Elgin farmers market features unusual products

Some entire business seem built around the daunting mission of eliminating dandelions from grassy lawns.

But on Sunday in Elgin, the much-maligned plant was a desired commodity on sale in pots and in necklace form at a free farmers market featuring sustainably produced foods and handmade art.

Kim Truog dug up some of the yellow flowering plants from her yard in Huntley last fall and kept them alive all winter in preparation for Sunday's market at the Unitarian Universalist Church on Highland Avenue in Elgin. She filled tiny glass jars with dandelion florets, or fuzz, and made it the centerpiece of a string necklace.

"The plant has medicinal qualities as well as fairy-tale qualities," she said. "I guess it's unusual to see it in a pot."

Other products for sale at the market included fresh greens, root vegetables, Alaskan salmon, pastured meats, mushrooms, salsas, granola, vegan entrees, honey, beeswax and whole grain baked goods.