PickYourOwn.org
Where you can find a pick-your-own farm near you!
 Chicago and northern Illinois
Click here to add this page to your favorites list! - Updated daily!
 This month's notes: May 2008: Spring is here!: strawberries are here in the deep South and are peaking or fading in California, Texas and Florida!  Find a strawberry festival near you! And see mid summer Blueberry festivals here. Organic farms are still not common, but any that are, have the word ORGANIC by their name! Check out my easy canning directions, and canning equipment or How to make ice cream and ice cream making equipment and manuals
Please tell the farms you found them here - and ask them to update their information!!!

We also have our own free and simple, step-by-step, illustrated instructions on canning, freezing and drying  many fruits and vegetables, such as  how to make jam, apple butter, applesauce, spaghetti sauce, salsa, pickles, ketchup or freezing corn .   If you are looking for Canners, mixes, jars, pectin and other canning supplies at the best prices anywhere!

I'm always looking for suggestions of more farms and events to add and feedback about any you have visited, so if you encounter any, just click on the preceding link, as appropriate!  And if you have a farm and want to add it or correct the information, please click on the link to "add my farm".

U-Pick Farms and Orchards, sorted by county

Remember: ALWAYS call (or follow the link to the farm's own website, if the name is a blue link) to confirm the information before you go! They may close, run out or change events, times, etc. without notifying me!

Boone County

  • Fiorello's Pumpkin Patch - Pick your own pumpkins. 
    3178 Hwy 173, Caledonia, IL. Pumpkins, pony and wagon rides, haunted house, witches, scarecrows, Halloween costumes, cornstalk maze and autographed copies of Frank Fiorello's latest pumpkin book. Open September - end of October, 9AM - 7PM daily. Phone: 815-765-2587. 
  • Susie's Garden Patch - asparagus, eggplant, peppers, pumpkins, raspberries, rhubarb, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, Other fruit or veg, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, prepicked produce, restrooms, picnic area
    10258 U.S. Hwy 20, Garden Prairie, IL 61038. Phone: 815-597-3011. Email us at: susie@susiesgardenpatch.com. Directions: 6 miles East of Belvidere or 7 miles West of Marengo on Hwy 20; And for a map to our farm, click here. Crops are usually available in May, October. Open: ;Monday - Saturday 9am - 6:30pm; Sunday Noon to 5 pm; May 1 - June18:Aspargus; June: Strawberries; End of June & September: Raspberries; Mid August to Frost: Tomatoes, peppers, egg plant, okra, hot peppers; Mid September - Oct. 31: Pumpkins, Fall Squash. Payment: Cash, Check. U-pick: Hot peppers, okra; Special Events: Garden Prairie Strawberry Festival - Sunday June 18 10 to 5; Church at 9:30; Bluegrass, Gospel music; pony rides, children games, crafts, Ice cream social and food. Picking of asparagus and STRAWBERRIES. Pumpkin Fill Up: All you Fall Decorations needs; U-pick pumpkins up to 50 lbs. $2; pony rides (Saturday and Sunday only)

Bureau County

  • Apple Valley Farm - raspberries. UPDATE: Spetember 4, 2005: They are now permanently closed.
    149 S. Towline Road, Seatonville, IL 61359  
  • Bureau Creek Orchard - Apples, red raspberries, pumpkins
    14180 1800 East St, Princeton, Illinois 61356. Phone: (815)875-6137. Open: 9 am to 6:30 pm daily from August 25 to November. Restrooms on site. Just opened this year in August.
  • Plow Creek Farm - U-Pick strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries. Diverse vegetables including tomatoes, sweet corn, beans, peas, melons, peppers, lettuce and other greens at market and farm stand. Grass-fed beef by order. 19183 Plow Creek Road, Tiskilwa IL 61368 Phone: 815-646-4862. Email: farm@plowcreek.org Open June-October. The Strawberry Festival is on the second Saturday of June from 11am to 2pm in Tiskilwa West Park. Current hours and field reports on phone and website. We grow all crops without chemical herbicides, pesticides or fungicides. Fertilizers are chosen responsibly to enhance long-term soil health. The fertilizer we apply directly to plants is an all-natural fish-based mixture.

