse.  The spinach was sweeter than any I have tasted with thick and sturdy leaves that were surprisingly tender.  This week the spinach is being replaced with the first carrot planting of the year.

Heritage Prairie is in the final stages of Organic Certification and will receive GAP Certification as well.  GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) certification is a third party program that focuses on production, packaging, and safe handling of agricultural products with a focus on sustainability.  There are no pesticides or herbicides on the farm.  The crops are nurtured and fed using organic compost and water from a deep well on the property. 

Our partnership with Heritage is another step along the road to Big Bowl’s continuing efforts to bring great food, responsibly produced to your table. This week’s specials feature Heritage Prairie’s micro-greens and we received our first delivery of honey for use in our kitchens.