Imagine "suburban farming"!  Walkup Heritage Farm is located on an historic farmstead featuring a rare pre-Civil War cobblestone house built by the ancestors of one of the present owners.  It is located in the middle of a suburban environment, and within walking distance from the commuter rail line to Chicago.  A large park featuring a restored native praire, fen, woodland and pond (as well as tennis and basketball courts) is directly accross the street. 

We are investigating not only how to preserve farming in the city/suburbs, but also how to integrate historic breeds of heritage animals into the farming operation, including Tennessee Fainting Goats, heritage chicken breeds, turkeys,  ducks, geese and rare Silver rabbits.  All of our vegetables are heirloom varieties grown from seed from Seed Savers and we also have large areas of native plants in various environmental settings, along with heirloom perennial gardens. 

During the  2013 season we will be re-tooling the farm to add a large orchard, duck pond, and raised beds and hoophouses, and also building chicken, turkey and rabbit "tractors" for moving the animals around the farm.  Work will consist primarily of those activities, with some small scale vegetable growing and harvesting.  It's a great opportunity to learn how to set up a farm of your own some day.  You will learn about native plants, heirloom vegetables, and heritage animal breeds during your stay.  Get up a dawn to let the chickens out and put them to bed at dusk, with break times during the day to rest and recuperate. 

We are organic but not certified. 

Farm stays or commuting from area.  All positions are unpaid.  Room and board provided for stays. 

There is easy access to the city for weekends and we also have a jacuzzi in one of the greenhouses! 

Owners are Michael and Carolyn Walkup.  Michael is an attorney who specializes in representing people  on disability claims who have chemical sensitivities/environmental illness.. Carolyn is a food writer and former member of the James Beard Committee which reviews the top restaurants in the US.  Both work out of the home and are available for close instruction and training.  Their goal is to train a new generation on sustainable and organic living.   

Come :"Back to the Future"  at Walkup Heritage Farm.