Cook County

  • The Children's Farm - pumpkins
    12700 Southwest Highway, Palos Park, IL 60464. Phone: 708-361-3650. Fax: 708-361-2811. Email us at: centerpalospark@aol.com . Directions: 294 (tristate) South towards Indiana, Exit I-55 towards Chicago. Take I55 to the second exit Rt 45 (Lagrange Road) south. Lagrange Road south to 131st Street (8 miles) turn left onto Southwest Highway (7). The farm will be on your right turn in just before the large wooden pedestrian bridge. I-80 to Harlem or Lagrange exit north. At Harlem and 131st Street you will go right to Southwest Highway (7) and then right on 7 to the farm on your right. Click here for a map to our farm. We are open October. Our hours are: Monday through Friday from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. For the entire month of October our farm is open to pick your own pumpkin. You can visit our farm animals, take a hayrack to our pumpkin fields and have lunch in under our pavilion. A great day on the farm for you and your family. At the end of October we transform our farm into a spooky Haunted experience. Visit our website for more details

DeKalb County

  • Honey Hill Orchard - apples, raspberries, pumpkins. 
    11747 Waterman Road, Waterman, IL 60556. Phone: 815-264-3337. 
  • Jonamac Orchard, Inc. - Pumpkins, apples, hayrides, pick-your-own pumpkin patch, kiddie barn
    19412 Shabbona Road, Malta, IL 60150. Phone: 815-825-2158. Directions: three quarters of a mile south of Malta on Shabbona Road (19412 Shabbona Rd.) Open: 7 days a week. Mid-August till Thanksgiving 9am - 5:30 daily. Also, prepicked sweet corn, pumpkins, squash, apples, cider, preserves, honey, popcorn, Indian corn, weekend hayride to the pick-your-own pumpkin patch. Get lost in our 10 acre Corn Maze with 3 miles of pathways and 2 bridges. The kids will love our Barnyard activity area with a huge bale pile, peddle tractors, sand pile, corn bin, play barn, bunny barn, mazes, tube slides and other fun activities. On weekends the Apple Train will be running and you can try your marksmanship skills at our Apple Launcher. We will also have festivals, live music, horse drawn wagon rides and more. Haunted Corn Maze this year by expanding the number of weekends to four. It will be open October 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, and 29, starting at Dark and ending at 10 PM.
  • Koehler's Farm Market - UPDATE July 15, 2007: A visitor tells me they have closed down!
    U-pick farm, tomatoes, fall vegetables, pumpkins. 
    32269 Glidden Road, Kingston, IL.  Halloween costumes, weekends activities in October. Open various hours. Please call. Phone: 815-784-5841.   
  • Sycamore Pumpkin Patch - Pick your own pumpkins. 
    15326 Quiqley Road, Sycamore, IL. Hayride, Haunted Forest, Maze of Corn, Giant Pumpkin Patch, Charlotte's Web, barnyard animals, store and refreshments. Admission charged. Late September - October 31, Open daily 10AM - 6PM. Phone: 815-895-3276.  

DuPage County

Henry County

  • Oswald Family Farm - blueberries, raspberries & asparagus. UPDATE July 9, 2006: Our operation is not u-pick. We have fresh asparagus and rhubarb in season. Pickled asparagus and asparagus guacamole year-round. Our berries go into jams and jellies. Shortly we will have cherry-rhubarb and strawberry-rhubarb sauce available throughout the year.
    8227 Timber Road, Kewanee, IL 61443 Phone: 309-853-5449. 
  • Strawberry Flats - blueberries, raspberries & strawberries. 
    23787 E. 1260 Street, Geneseo, IL 61254 (Henry County)  Phone: 309-944-5065.  Call for directions.

Kankakee County

  • Mary's Berries - strawberries, blackberries, raspberries.  
    9495 East 1500N. Road,  Momence, IL 60954.  Phone: (815) 472-6015.  Important note: They do not allow kids to pick blackberries or raspberries (because of the thorns), but they may pick strawberries..

Kane County

  • Anderson Farm - tomatoes, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, straw or hay bale maze, prepicked produce, tractor-pulled hay rides
    251 Montgomery Road, Montgomery, IL 60538. Phone: 630-896-8835. Fax: 630-554-0098. Email us at: maherappraisal@ameritech.net. Directions: Interstate 88 to Orchard Road south to U.S. 30(Ny-Pass). East across Fox River to Douglas Road North to Montgomery Road West 1/4 mile to farm on north side of road. And for a map to our farm, click here. Crops are usually available in August, September. Open: daily 9AM to 6PM July 1 thru October 31. U-Pick Tomatoes beginning early August thru September. Hay Rides, Straw Maze and Petting farm the last three weekends in October. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa/MasterCard, Discover, AmEx. Sweet Corn, Cucumbers, Pickling Cux, Zuchinni, Yellow Squash, Peppers, Potatoes, Beans all picked daily. Michigan Peaches July to September. Michigan Apples and Cider September thru October.
  • Greenfield Farms - raspberries,
    0S951 Green Rd , Elburn, IL 60119. Email: Berries@andersale.com. Directions: From Elburn...go south on 47 to Hughes , go east to Green Rd (1.5 miles) take Green south, we are 3/4 mile on left. From Batavia...Randall go west on Fabian to Hughes west to Green, go south on Green. From Batavia...Randall west on Main to Green (6 miles) go north to Farm (3/4 mile) And for a map to our farm, click here. Crops are usually available in August, September, October. Open: 7 Days a week 8am to dusk. Raspberries-late August until the first frost (early November) Payment: Cash, Check. Bring your own picking basket or bucket and save! We have picking baskets and containers if you don't.
  • Kuipers Family Farm - Apples, pumpkins, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, corn maze, straw or hay bale maze, child-sized haybale maze, prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, horse-drawn hay rides, tractor-pulled hay rides, pony rides, petting zoo
    1N318 Watson Road, Maple Park, IL 60151. Phone: 815-527-5200, ext 1. Fax: 815-827-4100.  Email us from the contact form on the website: . Directions: For more information visit our website, Kuipers Family Farm. Click here for a map to our farm.  Crops are usually available in September, October, November, December. Open: Tuesday-Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday-Sunday 10am-5pm (Sept-Oct) Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm (Nov.-Dec.) Payment: Cash, Check, Visa/MasterCard.

