SATURDAY JULY 15TH
Cosponsored by SunnyBrook Homecare, Fairfield and Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI)
In 2005, PFI expanded its popular Buy Fresh, Buy Local marketing program to include six new campaigns. Fairfield Buy Fresh, Buy Local is one of our most vibrant campaigns, establishing connections across the town of Fairfield itself, Iowa’s newest small town Vedic City, and Maharishi University of Management.
Feel free to join the tour for any or all of the stops listed on the tour.
Note: Fresh, local breakfast and lunch are available at the Fairfield Farmers Market, Howard Park, Fairfield.
Stop 1. Time: 10:00 A.M.
Francis and Susan Thicke, Radiance Dairy, 1745 Brookville Rd., Fairfield, 52556, (641) 472-8554, fthicke@kdsi.net
Radiance Dairy is a 236-acre, 60-cow, grass-based, certified organic dairy that processes milk on the farm into bottled milk, cream, yogurt, and cheese for sales through local grocery stores. This dairy farm is all planted to forages and has 60 paddocks for controlled grazing.
Directions: Hwy 34 to west edge of Fairfield; turn north on Brookville Rd.; 3 miles on right.
Stop 2. Time: 12:00 P.M.
Revelations, 112 North Main, Fairfield, IA 52556, (641) 472-6733, revelations@lisco.com
Revelations is a bookstore, gift shop and coffeehouse specializing in gourmet pizzas, Italian espresso, homemade soups and sandwiches with an emphasis on organic produce and non-genetically engineered food.
Enjoy delicious food and learn how a restaurant participates in Buy Fresh, Buy Local.
Free dessert while supplies last! Note: Please RSVP if you plan to join us for lunch: Call (641) 472-6177 or email jbpath@lisco.com by July 10.
Directions: Northwest corner of Fairfield town square.
Stop 3. Time: 1:30 P.M.
Vedic City Greenhouses, 2037 140th St., Fairfield, IA 52556
641-919-4559, dagoodale@yahoo.com
Established in 2003, the Maharishi Vedic City Organic Greenhouse is set to grow from its present 1.5 acres to 10 and to sell produce to retail and wholesale outlets, food services, and the Vedic City CSA. Maharishi Vedic City Organic Farms manager Dean Goodale will give a tour of the operation and speak about greenhouse production.
Directions: Six miles north of Fairfield on Hwy 1, left (west) on 140th St., half mile on right (north). Pull in at farm buildings (the second driveway, not the first driveway on property).
Stop 4. Time: 3:30 P.M.
Abundance Eco-Village, (641) 469-5240, lonniegamble@yahoo.com
Abundance Ecovillage will be an off-the-grid community that includes permaculture design, orchards, a market garden, and a 4,000-square-foot greenhouse. Power will be generated by solar and wind on site; water will come from rain catchments. Thirty-two homes are planned, with two under construction. Project co-founder Lonnie Gamble will lead the tour.
Directions: Abundance is located at the corner of North B and 185th Street. From the center of town go north on Hwy 1 about 1½ miles, then right (east) on 185th Street; the Eco-Village is about 1 mile in on the left. You will see a sign, wind generators, solar panels and greenhouses.
All are invited to take the entire tour or to drop by at any of the stops at the designated tour time.