by | May 11, 2012

April Update

Welcome to the farm in April! Things are picking up, and activity for the spring is getting in motion.

Our biggest excitement this month came with veteran Terry Landwehr’s appearance on the ice during the national anthem at the first Chicago Blackhawk playoff game, April 17, 2012!  As a Vietnam veteran, Terry has been active at the farm since last year. We are so grateful to the USO of IL and Mr Jim Michael for setting up this honor for Terry. Without people like Mr. Michael and the USO, we wouldn’t have been able to honor him as we did! Congratulations Terry… it was great to watch! Pictures of Terry are at the farm for all of you to see.

The gardens have been made ready for planting at the end of the month and the grass has been cut several times to use as mulch. The seeds have been donated by Graylake Feed in Grayslake, IL, and the diagram for the garden planting is complete. Come on good weather!! We are ready!! Anyone interested can come out to help us. Call and ask about the day for planting and we will work around the rain as best we can.

Our farm was highlighted in the Lake County Journal in their April 26th issue! We want to thank Jen Billock for the informative article and photographer Candace Johnson for her great pictures. The article can be accessed on line and we truly appreciate the great job that they did letting everyone know that we are here to help all veterans and their families. Look for more articles coming through the summer as the farm comes into full swing with garden work, activities, and animal antics.

Please keep in mind that the Poker Run is gearing up for July. Get your friends together to enjoy a beautiful ride through the northern or southern route, whichever you choose – and be ready for fun and prizes! We want to make this event a big success, so come and join us for a great time!

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by | April 10, 2012

March Update

March on the farm is a quiet time in the fields, but a great time to plan the years activities….

Organization of projects and paperwork to keep things running smoothly are being formulated for the coming years of operation. Waivers for volunteers and member cards are being developed for use everyone helping out. Lists for programs/projects for 2012, and the years to come, are being developed and we are looking to volunteers for ideas of services or programs you would like to see on the farm. A donation box and a suggestion box are being put on premises for your direct participation in farm activities. Please feel free to ask about them. A meeting of the Board of Directors has been planned for April 19th at 7:30PM, with an overview of the coming years plans and an emphasis on volunteers and your role on the farm.

Programming began with the plans for the July Poker Run.  We could use a couple more volunteers, so we’re asking anyone interested in helping us work on this event to let us know, by phone or e-mail. We are looking forward to a fun and very successful day! Places along the routes will be posted here in the near future.

The garden planning has begun and the soil is about ready to turn over and ready to plant. A few more weeks will get us the point where we can let you know when to come and help create another year of success in the organic garden. Being part of putting the garden in now means that you can have an affect on your own health and on the lives of the many people who receive this produce from our local food pantry. We donated about 1000 pounds last year! Lets aim for at least that again!!

The Rose Program is beginning to look like it will have a longer season than last year. The warm weather has the roses leafing out earlier than usual and, with a little protection from frosts, we should have very healthy plants to produce blooms that will keep giving to the hospitalized veterans for a long time. Anyone with an interest in working with the rose program can contact Marty here at our web site. It would be great to have someone working with us this year.

The animals are doing well. The horses have enjoyed the warmer weather and the ducks and chickens are doing well too. The pastures have greened up quickly and allowed Red and Little Girl to get out in the sun. Come and visit them on a pretty afternoon.

Remember, if you have a need for resources – numbers or names of people that may help you with any issues - we are here to help. If we can’t give you a number to get you there, we will find someone who can.

Check us out April.  The flyers will go up when planting is ready to begin – so come see us and ‘get your hands dirty’!!

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by | March 11, 2012

February Update

The false spring has brought the gardeners out; seems like a little sun and warm wind gets everyone itchy to plant. Still too early, so some of the guys are going to begin starting plants indoors. They should be ready to go in the ground when the temperature in the soil is right. We plan on tightening up the rows this year which will increase the yield, and with the demand going up we are going to plant more.

We helped a few more of our veterans with furniture and furnishings, and even did a few pick up and deliveries. If you have extra furniture, linens, dishes, etc. that a family could use feel free to contact us - we can put it to good use. The only thing we ask is that we want items in good to excellent condition. Remember who it’s for, and what they deserve.

Good news, our veteran in South Carolina is now on track with the local V.A. in getting the help he needs coping with the bouts of depression. Working through other agencies is what we do to help veterans throughout the country, this is the key to getting our veterans and service members the help they need.

We have set the date for this year’s poker run, we look forward to having you ride along.

With the days getting longer the animals are out longer and much more active.The activity will pick up on the weekends, so bring the kids and stop by and say Hi - we look forward to seeing you on the farm!