    Approximate Ripening Dates:
    Please call for daily updates to the apple picking schedule.
    Variety Ripens: Variety Ripens
    Paulared mid-August Red Delicious October 4
    Prima August 30 Golden Delicious October 4
    Jonamac, Gala

    September 6

    		 Mutsu, Idared October 18
    Cortland, McIntosh September 13 Rome, Winesap October 18
    Spartan, Ozark Gold September 13 Blushing Golden October 25
    Empire, Jonathan September 20 Granny Smith Nov or later

    Turn your fall pumpkin picking into a family event. Kuipers offers u-pick pumpkins right from the patch! We also have pre-picked pumpkins in many sizes. When the fall season is over don't forget to come back to Kuipers for your Christmas Season. We offer fresh u-cut and pre-cut Christmas trees and wreaths. We'll even have hot cider, home baked pies and our famous apple cider doughnuts to warm you up! For holiday decorating visit our Gift Shop for beautiful Christmas decorations and crafts.

  • Theis Produce - strawberries , pumpkins, cut-your-own Christmas trees
    6 N 593 County Line Road,  Maple Park, IL 60151 (Kane County)  Phone: 815-895-9712.  When in season, (October 1 - December 26th) open daily 9 am to 6 pm. Bring own containers, also pre-picked available.

Kendall County

  • Dollinger Family Farm - Pick your own pumpkins. 
    7420 E Hansel Road, Minooka, IL. U-pick pumpkins, squash, gourds, mums, and Indian corn, hay rides, educational activities, farm animals, haunted cemetery, some 200 - 300 lb pumpkins here, picnic facilities. Open September 30 - October 30, daily 10 am to 6 PM. Phone: 815-467-6766.    
  • Knutson's Country Harvest - Apples, beans, beets, blackberries, blueberries, nectarines, other berries, peaches, raspberries, strawberries, other vegetables, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, wagon rides
    13550 Townhouse Road, Newark, IL 60541. Phone: 815-557-4629. Email us at: info@knutsonsharvest.com. Directions: Newark is 30 miles straight west of Joliet Il on Rt 71. We are 1 mile south of Newark on Townhouse Road. Call or visit our website for directions and maps. And for a map to our farm, Click here. Click here for picking updates. Crops are usually available in June, July, August, September, October. Open: June Saturday 9am-4pm, Starting July Saturday and Wednesday 9am-2pm, and Sat, Wed, and Sunday 1pm-4pm Everbearing Hydroponic Strawberries Mid June Till End Of Oct. Everbearing Red Raspberries End of June Till End Of Oct. Black Raspberries All of July. Blueberries First of July Till Mid August. Apples Mid July Till End of Oct. Peaches Mid July Till Mid September. Blackberries August. Payment: Cash, Check. We grow our Strawberries Hydroponically. They are in stacks about 4 ft high (very easy to pick, Elderly and Handicap friendly), much cleaner and more natural. See our website for pictures and details. In our store we have Fresh Pies (Regular and Sugarless), Jams, Jellies (Regular, Seedless and Sugarless), pickles available. Paddle boat rides in the summer and Wagon Rides in the Fall.

