About Our Farm
A Working Farm
Angelic Organics Learning Center is the educational nonprofit partner to the Angelic Organics farm. The Peterson family has farmed this land for three generations. Their rich heritage of family farming lives on today for more than 1,400 families who buy produce direct from the farm. This type of farming is called community supported agriculture (CSA). Angelic Organics, now one of the largest CSA farms in the country, is nationally recognized as a model for community supported agriculture.
Angelic Organics began growing organically in 1990 and has operated as a CSA since 1993. The CSA manages more than 25 acres of vegetable production in a given year, and all the vegetable crops are in a four-year rotation on more than 50 acres that alternates two fallow years with two production years. Participants, known as shareholders, who become involved with our CSA receive a weekly 3/4 bushel box of fresh vegetables and herbs delivered to over 20 Chicago area sites. Shares last for 20 or 12 weeks from mid-June or mid-August to late October. For more information on buying a veggie box (share) from the farm visit angelicorganics.com. The farm is located in north-central Illinois, less than 2 hours north-west from downtown Chicago and 30 minutes north-east of Rockford, at 1547 Rockton Rd., Caledonia, IL 61011.
The life of farmer John Peterson and the farm has been chronicled in the award-winning documentary film The Real Dirt on Farmer John.
A Living Classroom
Soils, plants, animals, and people all play an important role in the life of the farm. Angelic Organics grows an astounding variety of vegetables and herbs for its CSA members using biodynamic methods. Livestock produce milk and eggs, as well as nutrients for the soil; dairy goats, chickens, cattle, and composting worms make delightful companions (and teachers!) for visitors.
Angelic Organics farm and Angelic Organics Learning Center manage more than 220 acres of farmland, forest, oak savannah, prairie strips, orchards, and flowing creeks. The land is held in part by farmer John, Angelic Organics shareholders, foundations, social investors, and in long-term lease arrangements. It is our goal to move all parcels managed by Angelic Organics and Angelic Organics Learning Center into long-term tenure arrangements such as easements or trusts that remove the land from the speculative marketplace and preserve them in perpetuity for organic and Biodynamic farming and education.
The Learning Center's educational facilities have grown with the help of hundreds of volunteers and donors. Thanks to their community spirit, we've constructed a meeting and workshop space, a program office, an outdoor shelter, a timber-frame barn, and composting toilets. Our buildings incorporate sustainable design features such as “whole tree” framing, straw-bale insulation, and passive solar heating.
