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2012 Farmers Market Season is Starting!
Frankfort Country Market begins April 29th!
Corner of Oak and Kansas
Frankfort, IL
Sundays 10-2 starting April 29th
Bolingbrook Farmers Market
Promenade Mall
Bolingbrook,IL
Thursdays 3-7 starting June 7th
Yorktown Farmers Market
Yorktown Mall
Lombard, IL
Wednesdays 3-7 starting June 6th
Farm Day -June 23rd - open to the public
Mark your calendars! Nature's Choice Farm will host an open farm day for guests to tour the farm and have lunch. Details will be posted as we get closer to the date. Check the website soon for more info!
Taking Deposits on 1/2 of Pasture Raised Pigs
Nature's Choice Farm is now taking deposits on 1/2 of pigs for the 2012 season. These pigs will be processed starting in June. The price is $5.75 per pound(cut and wrapped). A half of a pig will render an average of 70lbs of meat. Cured meats and sausages are MSG free and Nitrate Free. To place a deposit on a half of pig, click here.
Grass-fed Beef quarters for 2012 Season
We are now taking deposits on grass-fed beef quarters for this season. This year's beef will finish in Fall 2012. For more details or to place a deposit, please visit our grass-fed beef page.
2011/2012 Deliveries
Nature's Choice Farm delivers to Frankfort, Bolingbrook, and the South side of Chicago during the off season. Customers can email or call in an order and pick up at one of our locations on designated dates. CSA members may also use these delivery locations to pick-up their share of meats each month. See delivery points for this season's dates. Customers wanting a delivery closer to their area may do so by placing a combined order of $500 or more. Many of our customers order together with neighbors or co-workers and establish their own delivery point. To place an order, email orders@natureschoicefarm.com .
Chant Restaurant
We are so grateful that Chef Christopher Hora has made us his main chicken supplier for Chant Restaurant in Chicago. His dedication to the "Farm to Table" concept has benefited many farmers in the area. Chef Hora created a video about the farmers he purchases food from and educates the public about why people should buy locally. For more information on Chant, please visit http://www.chantchicago.com
"Feeding our Families" program for those falling on hard times
Eric and I feel so blessed to be surrounded by such a supportive community. Our farm continues to expand because we have loyal customers who are dedicated to eating naturally raised meats and eggs. To give back to the community, we have started a program called "Feeding our Families." So many families have struggled during these difficult economic times. We are providing some families in the area with a CSA bag (15 lbs of meat) and 4 doz eggs each month at no cost to them.
Meat CSA
Learn about becoming a part of our Community-Shared Agriculture (CSA)! Customers purchase shares of our production and are provided with 15 lbs of pasture raised meats (5 lbs pork, 5 lbs beef, 5 lbs chicken) each month. We also have egg shares available (4 doz per month) or 1/2 egg shares (2 doz per month) as well. Members can pick-up their shares of meat at our farmers markets or at the farm. During the winter season, we deliver at drop-off points close to where the summer markets were held.
Awarded the Frontera Farmers Foundation Grant Two years in a Row
Last February, we applied for a grant from the Frontera Farmers Foundation of 12,000 to purchase a chore tractor. We were thrilled to find out that once again, Nature's Choice Farm was awarded this grant! Eric purchased a tractor to complete tasks on the farm such as feeding hay to the cattle during winter months, spreading and composting manure, moving chicken houses, and many other chores.
Two years ago, our farm was awarded a grant of 12,000 to purchase and install a walk-in freezer from the Frontera Farmer Foundation as well. The walk-in freezer made forming a CSA possible because we now have ample freezer storage. This foundation supports local farmers by funding projects that encourage sustainable farming. The founder is chef and owner of Frontera Grill, Rick Bayless. We feel blessed that a foundation of this nature exists and were lucky to meet Rick and his staff. Thanks to this foundation, we are more able to provide high quality meats to local customers.
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Our Farm
Nature's Choice Farm is located in Grant Park, IL and was started five years ago by Eric and Samantha Sexton. Eric's dream was to raise animals in a healthy environment and produce quality meats and eggs that are both good for you and delicious! All of our animals are raised without the use of hormones and/or antibiotics. Our poultry, cattle, and pigs are free to roam in the open air on rich, green pasture and treated with the utmost respect.
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Why Pasture Raised Products?
Looking at our modern meats and eggs, you will find they can be the product of "factory farming" where animals are kept in large confinement facilities and eating diets designed to boost productivity, grow rapidly, and be cheap to produce. Our chickens, turkeys, and ducks are never kept in cages and are provided with plenty of space, fresh grass, and nutritious feed. Pasture raised meat can be leaner and higher in Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E. Eggs from pasture raised hens can have less cholesterol and saturated fat, more vitamin A, beta-carotene, and Omega-3 fatty acids. Cattle were designed to eat fibrous grasses and plants. Our cattle are never fed grain. They graze on a diverse blend of pasture plants during the summer and are fed hay harvested from our pasture during the winter. Eating nutritious foods is important to your health and important to us.
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Our Story
We moved out to Grant Park three years ago. The land needed some T.L.C., and so we got to work! Eric fenced the entire farm and planted pasture grasses and legumes. We bought a trailer and watched as the semi-truck delivered our new humble abode! The first year, we raised 400 broiler chickens, 75 layers, and bought three Murray Grey cows and their calves. Mostly family and friends bought our products and gave many positive reviews. Samantha (Sam) is a second grade teacher in Peotone and has the summers off, so she suggested to begin selling at farmers markets. The second year was busy! We were newly married (on a beach in Mexico!) and raised almost 2000 broilers, 175 layers, 80 turkeys, four pigs, purchased more cattle, and had one calf born. We sold in four farmers markets and our on-farm sales began to increase greatly. This will be our fourth production season. Last season we welcomed 7 calves and our first litter of piglets! We raised 2,800 broilers, 25 pigs, 325 layers, and currently have a herd of 25 cattle. We sold in three farmers markets last summer. We built a house and moved in last fall. As we continue to grow, we couldn't do it without our loyal customers. We love when people come and visit the farm. Our relationship with our customers is very important to us.
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