Purple Leaf Farms is a 1 acre naturally grown vegetable and flower farm located in Elgin, Illinois. Started in 2010 as an urban agriculture project, Purple Leaf Farms will be entering its 3rd year of selling at farmers markets and offering a weekly vegetable and flower subscription program. www.purpleleaffarms.com. History: Purple Leaf started as a restaurant garden project, with all produce being
grown in raised garden beds built in a parking lot along Randolph Street in Chicago’s Restaurant Row. In 2012 Purple Leaf moved to a small approximately 1 acre lot owned by the Village of Forest Park in the near west suburbs of Chicago. Purple Leaf focuses on sustainably produced vegetables, herbs and cut flowers and although not organic certified, uses chemical-free methods. There’s no miracle-gro here, just compost for soil enrichment, biodegradable cardboard mulch to prevent weeds and retain moisture, super efficient drip irrigation to conserve water, and the use of non-chemical pest management practices. In 2013 Purple Leaf moved to an acre plot in Elgin, Illinois and expanded to four weekly farmers markets. About Farmer Jessica: Jessica Rinks grew up a southern gal in Tennessee and moved to Chicago in 2004 to attend graduate school for urban planning, but by 2007 her passion for growing food became clear. She is a University of Illinois Master Gardener. She founded a community garden in her neighborhood. Jessica finally left her urban planning career in 2012 to pursue local urban farming full-time.
