Genesis Growers

Genesis Growers farms 20 acres of land about an hour straight south of Chicago. Vicki Westerhoff began growing her own organic food several years ago after a long illness that wasn’t responding to conventional treatment. She now farms the land she considers a physical and spiritual haven.

When you talk about produce, if you name it, Genesis Growers has probably got it. They grow more than 60 varieties of vegetables, including—to name a mere few—broccoli, cantaloupe, potatoes, watermelon, sugar snap peas, bell peppers, cucumbers, and green onions. Salad greens are a specialty—lettuces, mesclun, arugula, dandelion, kale, sorrel, among others. Not to mention a passel of herbs that includes basil, cilantro, horseradish, parsley, and rosemary, as well as numerous flowers and bedding plants. Vicki gets as many heirloom and OP varieties as she can, particularly in tomatoes, peppers, and lettuces. The Westerhoffs also raise about 200 chickens for both meat and eggs, and keep a handful of cattle for beef.

Like most farmers, Vicki and her sons Jonathan, 16, and Jacob, 28, wear many hats—crew leaders, farm laborers, tractor operators, and market workers, for starters. Outside the family, Vicki primarily employs local young people, believing that a small family farm should be a source of employment for the community. The whole gang is joined by pet companions Mogie and Murdock, the Labrador retrievers; Scooby, the barn cat; and Mr. Turkey, the turkey. Though not certified organic to date, Genesis Growers practices sustainable agriculture based on organic principles.

Why is growing organic a priority for your family?
I was ill for 6 years and my doctor finally told me I would just have to live with my illness. I decided to take things into my own hands and began eating organic foods, taking herbs, etc.–a holistic approach. In three months I began to heal but found it difficult to find and purchase what I needed. I also saw the need for others to have the same wholeness that I was seeking, so I began to grow on our family farm land. I was dismayed at the condition of the soil and the ecology of our land that had been in traditional production for years. I felt a desire to help heal this one little section of the earth–to do my part in changing the direction of agriculture.

What is your favorite part of being an organic farmer?
Watching the land heal, seeing people heal and having the opportunity to participate in such a rewarding venture.

Why should people buy organic products instead of other options?
Health - the health of their own bodies, the health of the land, the health of the whole environment.

What makes your farm special?
I see my farm as a place where people can grow and learn, developing as individuals. I try to help people find their strengths - in farming, but even more so in their lives in general. We work as a team, but I look for each person's individual strengths and then encourage them to develop those strengths, maximizing their potential. The farm is a "growing place," an environment that can help people learn valuable life lessons they can take with them everywhere.

Where can consumers get your products?
We sell our products directly at the farm and offer them through CSAs. We also attend the Oak Park Farmers’ Market, Chicago’s Green City Market, and the Frankfort Country Market.

For more information about Genesis Growers, contact Vicki at 815-953-1512 or genesisgrowers@comcast.net.