Thank you goes out to Steve Olson Printing and Design for all their hard work in printing our flyers and business cards. Steve’s expertise in this field has been greatly appreciated. Thanks again Steve.

John

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by | March 11, 2012

2012 Fundraiser Poker Run

 

FREEDOM FARM FOR VETS ANNUAL POKER RUN 

SUNDAY JULY 15TH 2012

Food, Fun, Raffles, Silent Auction and 1st, 2nd, 3rd place best hand money.

Motorcycles & Custom / Classic Cars 

Sign up 10:00am – 12:00pm

$15.00 per driver / $10.00 per passenger

Both of the two runs will end at Lily Lake Resort in Wheatland, Wisconsin 

Last Bike or Car in at 5:00pm

“North Run”

  • Lily Lake Resort (Start & Finish)
  • Wagner’s
  • Deadmans Saloon (Formerly Wildlife Refuge)
  • Mustang Shelly’s Roadhouse
  • The DMZ Bunker
  • Bobby Rockets

“South Run”

  • Fatman Pizza Pub (Start)
  • R&R Crossing (Russell, Ill)
  • Hawg Heaven
  • C’mon Inn
  • Bobbies Barrel Inn
  • Lily Lake Resort (End)

 

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by | February 14, 2012

January Update

We started the new year delivering furniture to a couple of our veterans in need. It seems that the need for help in this area is growing as the hard economy prevents our veterans on fixed incomes from being able to get or replace worn out home furnishings. Donations of home furnishings would be welcome as long as they are not worn out - slightly used or outdated is OK.

Looking back at last year’s programs, I am pleased with the response and accomplishments. Our staff helped veterans resolve health issues, acquire home furnishing items, we delivered produce to our local food pantry, and we supplied good will and gifts (including roses and decorated pumpkins) to the veterans in the V.A. hospital in North Chicago.

I’m grateful for all the support we received from our corporate and private donors. I would like to give a special thanks to Marty Cornett (my li’l sister) for being the “Rose Lady” this year and giving such a warm personal touch to this program. Additionally I’d like to thank her for the gracious donation of $10,000 to the Freedom Farm.  Her gift will keep the insurance paid and assist in the fuel costs incurred in making our deliveries.  This financial and personal support for our veterans and active military is what the Freedom Farm is all about.  Please join her in supporting the farm.

The plans for the 2nd annual poker run have been finalized, (July 15th 2012).  We will be having a Northern Illinois run and a Southern Wisconsin run with both ending at the same location.  The entry will be $15.00 per rider and $10.00 per passenger at this year’s event.  Raffles, food, prizes and a silent action will take place on the run.  Watch the web site for route information and additional details - hope to see you there!

The garden program will be starting soon.  It’s time to start the seedlings and get the tillers ready to go.  The frost in the ground is little to none, so with a bit of luck we can get the gardens in early.  Times being what they are, we can use all the produce we can grow.

There has been some confusion as to who we consider a veteran.  To the Freedom Farm family, any individual who has completed boot camp and been given a duty station is considered a veteran (reserve or active). YOU and your family have made the commitment to put yourself in harm’s way for us, and we at the Freedom Farm thank you for your service and sacrifice.  We’ll do whatever you need us to do to help or assist you in your lives, before, during, and after your service.

Thanks again to our supporters, donors, and especially to our veterans and their families.

John Ress

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by | January 18, 2012

December Update

December was a quiet month on the farm, however we were still busy helping our veterans. We delivered a bed to a veteran who came upon some rough times and helped another one in South Carolina with the same. 

We made Christmas ornaments for our veterans at the V.A. who were unable to make it home for the holidays. These ornaments were designed by Frank Ress Sr. and made for his children when we were all very young.  We had many happy holidays enjoying them on the tree. Hoping to bring a little holiday cheer to those in need, we reproduced these ornaments, which were hand delivered with a smile by our Rose Lady “Marty” (one of the kids who got to enjoy the originals). 

This month also saw us sending out our first mass fund raising mailing. This effort was underwritten by:

  • Petersen Excavating
  • Kaisers Pub
  • The Shanty
  • Bobby’s Barrel Inn
  • Central Rug & Carpet

We would like to thank these businesses for taking time during the busy holiday season to help the Freedom Farm raise the funds needed to keep our programs up and running.

We look forward to serving our veterans and families in the coming year, and hope you all had a safe and happy holiday season.

Take care,

John Ress

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by | December 11, 2011

Website Problems

If you’re reading this we’re back up, but we were having problems with our hosting service the weekend of Dec. 10th.  If you tried to reach us and couldn’t, rest assured that it wasn’t you, and we’re still here!  As many have already noted, technology is great – when it works.

Thanks for your patience.

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