Lake County

  • Didier Farms - pumpkins, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, green beans, hayrides, pumpkin patch in the field, 5 acre corn maze, Halloween shop.
    16678 West Aptakisic Road, Prairie View, Il 60069.  Phone: 847-634-3291. Fax: 847-634-3298. E-mail: info@didierfarms.com. Directions: near Lincolnshire, IL. Northeast corner of Aptakisic Road & Buffalo Grove Road. Click here for a map.
    Open: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Daily till Halloween. U-Pick begins early August for tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and green beans. Our farmstand is open everyday from 9-7 until October 31, 2005. Also, Birthday Party Reservations are being taken Monday thru Friday from 9-2 beginning August 1, 2005. Please check the birthday party web page for information. Schools and Groups Reservations for Didier Farms Pumpkinfest (September 24-October 31, 2005 will begin by fax on August 15 and by phone on September 1, 2005. More: open spring for plants, summer for vegetables, fall for pumpkins, etc. Greenhouse. Also see our Photo Gallery,  Birthday Parties, and Calendar of Events pages.
  • Glunz Farms -  herbs. 
    888 Belvidere Road, , Suite 109, Grayslake, IL 60030 Phone: 847-548-9463. Location of the Pick Your Own farm for fresh raspberries & herbs and Winery is 19655 W. Washington, Grayslake, IL 60030, Phone: 847-548-6687. Closed until August. No longer offering raspberries to pick.
  • Krueger's vegetable's - beans, pumpkins, tomatoes, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, train rides, prepicked produce, restrooms, picnic area, tractor-pulled hay rides
    28572 W. Rte. 120, Lakemoor, IL 60051. Phone: 815-385-4981. Email us at: Kruegersfarm@aol.com. Directions: From us rte 12 we are located a mile and a quarter west of rte. 12 on rte. 120 Click here for a map to our farm. Crops are usually available in July, August, September, October. Open: Staring in July and ending October 31 we are open 7 days a week 9am till 6pm. our pumpkins patch hayrides start in October every weekend from noon till 5pm. Payment: Cash, Check.
  • Quig's - Apples - UPDATE July 1, 2006: They've sold the farm for yet another housing development. A visitor writes on 2007-09-14: "I have been picking apples at Quigs apple orchard for 30 years, since I was a child. To my surprise the Quig family decided to sell to new owners July of 2006. However, the Quig family had the new owners promise to keep the orchard open and run it like a family owned business it was for 59 years. It was the new owners who succumbed to greed and sold and closed the orchard for a housing development in January of 2007. The Quig family took pride in their business and I had to clear their name. It is a shame how many memories will not be made because of greed and development. "
    Another visitor points out that the Quig's weren't greed, but rather: "The town of Mundelein was taxing the land as if it was being occupied by a housing division. Therefore, Quig's was "taxed" out of existence by the very town that they provided sales revenue to. I agree that this is very sad. I can\'t tell you how many people have commented to me about their sadness regarding Quig's destruction. We are all left trying to find another orchard to replace Quig's only to find out that there is and was only one Quig's."
    300 S. Route 60/83, Mundelein, Illinois, 60060. one quarter mile N.W. of Midlothian Road. During picking season, the apple orchard will be open:  Tuesday to Sunday WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. Call for daily apple availability at 847-566-4520.  CALL BEFORE YOU GO!!!!Apple Picking, Daytime Hayrides, Pony Rides, Daytime Haunted Barn, Petting Zoo, 'Tony the Tiger' Moonwalk, a Giant Caterpillar to crawl through, and more! The children's activities are available on the weekends in September and Oct.

  • Wauconda Orchards -
    Sadly - it's now a housing development.  
  • Ziegler's Orchard - Apples (both U-pick and prepicked), snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, tractor-pulled hay rides
    Bacon Road 1/4 ml. S of l20 & 2ml W of Haninesville 32363 N. Bacon Road, Grayslake, IL 60030. Phone: 847-546-1228. Fax: 857-546-l435. Email us at: helsep@sbcglobal.net. Directions: From Chicago & suburbs go north to Hwy l20(Bellvediere Rd.)West on l20 to Bacon Road which is 2 ml. past Hainesville just before Fairfield Road. All others go north or south to Hwy l20 then to Bacon Road which is 1/4 ml. south of Hwy l20 And for a map to our farm, click here. Crops are usually available in September, October. Open: Saturday & Sunday 9am to 5pm. September 10 to Oct. 9, 2005 for Columbus Day and Oct. l5 & l6 call first Sept, 10&ll Macintosh l7&18 Jonathan&Courtland 25,25,Oct.1,2,8,9,all varieties including Red & Golden Del., Mutzu, Fuji, Blushing Gold, Granny Smith, Banana Apples, etc. Hayrides every week-end from l0am-4pm Payment: Cash, Check. Note from a visitor, October, 2006: "First I want to say thank you for such a great website. It was so informative and helpful. I used it to locate some apple orchards for my girl scout troop and some siblings. We were wanting to give them the experience of picking the apples, going on a hayride and then come home to bake apple crisp. HOWEVER THIS DID NOT HAPPEN AT ZIEGLER'S. I really think it should be noted that Zieglers is not family oriented and really does not want kids out on their orchards. We were treated extremely rudely by the owners and as soon as they saw our cars pull up increased the price per person. I was told on the phone and via email the cost was $1.00 per person and $6.00 for a 5lb. of apples. But they demanded we pay not only $1.00 per person but each person had to purchase 5lbs. of apples. This includes our preschooler of age 3-6. There were 25 of us...what on earth did we need 125lbs of apples for?? We tried to negotiate with them as we did not want to waste the apples but they would not listen and were very rude. They just wanted us to leave with all the kids. Instead we went to Royal Oak Farm in Harvard, Illinois and had a much better experience. With all the orchards closing it is a shame we had to be treated in such a manner and it was a good lesson for the girl scouts of how not to treat others."
    Another comment from a visitor on October 13, 2007:     "I agree with the comment "not family friendly" but at first glance they seem to be. They actually made us buy a bag to pick apples for my 2 year old. We were not greeted when walking into the little bakery either. You would think that they want the business. "
  • Another comment from a visitor on October 20, 2007: "Ziegler's may have changed their policy since I took my 2 yr old son there last year (2006). All they indicated was that each bag was $10 whether filled up completely or not. I actually had 1 1/2 bags and they offered to only charge me for one. I loved the experience and my son also loved the store and pumpkins to pick out as well."
    If anyone else (including the farm) has a comment, positive or negative, please write me - I aim to present a fair, accurate information!

