07/24/2026
Important Community Update: Seasonal Pause & Opening Update To our valued neighbors, friends, and community members: As many of you know, we have been working tirelessly to launch our direct-to-consumer farmstand and bring fresh, locally grown produce and fresh eggs to our community.Unfortunately, on July 21st, our property experienced an off-target chemical drift incident involving a commercial agricultural application in our immediate area. While this event was completely out of our control, chemical residue landed directly on our outdoor growing beds, high tunnel area, and farmstand footprint. The product involved carries strict federal EPA regulations regarding plant-back restrictions for specialty produce crops. Because food safety, product purity, and community health are our highest priorities, we are strictly adhering to state and federal safety guidelines.What This Means for Our Farm:Temporary Harvest & Sales Pause: We cannot legally or safely harvest or sell food crops from our current soil footprint for the remainder of the 2026 season and early Spring 2027.State Cooperation: The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) was notified immediately, conducted an on-site inspection, and is managing the official investigation. Farmstand Status: Our physical farmstand setup and store operations are temporarily paused while we complete mandatory site decontamination, soil testing, and administrative reviews.Looking AheadWhile this is a disappointing set-back for our inaugural season, we are fully committed to doing things the right way. We are working diligently behind the scenes with agricultural authorities and insurance representatives to restore our soil and facility. We want to thank everyone who has supported us, followed our build-out, and cheered us on. Your support means the world to us. We will keep you updated right here on Facebook as our soil clears, our new structures develop, and we prepare for our grand reopening in Spring 2027!Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support of local agriculture.— The Farm Team
