Smart Farm of Barrington Farm to Table Dinner a Wonderful Evening

Smart Farm of Barrington held its first Farm to Table dinner last Saturday evening. The theme "connecting farms, food, and community" was a wonderful evening of delicious food, good company, and perfect late-summer weather. The event took place in the old Quaker Oats barn located on the Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital campus where Smart Farms's hoop house and gardens are located.

About 100 guests attended the sold-out event. Prior to dinner, guests were served beverages and passed appetizers outside the barn while enjoying the bluegrass music of trio Big Sadie. Beer was provided by The Crystal Lake Brewery and The Onion Pub and wines from Hess Vineyards; passion tea, lemonade, and water were also served.

The highlight of the evening was a four-course dinner served at communal tables inside the beautifully staged barn. Participating chefs were Zak Dolezal of Duke's Alehouse in Crystal Lake, Michael Formichella of The Anvil Club in Algonquin, and Anne Fitzgibbons of OMango in Naperville.

Smart Farm of Barrington raised and donated over 6,700 pounds of produce last year to area food pantries. In 2014, Smart Farm established eight beehives and has a beautiful harvest of honey this year. Smart Farm is a 501(C)(3) non-profit, volunteer-run organization which also serves as an educational resource for sustainable gardening practices and promotes healthy eating and living an environmentally friendly lifestyle. Smart Farm is supported entirely by donations and fundraising efforts.

Smart Farm's 5th Annual Frozen Zucchini Snowshoe Adventure will take place on January 25, 2015. For more information, please visit www.smartfarms.org.