First Farm Stroll to highlight 21st-century agriculture

The McHenry County Farm Bureau and the University of Illinois Extension McHenry County Master Gardeners will cooperate to hold their first Farm Stroll, a self-guided tour of the county's diversified family farms, from noon to 5 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 27.

Eleven farms will take part in this educational agri-centric tour. Apple orchards, vegetable fields, traditional and nontraditional farm animals, a vineyard, an equestrian ranch, sustainable agriculture, hydroponics and more will be featured on this free, family-friendly, self-guided tour. There is no beginning or end of the tour. Just choose the type of farms that interest you and visit during the designated time.

Among the farms featured is Al'sPACAs at Dutch Mill Farm in Harvard. Al Van Maren started raising alpacas 12 years ago as a retirement business and today he and his wife have 64 alpacas on their original 10-acre farm and on additional acreage down the street.

Each May they shear the alpacas to prepare them for the hot summer and sell the fur (known as “fiber”) to a co-op in Tennessee that makes socks and resells fiber to those who wish to create sweaters, throw blankets and even fine fiber art.

Stop by the farm to meet these friendly, inquisitive animals, native to the mountains of Peru, to see and touch the fiber sheared from them and see some sweaters and socks made from that very soft and warm material.

State-of-the-art vertical hydroponics farming is what you will find at another Harvard farm — Cashmore's Produce and Ponics. Kirk Cashmore built his one-man operation between 2009 and 2011 and has been producing lettuce, kale, Swiss chard and watercress ever since, which he sells to local restaurants and at farmers markets. He also delivers baskets of fresh greens to subscribing neighbors during the winter since he grows year-round.

Cashmore employs alternative energy sources, such as a biomass furnace that burns corn and wood pellets. He also has a solar air furnace to heat his hydroponics growing area inside a large barn. He uses ozone and colloidal silver to clean the water in his system.

“I do lots of interesting, unusual stuff,” Cashmore admitted. “I am a 38-year-old farm kid and I taught myself to do all of this by reading about it on the Internet.”

Tour-goers will be able to view his state-of-the-art growing system and talk to Cashmore about how he accomplished his dream.

Patyk Farms in Richmond spans 80 acres and has been sustainably farmed full time by John and Myra Patyk for seven years. About 30 acres is devoted to the wide variety vegetables they sell at their farm stand and at two farmers markets. They also offer Community-Supported Agriculture subscriptions to about 35 members. The Patyks raise goats, cows, turkeys and hundreds of chickens, too, and grow and sell annuals, perennials and herbs from their greenhouse. In addition, they sell homegrown produce, locally grown fruits, handmade milk soap, meat, eggs, friendly farm animals and flowers, much of which will be available for purchase during the tour.

Tour-goers should remember these are working farms. Dress appropriately, depending on the weather, and wear sturdy shoes. Children of all ages are welcome, but they must be supervised at all times. Pets, however, are prohibited. Most farms will not have public toilet facilities.

For more information, visit McHenry County Farm Bureau at mchenrycfb.org, at facebook.com/McHenryCountyFarmBureau or call (815) 338-1520.