LaSalle County

  • Guelde Strawberries - asparagus, pumpkins, strawberries
    4779 E 1525th Road, Earlville, IL 60518. Phone: (815) 246-9609 Click here for a map to our farm. We are open May, June, July, September, October. Our hours are: 7 Days a week, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, weather permitting

Marshall County

  • Schneider Orchard - fresh apples, pumpkins
    1036 County Road, 1150 North; Henry, IL 61537. Directions: 2 miles South of Henry on Rte 29, West 2 miles. Watch for signs.
  • Tanner's Orchard - Pick your own apples, Apples, cider, grapes, pumpkins, cider, Christmas decorations, gourmet foods, candles, jams and apple butter, bakery, deli
    740 State Route 40, Speer, IL, 61749. Phone: 309-493-5442. Email us at: info@tannersorchard.com. Open July 15 for season, school tours, restrooms, picnic areas, kids petting zoo and play area, Payment: Cash and credit cards welcome.  Tanners also has hayrack rides and a corn maze in the Fall!

McHenry County

  • All Seasons Orchard & Nursery - 11 different varieties of apples. 
    14510 Route 176. Woodstock, IL 60098  ASFNL@prodigy.net. Directions: From Chicago take I-90. Exit on 47 North to Route 176 West. The orchard is located 2.5 miles west of the intersection of Route 176 West and 47. Open: September - October 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.  Farmer's Market: honey, jams, pre-picked apples and Asian pears, apple doughnuts. Other: Pumpkins in October, green and shade trees available from spring-fall. Phone: 815-338-5637. 
  • Brook Farm - UPDATE July 3, 2007: We regretfully have closed our U-Pick operation this year and are just selling at a farmers' market in Woodstock, IL.
    9306 Lawrence Road, Harvard, IL 60033.
  • Country Cabin Orchard - U-pick apple orchard (8 varieties),
    4820 Alden Road, Woodstock, IL.  Phone: 815-338-3348.   Petting zoo, gift shop, wagon rides, pumpkin patch, Christmas trees, donuts, pies, bakery, gift shop. Fall nursery. Open mid September - December 24. Daily 10AM - 5PM.
  • Goebbert's Pumpkin Patch - Pick your own pumpkins. 
    42 W 813 Reinking Road, Hampshire, IL.  Phone: 847-464-5952. U-pick pumpkins, petting zoo, wagon rides, decorations. Open October 1 - November 1, Daily 9AM - 6PM.    
  • Harms Farm Garden Cntr - Pick your own pumpkins. 
    4727 W Crystal Lake Road, McHenry, IL. Phone: 815-385-5385.  Pumpkins, fresh fruit, apples, petting zoo, spook house, pumpkin x-press ride, crafts, weekend events, Christmas trees and crafts. Open seasonal times. 8AM - 8PM. Call in advance.
  • Homestead Orchard - Apples, blackberries, raspberries, rhubarb
    11802 Charles Road, Woodstock, IL 60098. Phone: 815-338-7443. Email us at: donburda@comcast.net. Directions: From I-90 (Illinois Tollway) go north on Route #47 approximately 12 miles to Woodstock. Continue on #47 through business district going north a few more miles to Charles Road stop sign. Turn right and go 1 mile to Orchard!  From McHenry going west on #120. Go to the "Greenwood" stop sign, but do not turn left on #120, continue going west on what is now Charles Road. Homestead Orchard is a mile and a half on the right. And for a map to our farm, Click here. Open: 10 am to 5 pm Monday to Saturday and 12 pm to 5 pm on Sunday during apple harvest season. We also offer our own honey & beeswax candles. 
  • Lang's Orchard - Apples
    17411 Secor Road, Woodstock, IL 60098. Phone: (815) 568-7547. Email us langs@langsorchard.com.  Directions: From rts. 47 and 176 take 176 west about 4 miles to Franklinville rd and turn rt. Go 1.7 miles on Franklinville rd to Secor Rd and turn left. Proceed to Farm. Click here for a map to our farm. We are open September, October. Our hours are: Daily 10 am to 5 pm. Closed on Thursday. Our store features fruit spreads, local honey and arts and crafts.
  • McCann Berry Farm - strawberries
