Who’s Your Farmer: Adama Farm

Duke’s recently reached out to our local farmers and producers to participate in a project that will highlight their contributions to our local food system. By sharing their stories and insights, we hope to raise awareness of our local small businesses and spark conversations about the importance of sustainable practices.

Your Name

Jessica Paige

Your Business Name

Adama Farm

What product(s) does your business produce?

Regenerative veggies

Where is your business located?

Marengo, IL

Where can consumers find your products?

At our on-site farm store, the Woodstock Farmers Market, Park Ridge Farmers Market, River Valley Ranch & The Food Shed Co-Op.

What do you see as major problems with our current food system?

A lot of our food comes from large scale conventional farms and mono-cropped land. While the food might provide enough calories, conventional methods of farming and mono-cropping tend to strip crops of essential minerals and nutrients due to soil depletion and poor soil health. I always say that building great soil comes before growing great food! Food access and distribution are also major problems, which I believe can be puzzled out via small scale, regenerative-focused, local farms and farmers. Community is also key for the support of local, small farms.

How does your product show us how our food system could be better?

At Adama Farm, we do not till the ground. Aside from opening our plots initially, we practice no-till farming for a variety of reasons: improved soil life, improved soil tilth, less soil compaction, less dependence on machinery, increased water holding capacity and resistance to drought. Also, we do not use pesticides of any kind. We believe that chemicals and sprays whether organic or not, should not be applied to the food grown at Adama Farm. Following these principles has proved to be very successful for not only our crop yield, but the quality and taste of our veggies is simply unmatched.

What would you say to a young person looking to enter your field?

If you're looking to get into the world of farming, I suggest doing an apprenticeship or volunteering at a farm that you admire.

How do you balance the pursuit of profit with the responsibility to your community and the environment?

At Adama Farm, we farm with the soil and ecosystem in mind, hence our no-till and regenerative methods. Profit is important of course, but we put a larger emphasis on soil health and farming with nature rather than against it. Working with nature is a humble reminder for me that I am not really building a farm, I am building an ecosystem for myself and my community to thrive off of. Community has always been an important factor for me, as a small scale farmer and business owner. Bringing people together via farm fresh food seems to help bridge the gaps between social barriers, place and production.

Who is your favorite artist and why?

God. Just take a look at nature!