The tour began at Ron and Angie Ackerman's farm near Chenoa, IL. Ron and Angie Ackerman grow a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs on the same small central Illinois farm where Ron grew up. After a three-year stint as an missionary in Viet Nam, Ron returned to Illinois with an new wife and a desire to farm. Instead of pursuing the large conventional grain operation like those he was surrounded by, Ron stayed small and diversified, and eventually converted to organic. Angie had not grown up on a farm, but took to it with enthusiasm. At first, she just wanted to grow the herbs she was used to cooking with in her native country, but she found a strong interest for these and many specialty items at the farmers markets where she and Ron sell. Those attending split into two groups. Ron show one group the market garden, demonstrating companion planting principles and how he's been successful working with what he's got on hand. Angie lead a smaller group through her make-shift high tunnel and her system for growing, preparing and selling her specialty items such as flowers, herbs and peppers. Together they use diversity and local markets to create a productive and profitable farm that grows fresh, healthy food sold directly to people living in neighboring communities.

Ron and Angie operate a unique farm in several ways. The farm has been in the family for many years and has always been farmed in an organic fashion. It consists of 300 acres of cropland and was once a dairy farm. Now the farm produces vegetables, herbs, and fruits from the area nearest the farmstead. The fruit trees are a part of a windbreak which is on the north and the west side of the home. Much of the open area between the windbreak and the home is maintained as herb gardens under Angie’s guidance and care. Ron and Angie are also experimenting with growing herbs in a greenhouse to extend their growing season.

The story of Ron and Angie have a unique story within their marriage as well. They met in Vietnam in 1969 when Ron was with the Mennonite Central Committee PAX program. They were wed 1972 and Angie brought the gift of herb growing from her homeland of Vietnam to Chenoa IL. At their tour, Angie led a group of folks that was especially interested in herb growing. Angie not only demonstrated her techniques of growing herbs but also how to harvest, package, and prepare the herbs in the most appealing way to be sold mostly at Farmers Markets in Bloomington IL and Normal IL, as well as some delivery to Chicago IL. Angie grows many different kinds of herbs : Peppermint, Spearmint, Chocolate mint, Apple mint, Ginger mint, & Rosemary.---Chives & Garlic chives.--- Basil; Italian sweet & Thai basil.---Sage & Russian sage.—Dill, Cilantro. –Parsley; Curley & Italian flat leaf.---Hot Peppers; Habereio, Jalapeno, Serrano, Thai, & Rainbow.---Tarragon, Cavender, and Sweet marjorum. This to the delight of their many patrons. Ron sees after their vegetable gardens (with instruction from Angie) as well as the grain and hay crops on the rest of the 300 acres, with some help from his 92 year old Father Frank who still cultivates. Ron says his father does a better job at it than he does. Ron grows corn (still harvests in the ear), soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, and other cover crops between grain crops. Ron uses good solid organic farming practices to best take care of the soil, keep the proper balance of nutrients in the soil, along with an excellent rotation of crops. Ron also explained their fertility practices on their vegetable gardens, using manures that are not exposed to the possibility of any contamination. With the recent scares of food contamination, we all need to be doing the best job possible to provide quality food to our consumers. Ron is also growing seed soybeans for the Co-op this year.

For more pictures of the Ackerman Field Tours, Click here.

Ben Meister and his family have been farming around Fairbury, Illinois forever. About eight years ago, Ben started looking at organic. His landowner gave him things to read and encouraged him to transition 600 rented acres. He finally decided to try it on a field of corn. His organic field the first year yielded 180 bushels versus 200 bushels from his conventional fields. Convinced he could make it work, Ben transitioned all his fields. Ben talked about his weed control system using rotatary and ridge-till and how going organic allowed him to diversify his farm. Weed control is an issue in organic crops and many times organic fields stand out because of the weeds. Not so with Ben's fields. They are clean.

An incredible lunch was cater from by Ben Lubchanski, The Food Nanny.