Elburn Market sees chance to succeed
By KATE THAYER kthayer@kcchronicle.com
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| Heritage Prairie Market owner Bronwyn Weaver picks pea shoots as farm manager Ted Richter transplants spring seedlings in one of the green houses on Brundige Road. Bronwyn was raised on an organic farm in Ohio. H. Rick Bamman – hbamman@kcchronicle.com
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ELBURN – While starting a business in a downward economy isn't easy, those at the Heritage Prairie Market and farm in Elburn tend to see the bright side of things.
Bronwyn Weaver and her husband, Robert Archibald, own the farm on Brundige Road, and about two years ago they opened the Heritage Prairie Market. They sell organic, locally grown foods, as well as offer cooking classes, farm dinners, gardening classes, cheese-making classes and other educational activities.
And, while they had to cut their hours in March from seven days a week to three, Weaver says things are looking up and hopes to restore some of those hours in the next month or so.
"Starting up is hard in this economy, but we're really optimistic," Weaver said.
Part of that optimism comes from Weaver noticing a trend that people in this economy are starting to to focus more on family, and with that brings more cooking at home and growing gardens – good for her business and representative of the farm's philosophy.
"People are more conscious about their health," she said, adding that in these times, people are "under severe stress. [Families] need to be cooking together and eating together."
Sarah Harmon works on the farm, doing the communication-related tasks for the Heritage Market.
She said communicating with the farm's regular customers is key when they have to do things like change their hours. That includes sending e-mails, updating the extensive Web site and creating a Facebook page.
Harmon said the market is able to advertise for free this way, saving the farm to pay printing costs for fliers or advertising rates.
Besides work, Harmon also has adjusted at home.
The St. Charles native cooks dinner together with friends, rather than going out for drinks.
Recently, she bought organic cabbage to prepare homemade sauerkraut, which she shared with friends.
Harmon said she considers herself lucky, but still tries to save where she can.
"I haven't felt [the recession] as strongly because I have a job with health insurance," she said. "But I'm making dinner with friends instead of going out."
Weaver said that's something she does with her family as well, but it was something she valued anyway.
However, since the market opened, Weaver and her husband look for ways to be cost-efficient more than ever, she said. But, not at the cost of scaring her children who live on the farm – daughters ages 11 and 13.
"It's important to teach kids that it is not terrifying," Weaver said, referring to news reports and other messages that may seem daunting to children. "I think it's important for parents to be conscious of the stress on kids."
Weaver said she is looking forward to spring – a busy time on the farm, for her business, her family and her community.
But for now she believes the down economy is having some positive effects.
"The economy has people getting back to basics," she said.