    18110 Kishwaukee Valley Road, Woodstock, IL 60098 , IL 60098. Phone: 815/568-8810. Fax: 815/568-1062. Email us at: mtmccann@mc.net. Directions: Take Route 47 N or S to Route 14. Turn NW. to 2nd stop light. Turn Left onto Kishwaukee Valley Road 4 miles west of Route 14 ( just past the S curve); 3 miles east of Route 23. Click here for a map to our farm. Crops are usually available in June. Open: June 10 - Call for picking conditions. Weekdays 8 am to 7 pm., Weekends 8am - 5pm depending on availability. Call AHEAD for afternoon picking conditions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  • More Than Delicious Orchard - Apples, pears, prepicked produce, restrooms
    9905 W. Thompson Road, Woodstock, IL 60098. Phone: 815-338-2309. Email us at: vmdownes@gmail.com. Directions: The farm is located 2 miles east of Woodstock at the corner of Route 120 and W. Thompson Road. And for a map to our farm, Click here. Click here for picking updates. Crops are usually available in September, October. Open: Saturdays & Sundays, 10 to 5, September 8 to October 21, as well as Columbus Day, October 8.  Approximate ripening dates:  September 8-9:  Sweet Sixteen, Gala, McIntosh, Honey Crisp, Lustre Elstar.  September 15-16 & 23-24:  Gala, McIntosh, Sweet Sixteen, Lustre Elstar, Cortland. September 29-30:  Connell Red, Cortland, Snow Apple, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious. Oct. 6-8: Connell Red, Cortland, Empire, Golden Delicious, Spitzenburg. Oct. 13-14 & 20-21: Golden Delicious, Northern Spy, Spigold, Mutsu, Golden Russet, Newtown Pippen, Winesap.  Payment: Cash, Check. We have over 80 varieties of apples and pears. Because of the hot, wet summer, some varieties are ripening faster than usual.  Check our website for weekly updates on ripening.  As always, every week we will have some unusual apple and pear varieties not listed on the schedule.  Please call or stop by to try an apple you have never had!
  • Prairie Sky Orchard - Apples, pumpkins, raspberries, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, prepicked produce, gift shop
    4914 North Union, Union, IL 60180. Phone: (815) 923-4834Directions: Located at Rt 176 and North Union Road 12 miles west of Crystal Lake on Route 176. I-90 from Chicago to Rt 20, north to South Union Road thru town of Union, North Union Road to intersection of Rt 176. And for a map to our farm, Click here. Click here for picking updates. Crops are usually available in September, October. Open: everyday except Tuesday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Payment: Cash, only. Giant pumpkins, jack-o-lanterns, pie pumpkins, white pumpkins, cinderella pumpkins, gourds, squash, and mums.
  • Royal Oak Farm Orchard - Apples, pears, peaches, plums, pumpkins, raspberries, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, train rides, prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, tractor-pulled hay rides, wagon rides, petting zoo
    15908 Hebron Road, Harvard, IL 60033. Phone: 815-648-4141. Fax: 815-648-4821. Email us at: info@royaloakfarmorchard.com. And for a map to our farm, Click here. Click here for picking updates. Crops are usually available in July, August, September, October. Open: Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, Saturday, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm CLOSED SUNDAYS Raspberries: July 7 to September 15 Peaches: July 20 to September 15 Apples: August 15 to November 15 Pumpkins: September 20 to October 30 Other fruits and vegetables available in our Apple Barn from August 1 to November 15 Payment: Cash, Check, Visa/MasterCard, Discover. Entertainment includes: Royal Oak Express Train, Royal Oak Carousel, Petting Zoo, Entertainment Area with playground and much, much more!
  • Woodstock Country Orchard - raspberries.  
    17015 Garden Valley Road,  Woodstock, IL 60098. Phone: (815) 923-4359. See these pages for more information: [Hours] [Map] [Schedule] [Varieties] [Prices]

