Due to the reductions in public programming, some
of the farm’s animals will be visiting neighboring
farms for the summer. The pair of draft horses, for
example, will be loaned to an Amish dairy farm where
they can be cared for and get some healthy exercise
in the field. Bill and Bob are Percherons, a breed
known for being both smart and strong. They need to
work to keep from growing bored and restless. It will
also give the pasture a much-needed rest.
“The horses will be back. They are just taking a
‘summer job’,” Kuester explains. In the meantime,
the farm will use the pasture to raise lambs, broiler
chickens and Thanksgiving turkeys for local sale.
The farm has again partnered with the Northern
Suburban Special Education District on a
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.
Be@thefarm student farmers will work alongside
Wagner staff and agriculture volunteers to grow
and harvest produce for customers who have
purchased CSA shares and donate approximately
20 baskets of produce each week to food pantry.
It’s another way the farm is using their agricultural
expertise to help provide for our community. The
available CSA shares have sold out this year, but
the farm is developing a CSA for lamb, beef, pork,
chicken, turkey and eggs.
Through these steps, Historic Wagner Farm hopes
to produce more than 20,000 lbs. of fresh produce
and 6,000 lbs. of meat and eggs to be sold and
donated. To put this in perspective, the amount of
food Historic Wagner Farm is capable of producing
could feed nearly 50 families every week for the
entire season. Historic Wagner Farm has been
generously supported in this endeavor by The
Friends of Wagner Farm 501(c)(3) citizen’s support
group, the Glenview Clovers 4H club and the North
Shore Special Education District.
At the Community Garden, the beds have been
tilled and the plots will soon be staked out.
Gardening is an excellent passive recreational
activity and has the added benefit of growing
your own food. The Community Garden will not
reopen until at least May 30, per the Stay at Home
order. The farm will let those 90 families who have
reserved plots know when they will be able to get
started and provide physical distancing guidelines
for gardening.
Finally, the farm is also excited to announce the
Glenview Farmers Market will open for the season
towards the end of June. As a vital fresh food
source for thousands of residents, this year’s
market will focus on produce and meat vendors
only. No ready-to-eat food or community event
tables will be offered. Staff is working behind the
scenes to provide a safe shopping environment for
customers and vendors and more details will be
available soon.