Finn’s Steak and Egg Ranch

Anyone who’s ever driven west on I-80 knows what cattle farms look like – vast, brown treeless fields, with dozens of cows bent over a feeding trough full of corn. That is not what Finn’s Steak and Egg Ranch is about. This is the first in a series of vendor spotlights and it’s really worth the spotlight.

Living in Chicago, Sean Finn always dreamed of retiring in the country and having a few animals. A few years ago, he was able to move the timeline forward by moving himself and his family to 14 acres of hilly wooded country-living goodness in Michigan. Fast forward four or so years later, and he has transformed what was a country home on a narrow road of country homes into a working farm with cows, pigs, chickens, and turkeys.

The first thing you notice here are the chickens. They are everywhere, running around completely free. They have nest boxes where they lay their eggs and when they’re not laying, they roam the entire property, hanging out under trees and following cameras around.

Already preparing for next Thanksgiving, two new turkeys have joined the farm.

Finn’s Steak and Egg Ranch does weekly deliveries into Riverside on Wednesdays at a central pickup spot. To order, send him an email at orders@finnsranch.com. He also brings produce from Countryside Produce, another market vendor so if you’re missing the farmers’ market, he can help.

All of the animals are fed non-gmo food and don’t receive any antibiotics.

The cows were lounging in the shade of the trees in their pasture. They feed off the grass in the field. The pigs were digging in mud.  The two turkeys were following us around. Oh, and he has an energetic German Shorthair Pointer, Huck, who bounds around with joy.

His next project will be framing this garage extension to house his freezers and refrigerators.

Sean may be the new face of farming: small and very connected with his customers. He strives to meet the market demand for non-GMO feed, no antibiotics, free range, pasture fed beef, pork, chicken, and eggs. The Riverside Farmers’ Market is thrilled to have him as a weekly vendor and with his weekly deliveries into Riverside, we don’t have to wait until summer for his goods.

Contact him at www.facebook.com/FinnsSteakAndEggsRanch or email at orders@finnsranch.com.

Last one outside …

Join us for final week of the Riverside Farmers’ Market Wednesday, Oct. 15, from 2:30 – 7:00 p.m. in the parking lot between the Township Hall and the Riverside Public Library.

You’ll still find plenty of produce — including apples, pears, beets, carrots, cauliflower and more — as well as chocolates and caramels, baked goods, honey, meats, popcorn, coffee and even gourmet dog treats.

The Riverside Farmers’ Market is a great stop for fall cooking and decorating with mums, pumpkins and gourds. And don’t forget the ready-made pizzas from Primo or specialities of the week from Rose’s Catering.

Did you know that we have several shopping carts, donated by the Riverside Junior Woman’s Charity that you can borrow while you shop? They’ll make lugging your future jack-o-lantern a bit easier.

This may be our last outdoor market, but we’re so excited to bring back our Winter Market, running the first Wednesday of the month from November through May (except for January). The Winter Market will run from 2:30 to 6:30 inside the Riverside Train Station.

Lights, camera, action

If you missed our first winter market, take a peek inside with our video.

What are you going to do with those strawberries?

1. Slice them for a salad.

2. Dress them with a little balsamic vinegar.

3. Hull and fill them with mascarpone.

4. Freeze them: http://www.pickyourown.org/strawberries_freezing.htm

5. Eat them!

6. Make jam: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaPpxWlyrfw&feature=relmfu

7. Sprinkle them with a little brown sugar and serve with a spoonful of yogurt or sour cream.

8. Try an easy strawberry pie: http://www.food.com/recipe/easy-strawberry-pie-46649

9. Store them in an airtight jar: http://lifeinkfoodie.com/2011/06/14/tips-for-storing-berries/

10. Dip them in chocolate!

What else?

What are you going to do with those strawberries?

1. Slice them for a salad.

2. Dress them with a little balsamic vinegar.

3. Hull and fill them with mascarpone.

4. Freeze them: http://www.pickyourown.org/strawberries_freezing.htm

5. Eat them!

6. Make jam: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaPpxWlyrfw&feature=relmfu

7. Sprinkle them with a little brown sugar and serve with a spoonful of yogurt or sour cream.

8. Try an easy strawberry pie: http://www.food.com/recipe/easy-strawberry-pie-46649

9. Store them in an airtight jar: http://lifeinkfoodie.com/2011/06/14/tips-for-storing-berries/

10. Dip them in chocolate!

What else?

 

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