Ogle County

  • The Berry Patch - strawberries
    17650 W.Barclay Road, Milledgeville, IL, 61051. Phone: 815-225-5560/815-631-4204.  2007 prices: You pick: $1/lb; we pick: $2.75/quart. A visitor writes: "The owner's names are Mark and Laurie. Very nice people."
  • Granny's Berries - blueberries. raspberries
     S. White Rock Road, Rochelle, IL 61068 Phone: 815-562-4462 or toll free 866-562-4462.  call for picking conditions; blueberries after July 1; fresh raspberries after August 15.  3405 
  • Rainwater's Pumpkin Patch - Pick your own pumpkins. 
    14676 Twombly Road, Rochelle, IL. Pumpkins of all sizes and shapes, including fancy white pumpkins, miniature pumpkins and gourds, squash of all varieties, Indian corn, corn shocks and hay bales. Group tours available by appointment. Late September - October 31, 9AM - dusk, 7 days a week. Phone: 815-562-8587.   

Putnam County

  • Boggio's Little Mountain Orchard - Pick Your Own apples and pumpkins, petting zoo, fresh apple cider, Indian corn, variety of squash, Corn Maze, popcorn, and gourds.
    12087 Illinois Hwy 71, Granville, IL, 61326. Phone: 815-339-2245. and Phone: 815/339-2460. Directions: From the intersection of SR (State Route) 26 and I 80 in Princeton, go east on I 80 for 4.3 miles to Exit 61/I 180. Go south on I 180 for 13.4 miles. At the Connecting Road exit, take the ramp for SR 71 and go east 4.9 miles to the market on the right. Open: Daily, July through mid November. Handicap Accessible; Restrooms; Hiking; Picnic area, Fresh picked vegetables and bake items.

Rock Island County

  • Happy Hollow U-Pick - asparagus, beans, beets, blackberries, broad beans, broccoli, carrots, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant (aubergine), flowers, melons, onions, other berries, peas, peppers, pumpkins, raspberries, rhubarb, summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables
    17325 - 20th Avenue North, East Moline, IL 61244. Phone: 309/496-1515. Directions: 1 mile north of the Quad City Downs or 1 mile west of the Interstate 80 and 88 interchange. Click here for a map to our farm. We are open May, October. Our hours are: Vegetable season, from Monday thru Saturday from 9 to 5. We are closed Sundays thru the last weekend in September. Pumpkin Season, 7 days a week from 10-5. Our claim to fame is the number of varieties of Hot Peppers that we grow. We grow about 30 varieties ranging from 0 on the Scovill rating up to 550,000. Our 48 varieties of vegetables are grown for taste and not high production yields. We also raise goats and sheep for meat and or pet sales. Month of October, We have a Haunted Hovel in conjunction with our local Barstow Volunteer Fire Dept. Voted in the Quad Cities to be the best for the last couple of years. Weekend Evenings in October.
  • Shady Knoll Farm - raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes, asparagus, beets, sweet corn and walnuts. 
    3115 Dennhardt Road, East Moline, IL 61244 Phone: 309-496-9636. 

Stark County

  • Tanner's Orchard - apples, pumpkins, hayrides
    Junction of Rt 17 and 40, Speer, IL, 61479. Phone: 309-493-5442. Email: info@tannersorchard.com. Restrooms available pet and feed goats, goat bridge, playground, gift shop, bakery, apple cider. On weekends there is a hay rack ride to picking areas. Sandwiches available. Open 7 days a week.

Whiteside County

  • Wainwright Orchards - raspberries.  
    Roadside Market. 922-265th St North,  Hillsdale, IL 61257. Phone: (309) 658-2475.  (Retail outlet in Hillsdale, but the telephone number is for the farm.)

