Pat Jenkins — maker of pickled sweet corn and artisan breads — is anything but plain. However, she does know a lot about the Great Plains and farming sustainably.

 

Jenkins went out on a limb a couple years ago when she decided to diversify the family farm.

 

“I wanted to try something different — something for me." she says. "And I found that providing a variety of fruits and vegetables to my community.”

 

As long as she can remember, Jenkins and her husband have rotated 1,000 acres of corn and soybeans near Peoria, Ill., as commodity farmers. 

 

But Jenkins longed for more contact with customers, which is something she has now cultivated by growing a variety of other produce (including strawberries, tomatoes, and peppers) and selling them locally.

 

“I started farming my own acreage of mixed crops about 10 years ago. Shortly after that I opened Jenkins Farm Market, a store and bakery kitchen.”

 

Jenkins sells produce and farm treats — including fine breads and jams — in her market store and is a vendor at the Peoria Riverfront and Peoria Heights farmers’ markets. She is also the co-manager of the Heights market.

 

“It’s such a great feeling to be able to talk one on one with people. We should all feel connected to our food source in some way, which is why I’m a firm believer in buying locally. Not only is it eco-friendly in terms of eliminating some of the carbon footprint we leave when shipping long distances, but it’s a way for people to ask questions about how their food was grown."

 

Another benefit to buying locally, says Jenkins, is the higher nutrient content present in fresh produce.

 

Learn about some of Jenkins' simple, earth-friendly practices and get a window into farm life this season...

 

 

PLUS: You can browse a list of Illinois farmers' markets to plan your shopping trips.