CLC's weekly farm market opens June 14
The College of Lake County's farm market will sell CLC-grown fresh produce, honey and cut flowers Thursdays from 3-5:30 p.m. beginning June 14. The market operates on the front lawn of the Horticulture Building, located off Lancer Lane between Brae Loch Road and Washington Street, on the Grayslake Campus, 19351 W. Washington St. Proceeds help support student internships in the college's horticulture career programs, including sustainable agriculture.
Produce available include salad mix, arugula, spring onions, orange and purple carrots as well as red, golden and striped beets, said Matt DeRose, the college's local foods coordinator. The offerings also include radishes, garlic scapes, kale and collards. Available herbs include chocolate mint, which can be used in making tea or coffee. Additionally, the market will stock fresh honey from CLC's apiary (bee colony).
Other produce coming soon includes: cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, celery, beans, onions, leeks, watermelons, musk melons and potatoes (red, purple and Yukon gold). The later-summer selection also will feature broccoli, kale, kohlrabi and eggplant. Besides vegetables, the market will sell flowers such as stock, sunflowers and dahlias.
The garden is located on the east side of the Horticulture Building. Compost for the soil consists of recycled vegetable scraps and coffee grounds from the college's food service vendor. The garden, in turn, has provided fresh lettuce for the on-campus Café Willow in addition to the farm market. "We have a loyal customer base, and interacting with the community members and being able to provide them with healthy, organically grown food is such a rewarding experience," said Rosie Schweier, a sustainable agriculture major who is now in her third season of helping manage the market.
The farm market accepts cash, check and credit cards. For more information, visit its Facebook page. For details on the college's sustainable agriculture program, visit www.clcillinois.edu/programs/hrt. Fall classes begin Aug. 20, and find out more at www.clcillinois.edu/fall.