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Heritage: Thoughts of thankfulness from Jenny

5/15/2020

16 Comments

 
    Today I am excited to announce the expansion of Piscasaw Gardens to a new location and a vastly increased product line-up. Our home-grown cut flowers continue to play a prominent role -and still take up a lot of acreage, but we are also growing 25 acres of fruits and vegetables. 15 acres of this is Mirai sweet corn, that amazing corn developed here in Harvard by the sweetcorn gurus at Twin Garden Farms.
     Which leads me to the topic of this blog: Heritage. Piscasaw Gardens was born out of heritage and continues because of heritage. 12 years ago my grandmother, Selma Davidson, helped me begin to grow cut flowers. My love of all growing things flourished through her influence in my childhood, and also that of my mother, Janet Davidson and her mother, Mildred Blum. They gently corrected me and encouraged me when, in my youthful enthusiasm, I committed fatal errors such as planting bulbs root-side up. I was also a tag-along to my dad, Walter Davidson, a dairy farmer and field crop producer. I observed scouting and did soil sampling under his direction. Most importantly, my dad taught me that a farmer gets up and out to do the work no matter how wet, cold, windy or hot it is, and no matter how crappy one feels. My family is my first strong stream of farming heritage.
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       What began as a backyard hobby garden blossomed into a full-time passion. I still had so much to learn though. When the opportunity to become head grower of the garden at Twin Gardens opened up, I applied and they took me on as a mentee “head grower”. During my 9 years in that role, I grew into the position, through the mentorship of Cliff Ingersol. As many of you know, I quickly “infiltrated” their product line-up with cut flowers. We grew over five acres of cut flowers, over 15 acres of fruits and vegetables and Twin Gardens grew 80 acres of their famous corn annually. I am so grateful to Twin Gardens for my time with them. Thankfully, Cliff continues to mentor me in my new Mirai undertaking.
        Yesterday we purchased the Brook farm on Lawrence Road in Harvard Illinois. Talk about heritage! Rich and Sonja built that whole farm with their own hands...the beautiful buildings and the land. They amended the soil to the point that in places it flows so softly through my fingers that it brings tears to my eyes. (Farmers get emotional about different sorts of things.) The Brooks grew vegetables and bedding flowers for decades and later moved into popcorn production, both growing and popping. While we have no plans for bedding plants in the foreseeable future, we are taking on the popcorn. My husband, Aaron, will be doing the popcorn, so look for that in our product selection, as well. We are so thankful for Rich and Sonja and we hope to honor their legacy on the farm.
         So. Here we are -beginning and continuing all at the same time. We are grateful for all those that contributed to our heritage and we are thankful for you, our customers, and all that make our existence possible. Please come by the farm for a visit, or stop in and see us soon at one of our many farmers’ markets. We will be starting porch pick-up on the farm very soon for cut-flowers. As soon as vegetables come in mid-June, we will open our indoor storefront. We look forward to continuing to share the abundance that comes through our farming heritage, fresh from our fields and straight to your home!
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16 Comments
Julianna
5/15/2020 08:25:09 pm

My heart is overflowing with you! This is so beautiful and exciting.

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Jenny link
5/17/2020 01:05:23 pm

Thank-you! See you in a week or so!

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Sonja Brook
5/16/2020 01:11:55 am

Rich and I are so happy that you and Aaron and your family have been able to transition to our farm as we find the need to transition away. We wish you many wonderful years of growing in this beautiful spot.

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Jenny link
5/17/2020 01:04:56 pm

Thank-you. And thank-you for your ongoing advice and encouragement!

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The Olson Family
5/16/2020 10:00:49 am

Dan, the boys and I are so happy for you, Aaron and the rest of your family. What a fun endeavor in these bizarre times of our own country's history. Congratulations!

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Jenny link
5/17/2020 01:04:13 pm

Thank-you! We can't wait to have you out for a bonfire or grilling.

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Andrew Brook
5/16/2020 01:19:41 pm

I'm really grateful to have the farm in such capable hands. It's full of a lot of memories and I look forward to seeing it continue to grow under your care!

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Jenny link
5/17/2020 01:03:24 pm

Thank you for your words of affirmation. I know our family will make a lot of great memories there, too. Yesterday some of them were climbing in the pine trees and, according to them, they found the best curved branches for reading a book in.

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Roseann Murphy
5/19/2020 11:17:45 am

When are you open for porch pickup for flowers? I can hardly wait!!!

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Jenny link
5/19/2020 05:07:44 pm

As soon as these Lilacs decide to open! I cannot believe how late they are. I looked back at my history and I have no record of first harvest this late in May.

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Julie Dahlberg
5/21/2020 12:54:53 pm

Congratulations! As one of your die-hard Woodstock Farmers market customers I didn't see you on the summer vendor list- will you be coming back to the market? I can't wait to visit the farm.

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Jenny link
5/26/2020 11:25:57 am

Hi, Julie. We are now in Woodstock. Of course, we never have a lot early season, but come by and say hi!

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Alan Robel
5/26/2020 05:20:25 pm

Thank you so much for continuing the wonderful work of Twin Gardens and our favorite, Mirai Sweet Corn. Looking forward to visiting your new place soon.

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Joan Sandrik
7/3/2020 08:50:01 pm

So glad to know where we can find the wonderful Mirai corn! Will be watching for it!

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Ellie Babka
8/10/2020 02:23:46 pm

We so miss the Mirai corn that was the biggest draw at our Brookfield, IL farmers' market. I hope to visit you soon at either your farm or at one of the other markets even though the mileage is a biggie. Our best to you and your farm.

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Mary Jo Florio
7/14/2024 09:06:28 pm

When will mirai corn be ready

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CONTACT PISCASAW GARDENS
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To talk to a Piscasaw Gardens representative please call
​1-(224)-337-3790
Farm Store Address
9306 Lawrence Road,
Harvard Illinois, 60033
Piscasaw Gardens Farmers Markets
You can find us at several different Farmers Markets during the 2025 season. Click here to be redirected to our farmers market page to see our full list of markets we will be attending this summer!

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Make Your Own Bouquet 2025
(The first day will be the first day store is open, and continue through the end of the season)
Friday & Saturday 9am to 5pm