FOOD FOR THOUGHT

It’s an overcast day in late March and Elaine Madansky is minding the farm. Originally part of the A. Watson Armour estate in Lake Forest, this 16-acre “gentleman’s” parcel and early 20th century farm complex known as Elawa Farm is a living laboratory of how Madansky and others believe we should grow our food more sustainably. Seeding in the greenhouse started a few weeks prior, with planting in the fields to resume shortly. Meanwhile, garlic is already poking up, along with perennials that will be in full bloom by Mother’s Day. “I still need to buy some supplies to get ready, but we’ve already recruited everyone we need for the season so I’m done with that … check!” explains Madansky, a North Shore native who left the corporate world to pursue the job of her dreams— managing the 1917 Elawa Farm property that produces food for its weekly garden market and learning kitchen as well as Community Supported Agriculture, wholesale customers, and donations to families that are food insecure. Three interns will be joining Madansky and her Field Production and Distribution Supervisor this year along with one lucky “apprentice” who will shadow her and learn more about sustainable farming. For Madansky, who began her career in marketing research, most recently working for the Mars Wrigley candy company, the education component is one of her favorite parts of the new gig. “I not only teach several formal classes at Elawa related to sustainable growing methods, but also continuously do informal handson training with my team and volunteers,” says Madansky, who earned a degree in sustainable agriculture from the College of Lake County. Now in her fifth growing season with Elawa Farm, Madansky is on a mission to raise awareness not only about the incredible food that is being produced there but the need for consumers to better support sustainable, organic farming. “There’s a real opportunity to continue to educate people on the reasons to eat organic produce and pastureraised meat in order to influence changes in purchasing behavior,” she says. Ultimately, Madansky would like to see the government support smaller organic farms as much as what she calls “big conventional ag.” Until then, she’s spreading the word one person at a time, and through all the work she’s now doing at Elawa Farm—inviting the community to come check out this sustainable foodie paradise in the savannas. “We’re here and we are a resource.”

Elawa Farm Foundation is located at 1401 Middlefork Drive in Lake Forest. For more information about its Garden Market and upcoming events, visit elawafarm.org.