CLC's Farm Market Returns Thursday

GRAYSLAKE, IL — The College of Lake County's farm market will return this Thursday. The farm market will run from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday on the front lawn of the horticulture building at the Grayslake campus, 19351 W. Washington Street in Grayslake, which is located off Lancer Lane.

The market, which includes produce grown in the greenhouse and fields on campus, will run every Thursday through mid-October and cash, checks and credit cards are accepted. Herbs, locally produced honey, teas and a variety of cut flowers are also available, according to the CLC news release.

Face masks will be required and social distancing guidelines will be in place under the tent at the market, according to a news release from the college.

In pre-COVID-19 years, students and volunteers took on the work at the garden. But with the campus closed, CLC Horticulture student Amma Maya along with facilities engineer Eddie Popelka spearheaded the maintenance of the garden and its plants, according to a news release from the College of Lake County.

“The big difference this year is the void left by not having students and volunteers in the garden,” said Matt DeRose, local food coordinator at the College of Lake County. “We have a lot of people pass through and do some good, tough work for us over the year. The beginner’s mind they bring along grants the garden its vigor. We are missing that. But we are keeping the seat warm for when that person stuck sitting in their house right now can register for a class, come over here and stick a seed in the soil for the first time.”

Proceeds from the market support student internships in the college’s horticultural career programs, including sustainable agriculture. In addition, overflow produce not sold at the farm market is donated to local food pantries.