Will County

  • Bengston Pumpkin Farm - U-pick pumpkin farm. 
    13341 West 151 St, Lockport, IL.  Phone: 708-301-3276.   Also haunted barn, hayrides, pig races, pony rides, fun barn, farm animals, custom shop and concession stand. Open October 10AM - 8PM. Admission charged.
  • Butterprint Farm - pumpkins, winter squash, gourds and popcorn
    24936 S. 80th. Avenue, Monee, IL 60449. Phone: 708 534 - 8801. Email us at: butterprintfarm@cs.com. Directions: Take I 57 to the Monee Manhattan Exit. Head West for 2.3 miles to 80th. Avenue. Turn right heading north for 7/10 of a mile and a giant pumpkin will greet you! Click here for a map to our farm. We are open October. Our hours are: Saturdays and Sundays 10am till 6 pm in October Pumpkin picking at the Butterprint Farm is designed to give a glimpse of days gone by on the farm. It's a place where the family can get away to a place in the country not to far from Chicago. Our name Butterprint comes from the seed capsule of the Velvet leaf plant once used by the early settlers to make fancy patterns in their butter. Enjoy a three quarters of a mile round trip hayride. Go across the creek to the pumpkin patch to pick 1 of over 15 varieties of pumpkins, also gourds and squash. Our ScareCrow Corn Maze will confuse you. Indian corn, hardy mums, and honey from our farm is also available as well as concessions. There is also old time rope making, Corn Cracking and processing demonstrations. Make a wooden bird feeder the old fashioned way. Visit the Butterprint Prairie and Museum. There is also face painting, Hay and barrel car rides, puppet shows and a petting zoo. Main events include a fiddlers Competition and various live entertainment.
  • Dunn's Farmstand - asparagus, strawberries, green beans, okra, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant.
    21302 W. Angle Road, Wilmington, IL 61481 Phone: 815-476-7667. Directions: 2 miles east of Wilmington off Route 102. Follow signs. Open 9 am – 5 pm, daily. Appointments welcome.
  • Garden Patch Farms & Orchard - Apples, blackberries, cherries, cucumbers, currants (red and black), eggplant, grapes, gooseberries, pears, peaches, peppers, plums, raspberries, summer squash, strawberries, tomatoes
    14154 W. 159th Street, Homer Glen, IL 60491. Phone: 708-301-7720. Email us at: sales@gardenpatchfarms.com. Directions: garden patch is located on 159th St. (Route 7) 1 mile east of Cedar Road and 1 mile west of Parker Road in Homer Glen, Illinois. Click here for a map to our farm. We are open May, June, July, August, September, October. Our hours are: Monday thru Sunday, 8 am to 6 pm specific harvesting dates are provided at our web-site events calendar. garden patch is an ideal facility for hosting group outings with tours to our fruit orchards & flower greenhouses, fall activities include pumpkins, jump castle and straw maze, hayrack rides. Many other fruits and vegetables, unusual included, available at fruit stand.
  • Jim Gorman Vegetables - tomatoes, peppers and hot peppers
    30643 S. Route 53, Wilmington, IL 60481 (Will County) Phone: 815-476-7514. Will have melons, sweet corn, apples and peaches later in season at stand only
  • Tammen Treeberry Farm - blueberries. 
    37131 Essex Road, Wilmington, IL 60481 (Will County) Phone: 815-458-6264 or 800-892-5989. E-mail: treeturkey@aol.com.
  • Windmill Acres Berry Farm - raspberries. 
    20825 W. Schweitzer Road,  Elwood, IL 60421 (Will County)  Phone: 815-727-1411.  E-mail: larryberry54@hotmail.com  Only in August.

Winnebago County

  • Bethkes' Farm Apples - raspberries. 
    6587 Cherry Valley Road, Cherry Valley, IL. Apples: Royal Gala, Big Jon, Ozark Gold and cider. Open June - October, 10 am to 6 PM daily. Phone: 815-522-2215.   
  • Curran's Orchard - Tart Cherries (on dwarf trees) Apples (on dwarf trees), raspberries, straw maze, hayrides and pumpkins.
    6385 Kilburn Ave. (Route 70), , Rockford, IL, 61101. Phone: 815-963-7848 . Email us at: p.d.curran@att.net. Open for Cherry picking in summer and for Apples in Fall. Raspberries: pick your own in August - October. Tart Cherries, pick your own in late June - early July. Pumpkins, enjoy picking that perfect pumpkin from our pumpkin patch, or chose from our pre-picked pumpkins. Complimentary hay wagon rides through the orchard on weekends. Evening wagon rides for groups (by reservation only). Mini straw bales maze! School Tours! A petting corral with farm animals for the kids to enjoy. A glass observation bee hive in the sales barn with live bees (don't worry, the bees are enclosed in the glass hive). Great tasting jams, apple butter, salad dressings, and real maple syrup. Restrooms & picnic area available. September thru November: 9:00am - 6:00pm, six days a week (closed Mondays). November thru December: 9:00am - 5:00pm, six days a week (closed Mondays).
  • Edwards Apple Orchards - raspberries.  
    8218 Cemetry Road,  Winnebago, IL 61088. Phone: (815) 963-2261. 
  • Valley Orchard Farms - raspberries.  
    811 East State Street,  Cherry Valley, IL 61016. Phone: (815) 332-9696. Roadside Market. 

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This is the same type of  standard canner that my grandmother used to make everything from applesauce to jams and jellies to tomato and spaghetti sauce!. This complete kit includes everything you need and lasts for years: the canner, jar rack, jar grabber tongs, lid lifting wand, a plastic funnel, labels, bubble freer, and the bible of canning, the Ball Blue Book. It's much cheaper than buying the items separately. You'll never need anything else except jars and lids (and the jars are reusable). To see more canners, of different styles, makes and prices, click here!
 

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This page was updated on 10-May-2008

 

 

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