Midsommarfest

Churches' Center for Land and People (CCLP) sponsors indoor Winter Farmers Markets & Meals for Hope to provide small, local farm producers with additional venues to extend their income beyond the growing season. Held in parish halls of congregations of many denominations, these ecumenical events are open to the public and from November to March offer consumers an opportunity to purchase cheese, meat and poultry, soap, syrup, honey, wool, yogurt, raw fibers, vinegars, dried fruits, milled flours, sauces and salsas, preserves, cider, and fresh produce as available.....in short, anything that a farm grows or produces from what they grow. (Not all items listed will be available at all markets.)

First Evangelical Free Church’s Green Urban Living Class will host this indoor farmers market on Sunday, December 7th, from 12 – 3 pm.  The church and CCLP will also simultaneously host an a la carte café with fair trade coffee and items made from seasonal and local ingredients from the participating farm vendors.   “These markets are a ‘win’ for everyone—the farmers who can extend their marketing season, shoppers who’ll have access to local foods nearly year-round, and the congregation which can live out its mission toward the environment, and others in need,” said Robin Schirmer of Maywood, the Chicago Area Market Coordinator for CCLP.  “It also fulfills CCLP’s mission of strengthening rural communities by connecting rural growers with urban consumers and bringing people together around issues of food, faith and sustainability.”

There are 30 such markets scheduled in Chicago and suburbs from November through March.  A second Market & Meal in the Andersonville neighborhood will be held at Ebenezer Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 14.

There is no fee to participate, but farmers donate 10% of what they earn at the market (after a threshold amount) via CCLP to the Harvest of Hope Fund which, for almost 20 years, has been giving monetary gifts of up to $1,000 to farmers in crisis due to illness or unexpected expenses. It's a WIN-WIN for the farm producers and farmers in crisis...and a WIN for consumers who can continue to purchase farm-fresh items and cultivate relationships with local farmers beyond the summer farmers market season.